Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–
September 10– Evening
by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff
“[The Chaldeans] are fiercer than evening wolves.'”
—Habakkuk 1:8
While preparing the present volume, I saw the expression “evening wolves” so frequently that, in order to address its constant appeal, I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf was infuriated by a day of hunger and, therefore, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. This dynamic can represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous mocking from our fellow men. How our thoughts howl in our ears, “Where is your God now?” How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort and remaining as hungry as before.
Great Shepherd, put these evening wolves to death, and let your sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How similar are the fiends of hell to evening wolves; when the flock of Christ is living through a cloudy and dark day, the sun goes down and the devils are quick to tear and devour. They won’t attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but, in the gloom of soul conflict, they fall upon him. O, you who have laid down your life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf.
False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring men by their falsehoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their element; deceit is their character; destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep’s skin. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church.
What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors of the church are converted and become its champions. When this happens the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel, ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many like this we pray. [M&E]
