Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
October 30
Morning
"I will
praise Thee, O Lord."—Psalm 9:1.
Praise should always follow
answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of
heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and
inclined His ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise Him as long as
thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile
soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to Him who hath answered thy
prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies
is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine
lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give
thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of
promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to
excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens the pulse of the believer, and
nerves him for fresh enterprises in his Master's service. To bless God for
mercies received is also the way to benefit our fellow-men;
"the humble shall hear thereof and be glad." Others who have been in
like circumstances shall take comfort if we can say, "Oh! magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name
together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." Weak hearts will
be strengthened, and drooping saints will be revived as they listen to our
"songs of deliverance." Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we
teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. They
too shall "sing in the ways of the Lord," when they hear us magnify
His holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray
not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed
in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, are never weary of singing
the new song, "Worthy is the Lamb."
Evening
"Thou
that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken
to Thy voice: cause me to hear it."—Song of Solomon 8:13.
My sweet Lord Jesus
remembers well the garden of Gethsemane, and although He has left that garden,
He now dwells in the garden of His church: there He unbosoms
Himself to those who keep His blessed company. That voice of love with which He
speaks to His beloved is more musical than the harps of heaven. There is a
depth of melodious love within it which leaves all human music far behind. Ten
of thousands on earth, and millions above, are indulged with its harmonious
accents. Some whom I well know, and whom I greatly envy, are at this moment
hearkening to the beloved voice. O that I were a
partaker of their joys! It is true some of these are poor, others bedridden,
and some near the gates of death, but O my Lord, I would cheerfully starve with
them, pine with them, or die with them, if I might but hear Thy voice. Once I
did hear it often, but I have grieved Thy Spirit. Return unto me in compassion,
and once again say unto me, "I am thy salvation." No other voice can
content me; I know Thy voice, and cannot be deceived by another, let me hear it,
I pray thee. I know not what Thou wilt say, neither do I make any condition, O
my Beloved, do but let me hear Thee speak, and if it be a rebuke I will bless
Thee for it. Perhaps to cleanse my dull ear may need an operation very grievous
to the flesh, but let it cost what it may I turn not
from the one consuming desire, cause me to hear Thy voice. Bore my ear afresh;
pierce my ear with Thy harshest notes, only do not permit me to continue deaf
to Thy calls. To-night, Lord, grant Thine unworthy one his desire, for I am Thine,
and Thou hast bought me with Thy blood. Thou hast opened mine eye to see Thee,
and the sight has saved me. Lord, open Thou mine ear. I have read Thy heart, now let me hear Thy lips.