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In Job 35:10 one of Job’s friends declares that God is the one who “gives songs in the night.” At first glance songs in the night seems to be an odd phrase. Who sings in the night?
However, when you really begin to consider it there is an interesting theme here. The night is that dark time in your life. The night is that place far from the comfort and security of the light. The night is where bad men do bad deeds. The night is where evil lurks and enemies plot and plan your demise. The night is where your mind conjures up all kinds of fears, worries and doubts.
It may be true that monsters lurk in the darkness of the night. However it was in the Night that the angels sung to shepherds in their fields when that precious baby was born in a manger. God didn’t wait for the brilliance of day to share the wondrous good news of the birth of a savior. Instead he invaded the night with a song of praise. Peace on earth was sung in the darkness of the night and it was a song perfectly suited for the night. Isn’t that, after all, exactly what Jesus was? He was the light that shined into the darkness.
My friend, I just want to remind you today that we serve the God that gives songs in the night. Consider this, it was at midnight that the cry came to the wedding party, “The bridegroom cometh.” It was in the darkness of the night that the good news first reached the ears of those who had been waiting and watching. In the night their hopes were fulfilled. In the night their faith was realized.
This is an important little nugget of truth because you are going to have to walk through the night sometimes. There are going to be times and places where the storm clouds are going to hover low and the darkness of night is going to press in upon you. However, you serve a God that gives songs in the night!
The wonder of that truth is that it is in the darkness of the night when your soul really falls in love with or savior. It is when the skies are black and pressing in, when the doubts and fears crowd their way into your mind, in the darkest hours of your life, that’s when the Master gives you a song of grace and comfort. That’s when you truly learn to trust him. That’s when you truly learn to love him.
In the course of this life you will walk some lonely dark roads. However, the wonderful truth is that you will never walk them alone. The one who walks with you and will never forsake you is the one that gives songs in the night.
He’s the one that gives joy in times of sorrow.
He’s the one that gives peace in times of trouble.
He’s the one that whispers calm in the raging storm.
Today I simply want to remind you that you are walking through this life in the company of the peace speaker. He alone has the power to give songs in the night. The next time that troubles and doubts and fears come crashing in on you, the next time that you find yourself lost and alone in the darkness of the night, why don’t you reach out to the one that gives songs in the night and discover just how sweet the night song is. The sweetest of all songs is born in the dark crucible of the night. That’s where joy is born, that’s where hope is revived. That’s where God demonstrates his love for you.
He, alone, gives songs in the night. How sweet his songs are!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Bones of Encouragement
I preached this thought this past Sunday night. Later on, when I get back to my notes, I'll try to post a more detailed version of the thought but here's the cliff notes version: Joseph, on his deathbed, commanded that when the Hebrews returned to the promised land they were to bury him there. The account in Genesis states that he shared with them the prophecy given to Abraham regarding the 400 years of captivity and the eventual deliverance of the Hebrews.
The thought was basically that during the 400 years that followed those old bones of Joseph were a constant reminder that, no matter how bad the situation may seem or how horrible the captivity may become, the day was coming when they would be delivered. That box of bones was Israel's source of encouragement during those long years of captivity.
The Pharaohs could pour out their fury on the Hebrews, they could try to crush the dreams and break the will of their slaves in Goshen but the fact remained that somewhere in the midst of the Hebrew camp was a box of bones that declared that "this too shall pass." Workloads could be doubled, task masters could become more violent and demanding, every male child could be slaughtered but there was a box of bones that carried a constant promise -- one of these days we are going to leave this place behind. For four hundred years that box of bones represented the hope of the Hebrews.
When deliverance finally came and the children of Israel found obstacles and armies standing in their way, that box of bones was a steady testimony that they were going to make it. When they had the Red Sea at their backs and the Egyptian army before them that box of bones said God is going to deliver you. When water was scarce and rebellion rose up in the camp that box of bones was a stark reminder that the journey doesn't end here -- we are going on to the promised land.
Eventually, the scripture tells us, they buried those bones at Shechem. The same Shechem where a dreamer was tossed in a dry well and sold by his brothers into slavery. It was at Shechem where that box of bones found their promise fulfilled. Joseph had returned home to be buried with the patriarchs and the word of God had been proven to be true once again.
The remarkable thing about the story is Joseph's forward looking faith that transmitted hope to the generations that would follow him that, although he would die in Egypt, the journey doesn't stop here. I proceeded to preach about the church. the foundation that was laid before us and the hope that has been passed down to us. This church is ordained by God and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Though Satan rages, though the economy falters, though our nation may fall into a moral abyss, this church is destined for revival. This church will be triumphant. And, one fine day, this church is leaving this old world behind. The journey doesn't end here. I've got a box of bones, the church, that declares we will be more than overcomers.
That's the view from the cheap seats on a Thursday afternoon!
The thought was basically that during the 400 years that followed those old bones of Joseph were a constant reminder that, no matter how bad the situation may seem or how horrible the captivity may become, the day was coming when they would be delivered. That box of bones was Israel's source of encouragement during those long years of captivity.
The Pharaohs could pour out their fury on the Hebrews, they could try to crush the dreams and break the will of their slaves in Goshen but the fact remained that somewhere in the midst of the Hebrew camp was a box of bones that declared that "this too shall pass." Workloads could be doubled, task masters could become more violent and demanding, every male child could be slaughtered but there was a box of bones that carried a constant promise -- one of these days we are going to leave this place behind. For four hundred years that box of bones represented the hope of the Hebrews.
When deliverance finally came and the children of Israel found obstacles and armies standing in their way, that box of bones was a steady testimony that they were going to make it. When they had the Red Sea at their backs and the Egyptian army before them that box of bones said God is going to deliver you. When water was scarce and rebellion rose up in the camp that box of bones was a stark reminder that the journey doesn't end here -- we are going on to the promised land.
Eventually, the scripture tells us, they buried those bones at Shechem. The same Shechem where a dreamer was tossed in a dry well and sold by his brothers into slavery. It was at Shechem where that box of bones found their promise fulfilled. Joseph had returned home to be buried with the patriarchs and the word of God had been proven to be true once again.
The remarkable thing about the story is Joseph's forward looking faith that transmitted hope to the generations that would follow him that, although he would die in Egypt, the journey doesn't stop here. I proceeded to preach about the church. the foundation that was laid before us and the hope that has been passed down to us. This church is ordained by God and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Though Satan rages, though the economy falters, though our nation may fall into a moral abyss, this church is destined for revival. This church will be triumphant. And, one fine day, this church is leaving this old world behind. The journey doesn't end here. I've got a box of bones, the church, that declares we will be more than overcomers.
That's the view from the cheap seats on a Thursday afternoon!
Posting Drought
I've been through a bit of a posting slump lately. Things have been extremely busy at the church in the run-up to Easter. We started a small paint project that turned into a major remodel. The good news is that I plan to put the final touches on that project tonight. Things should start slowing down a little for me now and I hope I can return to a more regular posting schedule.
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