Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 16– Evening

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

“Am I an ocean or a whale that you watch over me?'”

—Job 7:12

This was a strange question for Job to ask of the Lord. He felt himself to be too insignificant to be so strictly watched and disciplined, and he hoped that he was not so unruly as to need such restraint. We understand his question since he was enduring such great miseries. But, when you think of it, the question can be answered quite easily.

It is true man is not the size of an ocean, yet in his heart he is even more troublesome and unruly. The sea obediently respects its boundaries, and, though it is restrained by a mere belt of sand, it does not usually go beyond it. Mighty as it is, it listens to the divine command, and, even when raging with storms, it respects that command.

But the self-willed man defies heaven and oppresses earth, neither is there any end to his rebellious rage. The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity, rendering both active as well as passive obedience. But man is restless beyond his sphere. He is lazy when he should be active and active when he should be at rest. He neither comes nor goes at the divine command but angrily pursues his own way than to do that which is required of him.

Every drop in the ocean, every bit of foam, and every shell and pebble feel the power of law and yield or move at once. O that our nature was but one-thousandth as much conformed to the will of God! We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is! It has existed for ages, beating on the same cliffs to the same tune. It never changes. But where is vain and fickle man? Can the wise man guess by what foolishness he will next be seduced from his obedience? We need more watching than the stormy sea, for we are far more rebellious. Lord, please rule over us for your own glory. [M&E]