04172021 Songs in the Night

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our personal and caring God. God takes notice of us, and His kind heart desires to help us. Even in the darkest times, we can know His comfort.

Lesson #34. God does give songs in the night to those who earnestly seek Him. The phrase "songs in the night" is comforting and well-known, but it is found within a context. Elihu has rather pointedly called Job to examine his speech; Elihu's "words without knowledge" evaluation both precedes (34:35) and follows (35:16) this admonition.

Job's poorly-chosen words have echoed those of all humanity. He has claimed to be right so strongly as to imply God was wrong (35:2, see chapters 9 & 16). He has complained that living righteously holds no benefit (35:3, see chapters 29-31). Elihu provides perspective, pointing out God's exalted position, and reminding Job that neither his wickedness nor his righteousness would change anything about who God is (35:4-8).

Elihu states that Job is crying out just like all of humanity cries out in times of suffering (35:9 & 12). In many cases, God does not answer those cries, not because He does not notice or does not care, but because of the nature of those crying out. Many who cry out do not have a relationship with God or a proper approach to Him. They are evil men with pride in their hearts, and their cries are empty (35:12-13). This was not the case with Job, but even Job's cries had an impediment. Elihu says that God does not respond to the cries of the wicked, and then cites Job's words of doubt, "although thou sayest thou shalt not see Him" (35:14 - see chapter 23).

Along with their rebuke, Elihu's words also hold hope. They give assurance that God will respond to the right kind of prayer from the right kind of heart. "Yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him" (35:14). Elihu is urging Job to call earnestly and sincerely and to wait patiently for God's answer.

The heart of the encouragement is found in verses 10-11: "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'" Here is the reason people don't receive answers from God; it is because in the midst of their complaint, they fail to acknowledge who God really is. For the most part, people simply do not pray this way. ("But none saith.") If they would pray this way, they would see the beautiful reality of the God they are acknowledging. There are three components.

First, "God my maker." This is clearly an acknowledgement of who God is, but it is also a comfort. Man is not just an accident; he was designed by God. If God makes a man, God knows that man's needs. God knows how to care for him. If God makes a man, He can preserve that man and help him. God has the power and the oversight to continue His interactions with His creations.

Second, "who giveth songs in the night." Sometimes man simply needs to choose to sing the songs in the night. He must remember truth about God and deliberately focus on it. Such exercises of belief are sources of comfort. Often, however, there is a very special sense in which God deliberately and tenderly ministers comfort to His children. He brings His truth to their minds - thoughts, verses, songs - when those people are perhaps too exhausted to focus, too overwhelmed to seek, too discouraged to hope, and too broken to do anything. In those settings, God brings a little truth about Himself. That truth becomes a song of comfort, healing, hope, and assurance. For someone to be reminded that he has a God who is what God is - this is the substance of heart songs. This is what can bring hope and joy in even the blackest night.

Third, "who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven." God does notice man and takes a special interest in Him. God helps man on his journey. God teaches man to be better than beasts. He is not a detached creator who leaves man to muddle through on his own. He is a God who follows through and who gives man every opportunity to develop a relationship with Him and have a meaningful existence on this earth.

This verse about "songs in the night" is in itself an appropriate "song in the night." It reminds us of who God is and of His deliberate interaction with and tender care of the people He loves. If we know this God and will cry out to Him in proper recognition, He will not only answer, but He will respond by giving us a song of comfort and hope. We must earnestly call and then expectantly wait for the song and answer that God will surely give.

May God give you many songs this week, both in the day and in night. May those songs help you to focus on Him and rejoice in Him as He guides you and cares for you each day.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA