Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 January 17– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“In the evening that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the king’s house.” 

—2 Samuel 11:2

It was in the evening hour that David saw Bathsheba. This ought to tell us that we are never out of temptation’s reach. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the evening still finds us in jeopardy. Whomever God keeps, he keeps well, but those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk in their own house unarmed, are in danger. Those who think themselves secure are most susceptible. The armor-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.

David should have been fighting the Lord’s battles (since it was the time of year when kings went out to war), but, instead, we find him in Jerusalem. He was laying around the house, for it says that he “arose from his bed in the evening.” Laziness and luxury are the devil’s jackals, and they find him lots of prey. In stagnant water noxious creatures swarm, and untended soil soon becomes a patch of weeds. O, for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active in his service! If the King of Israel can leave his couch and fall immediately into temptation, let me always take warning to guard my heart.

Perhaps the king had gone for a walk on his housetop for reflection and devotion. If so, what a caution we have to count no place, however secret, a sanctuary from sin! Since our hearts are like a tinder-box and sparks are so plentiful, we ought always to be careful not to catch on fire. Satan can climb housetops and enter closets.  And, even if we could shut out that foul fiend, the corruptions of our own hearts are enough to bring us to ruin unless grace prevents them.

Reader, beware of evening temptations. The sun is down, but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O, blessed Spirit, keep us from evil tonight. [M&E]