GRACE GAZETTE
Volume IVIssue 28
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

A SONG IN THE NIGHT

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalms 42:8

The apostle Paul said, "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. " (Rom 14:8) What a great comfort such a thought is to the true children of GOD! That man who has been indwelt by the SPIRIT of GOD has only a secondary interest in this world even though he must occupy that place which the LORD has given him until such time as his course is finished and the LORD sees fit to bring him to his long home. (see Eccl.12:5) GOD shall be with HIS people in the time of their death just as surely as HE will be with them in the life which they now live. (see Ps.116:15) If that is true then it is also true that no matter "what gloomy lines are writ for me, or what bright scenes may rise" (Isaac Watts) the LORD has purposed them all for the good of HIS own sons and daughters.

Overcoming a fear of the dark is something that nearly all children (and many adults) have had to wrestle with. I can still remember conjuring up, in my immature mind, all sorts of pictures of various hobgoblins and monsters that I was certain must surely inhabit the darkness. Even a foray of just a few yards into the dark alone was enough to strike terror in my heart. Whatever errand I was sent on was accomplished with great speed in order to get back to the relative safety of the light at the back porch. I can still remember the feeling of strength that I felt when one day I finally realized that there was nothing lurking in the darkness that could not be seen clearly in the light of day.

Regardless of the empty promises of the "health and wealth" crowd, the truth is that the lives of GOD's elect children are filled with ups and downs. Sometimes things don't turn out as we plan, and sometimes they get even worse. Poverty may lurk around the corner even though we enjoy the prosperity of this worlds goods at the present time. Though a man may rejoice in good health today, tomorrow may bring great sickness, disease, or even the very shadow of death. Pain and suffering is often the lot which GOD has designed for HIS sheep and GOD's people are not promised a life of ease or a deliverance from the pitfalls of this life. Even as those who are rebels against the GOD, who rules the heavens and the earth, taste the bitterness of this sinful world so too do the true sons of GOD. "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."(Mat 5:45)

David testified in the Psalm before us that the LORD would give him a "song in the night". It is interesting that the word translated "night" can also be translated as "adversity". Revelation 21:25 and 22:5 both tell us that there will be "no night" in that city which the LORD JESUS has gone to prepare for us. We are told this so that we might behold what a great contrast there is in that place to which we are called and this sin-benighted world in which we now dwell.

Robert E. Lee is reported to have said, as he surveyed the battlefield, "it is a good thing that war is so terrible, or else we should grow too fond of it." So too has the LORD designed the heartache of this present world so that HIS elect sons might not become enamored with it but that these trials and afflictions might cause us to value those heavenly places where moth and rust cannot corrupt nor thieves break through and steal. Rather than murmuring and complaining about the maladies that may befall us we should rejoice at every heartache and be thankful for every trial which are but harbingers of those blessings which the glad day brings. As the prophet Dumah testified, the morning cometh as well as the night.(see Isa.21:11,12)

The men of this world may murmur and complain about the circumstances which befall them (in fact it is to be expected) but the true sons of GOD must not. We sorrow not as others which have no hope. Regardless of what comes to pass in our lives we must endeavor to be thankful. Paul said "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."(Phi 4:4) The men of this world live only for the moment. We, as the sons of GOD, however, have the hope of eternal life and HE is in us a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The men of this world are primarily concerned with their comfort and ease in this life, but those whom the LORD calls have been given grace to look beyond this present vale of tears and to order our steps according to a different vision. "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Heb 13:14-15) There is no virtue in trying to be uncomfortable but neither is there any virtue in constantly fretting about the maladies that may befall us. Paul said "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phi 4:11) That man who is consumed with his problems has not learned this lesson yet. HE is our SONG in the night.

It seems to be a common trend for those who become advanced in years (all of us are indeed advancing) to spend a great deal of time discussing their illnesses and the source of all of their physical woes. Now while we are not in the least surprised to see the men of this world adopting this practice we are convinced that the children of GOD should have no more regard for these things than the apostle Paul did (when he said he sought the LORD three times to remove his thorn in the flesh but the LORD denied his request and told him that HIS grace was sufficient), regardless of their age or physical condition. Remember this,"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." (Heb 2:18) HE is our SONG in the night.

Oh for a mind and heart to dwell upon HIM who is our SONG in the night rather than to concentrate on the night which falls around us on every side. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? " (Mat 6:25-27) HE is our SONG in the night.

mam