A Jot from John
There has been the common experience of godly men in all ages of the world, as may be seen by reading the following passages. “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: . . . Yet Jehovah will command his lovingkindness in the daytime; and in the night his song shall be with me.” (Psalm 42:6-8). “I call to remembrance my song in the night.” (Psalm 77:6). “Let the saints exult in glory: let them sing for joy upon their beds.” (Psalm 149:5). “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25).
Commenting on the passage, which was quoted last, we might ask, Where were they in these midnight hours, and what was their physical condition? The preceding verses inform us that they were in the inner prison, the darkest part of the dungeon; their bodies lacerated with stripes of the lictors, and their feet made fast in stocks. At ‘midnight,’ kind nature’s season for sleep, they were sleepless. They could not sleep; -- their bleeding wounds drove sleep away. Yet, instead of spending those midnight hours of physical torture in bitter imprecations on their enemies, or rebellious murmurings against heaven, they ‘prayed’ and ‘sang’. Those old prison walls, which were accustomed to echo groans and sighs, resounded now with unearthly strains of joy and praise. There was midnight without, but sunshine within; their bodies were in chains, but their souls were free. Their religion bore them aloft to regions of unrestricted liberty and unclouded light.”
The spirit which can sing in the night is the spirit which can rejoice in and praise God under all kinds of circumstances, even when they are extremely unfavorable. “And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly, being made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. (Heb. 10:32-36). “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23).
Onward Rejoicing, John B Daniels Associate Minister
