Songs in the Night

Daily Reading:  Job 34-35

Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night? (Job 35.10)

Devotional Thought: There are times in life when it is difficult, if not impossible to sing.  Darkness presses around us, stifling our songs of joy. The problem is that we look in all the wrong places for that song which will lift our spirits.  We sing our love songs, but forget the One who is love.  We sing of heroes, but neglect to sing of the Savior.  We sing of great trials and tragedies, but do not look for the Solution to life's problems.  As Elihu observed in Job, "None says, 'Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night?’"

If ever anybody had reason to forget to sing in the night, Paul and Silas certainly did.  They had been arrested, beaten, jailed, and chained.  But the scripture says that "about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God" (Acts 16.25).  They were in jail for their testimony about Jesus, but they just couldn't stop singing his praises!  They served a God who gives songs in the night.

Is your song of joy unsung?  Turn your eyes upon Jesus - he is the eternal wellspring of joyful songs.  And you will sing with Fanny Crosby, the hymn writer of old...

I know I shall see in His beauty The King in whose law I delight;

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps, And giveth me songs in the night.

Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb

Redeemed, redeemed, His child, and forever, I am.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the reason that I sing.  Help me to never forget all the love and blessings you have poured out on me.  May I always remember to sing - even in the nighttimes of life.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 124.1-5

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side-- let Israel now say--

2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us,

3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;

5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.