Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Songs in the Night

Praising the Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean, Washington State, USA by Aaron McCoy
Praising the Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean, Washington State, USA


Job 35:10
God, my Maker, who giveth songs in the night.


Any man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest or sends home a loaded argosy. It is easy enough for an Aeolian harp to whisper music when the winds blow-the difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skilful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by-who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow upon my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God? How shall a mortal man make a crown for the Lord where no jewels are? Let but this voice be clear, and this body full of health, and I can sing God's praise: silence my tongue, lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God's high praises, unless He Himself give me the song? No, it is not in man's power to sing when all is adverse, unless an altar-coal shall touch his lip. It was a divine song, which Habakkuk sang, when in the night he said, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Then, since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait upon Him for the music. O Thou chief musician, let us not remain songless because affliction is upon us, but tune Thou our lips to the melody of thanksgiving.

Devotional by Charles Spurgeon

Image courtesy of All Posters

9 comments:

Maxine said...

Amen! Indeed, any song in difficult times but come from Him. But the good part is that He will give it.

SmilingSally said...

Joy is not the same as happiness. Joy comes from above.

Season's Flowers said...

Hi Cathy! Thanks for stopping by the Season's Flowers site. If you're ever in the area - stop by and see us!

Cherdecor said...

I loved reading this post. I want to come back when my eyes are not so tired and read it again. I like that verse in Job about God giving a song in the night or when things come tumbling down around us. I need to meditate on it.

Saija said...

it is good to share these devotionals with each other ...

blessings on ya!

Betty said...

Cathy,
So true....one of my favorite songs is an old one 'You Can Have A Song In The Night'...

Even in the midst of trouble, we can have a song in our hearts.....

Thanks for visiting with me....praying for our nation...Betty

Abounding Treasures said...

Amen!

If my heart can sing in the midst of pain and trial, the source is the Lord Himself. IF I lean on Him, He WILL put a song in my heart and on my lips :o)

Blessings!

Cathryn said...

Hi Cathy ~ I am Cathy too - from Kentucky. I found your blog listed at the KJV directory. The devotional you posted from Spurgeon ~ aw, Spurgeon. Aren't his writings so wonderful. I like it very much. Thank you for posting that. Lord Bless, Cathy

Adrienne said...

Hi Cathy -
Wonderful post today! I've copied and shared with some of my family who need to have this today.
~Adrienne~