By Charles H a s ten Spurgeon
Text.—But none saith, W here is God, my maker, who giveth songs in the night?—Job 35:10. S SJfLIHU was a wise man, *1 exceeding wise, though not S a s wise as, the all-wise Jeho- |\v a h , who sees light in the v sy clouds, and finds order in con
their labors; but they grow weary, and nightfall cometh on, like a sweet boon from heaven. The darkness draweth the curtains, and shutteth out the light, which might prevent our eyes from slumber; while the sweet, calm stillness of the night permits us to rest upon the lap of ease, and there forget awhile our cares, until the morning sun appeareth, and an angel puts his hand upon the curtain, and undraws it 6nce again, touches our eyelids, and bids us rise, and proceed to the labors of the day. Night is one of the greatest blessings men enjoy; we have many reasons to thank God for it. Yet night is to many a gloomy season. There is “the pestilence that walk- eth in darkness;” there is "the terror by night;” there is the dread of robbers and of fell disease, with all those fears that the timorous know, when they have no light wherewith they can discern objects. It is then they fancy that spiritual creatures walk the earth; though if they knew rightly, they would find it to be true, that “Millions of spiritual creatures walk this earth, Unseen, both when we sleep and when we wake,” and that at all times they are round about us—not more by night than by day. Night is the season of terror and alarm to most men. Yet even night hath its songs. Have you ever stood by the seaside at night, and
fusion; hence Elihu, being much puzzled at beholding Jo b thus afflicted, cast about him to find the cause of it, and he very wisely hit upon one of the most likely reasons, although it did not happen to be the right one in Job’s case. He said within himself—“Sfirely, if men be tried and troubled exceedingly, it is because, while they think about their troubles and distress themselves about their fears, they do not say, ‘Where is God my maker, who giveth songs, in the night?’” Elihu’s reason was right in the majority of cases. The great cause of the Christian’s distress, the reason of the depths of sorrow into which many believers are plunged, is this—that while they are looking about, on the right hand and on the left, to see how they may escape their troubles, they forget to look to the hills whence real help Cometh; they do not say, “Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?” We shall, however, leave that inquiry, and dwell upon the sweet words, “God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.” The world hath its night. It seemeth necessary that it should have one. The sun shineth by day, and men go forth to
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