Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 12– Evening

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

“I will sing of mercy and judgment.”

—Psalm 101:1

Faith always triumphs in trial. When reason is thrown into the inner prison, with her feet locked in ankle chains, faith makes the dungeon walls ring with her joyful melodies. She cries out, “I will sing of mercy and of judgment. Unto You, O Lord, will I sing.” Faith pulls the black mask from the face of trouble and discovers the angel beneath. Faith looks up at the dark clouds overhead and sees that they are filled with mercy and will soon shower blessings on her head.

There are many reasons for singing even while enduring the trials God brings our way. For instance, the trial we are experiencing is not as heavy as it might have been. It certainly is not as severe as we deserved. And, when we think of the burdens others have to carry, our affliction doesn’t seem to be quite as crushing.

Faith understands that, in her worst sorrow, there is no legal penalty being administered by the heavenly Judge; there is not a drop of God’s wrath in it; it is all sent in love. Faith discerns love gleaming like a jewel on the chest of an angry God. Faith says of her grief, “This is a badge of honor; it is like a child being disciplined by loving parents.” Faith sings of the sweet result of her sorrows because they work for her spiritual good. Even more than that, faith says, “These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are working out for me a much greater glory.” So faith rides forth on the black horse, conquering and to conquer, trampling down human reason and fleshly thoughts, chanting notes of victory amid the thickest fray of battle.

“All that I encounter assists me toward heavenly joy.
Though trials now attend me, they no longer annoy.
When I stand in glory, this pathway I’ll recall,
And that it led me surely to Him, my All-in-all.” [M&E]