Back in chapter 35 of Job, Elihu,
as we see in verse 1, is the speaker here. He's the youngest
of all those that came to Job in his time of distress. And
being the youngest, he was polite enough to wait till the other
three had ended their speculation and accusation No wonder Job
called them miserable comforters. They said, Job, the only explanation
there could be why you're going through all this, you've sinned
against God. It's got to be the reason. So
we've come to help you figure out what that sin is. Of course,
they were wrong. But then Elihu, after they've
said their peace, he begins to speak. And his speech begins
in chapter 32 and goes all the way through chapter 37. He was
long-winded. Elihu seems to come closer than
the other three in understanding Job's circumstances. He was somewhat
different. In his words to Job, then those
armchair theologians, they had never been in Job's shoes. They
couldn't identify with him. They didn't know how Job felt. Can you imagine what a burden
that added to Job's already heavy burden that they came to him? This man had lost everything.
He was once the richest, now he's the poorest. He was once
well-spoken of and looked up to and sought out for his wisdom
and advice. Now he's the mockery of his neighborhood.
He's lost all of his children. His wife tells him, why don't
you curse God and die? Why do you maintain your faith,
your integrity in such a God as that? No wonder Job said,
miserable, miserable comforters are ye all. But then Elihu begins
to speak. Look, if you will, in chapter
32. And his own words, Elihu's own words,
gives us a pretty good inkling. that although he said some things
better than Job's three other friends, he was still far off
the mark, and he omits it here, although he probably didn't realize
it. Verse 10, therefore, chapter 32, verse 10, therefore, I said,
hearken to me, I also will show mine opinion. Mine opinion. That's what it was, his opinion. He didn't know the reason any
more than the other three for what Job was going through, but
he did give his opinion. And he did, as we said, seem
to speak with some insight more than the other two. But Job really,
at the very beginning of his tragedy, of his trial, of his
loss, of his heartache, hit the nail on the head himself. He
said, the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Remember that?
Blessed be the name of the Lord. This is the Lord's doing. So
much for man's opinion, whether that man be young or old. But
the fact is, Job didn't know why. He didn't know why. Why God had sent this, why God
had allowed Satan to so afflict him as he did. Job wasn't privy
when Satan went before God and challenged him. He said, the
only reason Job's serving you, you've blessed him on every hand.
You allow me to take away those things and he'll curse you to
your face because he's only serving you because of what he can get
out of it. And God allowed Satan to do it.
Allowed Satan to do it. And, of course, Satan is no rival
to God. You'd be surprised, or perhaps
you wouldn't be. How many folks have that false
notion that Satan is a rival to God, that he's somehow co-equal
to God. Oh, no, no, no. He's God's devil
and he's on God's leash. And oftentimes that seems like
a very long leash, but he's still on God's leash. He can only go
so far, as far as God will allow him to go, and he can go no further. But Job didn't know that. Job
didn't know about Satan going before God and the challenge
that he gave God. Job didn't have any idea. So
therefore, why all this was taking place, Job didn't know. Like our Lord told his disciples,
Peter especially, that night when he instituted the Lord's
Supper and he washed the disciples' feet, when he came to Peter,
Peter said, You won't wash my feet. I can't
allow you to wash my feet. You remember what the Lord said
to him? What I doest, thou knowest not now, Peter, but you shall
know hereafter. And that's the case with God's
people much of the time. What he's doing in our lives,
what comes to pass, the trials, the heartaches, we often wonder,
just to be honest, just like Job, Why is this happening? And we think of that blessed
promise, all things work together for good to them who love God,
to them who are thee called according to his purpose, but then deep
in our hearts we're saying, I don't see how. What good can come of
this? It reminds me, I think, of old
William Cowper, or Cooper, some people pronounce it, and you
probably know the hymn I'm going to quote. He wrote this. And it's so true, so true. God
moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform. He plants
his footsteps in the sea, and he rides upon the storm. Deep
in unfathomable minds of never-failing skill, he treasures up his bright
designs and works his sovereign will. That's comforting. That's
comforting. But he also wrote, blind unbelief
is sure to err. As we see in the case of Job's
three friends and this young man as well. Blind unbelief is
sure to err and scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter
and he will make it plain as he did to Job afterwards. But look, if you will, back in
chapter 35, at verse 9 and 10. By reason of the multitude of
oppressions, they make the oppressed to cry. They cry out by reason
of the arm of the mighty. But none saith, where is God
my maker, who giveth songs in the night? Where is God my maker? The question is not whether God
gives his children, during their times of darkness, songs in the
night. That's not the question, is it? The question is, why doesn't
his children ask him to? Why don't they ask that one,
the God, their maker, who giveth songs in the night, to come to
them in mercy and grace? That was the question. While
men are in trials and difficulty, And I think this is what the
verses are saying. They focus so much on their circumstances. Did I say they? I focus so much
on the circumstance and look everywhere for help except to
my God. And that makes the case worse,
doesn't it, Lord? I mean, to lean to the arm of
flesh for that grace which only can come from the God of all
grace doesn't help the situation at all, does it? It makes it
even worse. A good example of that is Peter.
Remember when our Lord, after feeding the 5,000, he put his
disciples, or commanded them, rather, to get in a ship and
pass over to the other side while he sent the multitude away. While they're on their journey,
a great storm comes up, and the Lord comes to them, a faithful shepherd. Nothing,
nothing, nothing can keep the shepherd from his sheep. But
he comes to them walking on the water. Chapter 14, it says this
of Matthew, verse 25, and in the fourth watch of the night,
the early hours of the morning, Jesus went unto them walking
on the sea. And when the disciples saw him
walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It's a spirit.
And they cried out for fear. Straightway, straightway. Jesus
spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer. It is I. It is I. Be not afraid. And Peter answered
him and said, Lord, if it be thou, if it's really you, bid
me come unto thee and come to thee on the water. And the Lord
said, come, come. I admire Peter. I don't hear
John or James or Andrew or any other saying that. Peter said,
I'll come to you. You just bid me come. And Peter
comes down out of the boat on that stormy sea, and when Peter
was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go
to Jesus. What faith, what dedication. He'll come out of that boat of
safety, Get on the stormy sea to go to his Lord, to go to Jesus. So far, so good. Verse 30, but. But. When he saw, that is Peter,
but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. And beginning
to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus
stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him,
O thou of little faith, wherefore did thou doubt? Peter got out
of the ship, and you know the story. It's a simple lesson,
but a good one, isn't it? A needful one. As long as his
eyes were on Christ, as long as Christ was the center of his
focus, attention, desire, all was well, all was well, but the
very moment, This is what Elihu asked. Men think so much about
their difficulties. They're so wrapped up in their
trials, they forget to ask, where is God my maker that give us
songs in the night? Peter is an example of that.
He takes his eyes off Christ, begins to look at the angry waves. Can't look at both at once. and
he begins to sink. When he saw the wind boisterous,
when he changed his focus, he became afraid. As long as he
looked at King Jesus, no fear, but when he turned away, down
he went. Been there, haven't you? We all
have. Oh, for grace to keep our eyes,
and it takes grace. It's not in us by nature. Oh,
for grace when the storms of life are raging, for grace to
cast my eyes upon God my maker who giveth songs in the night.
The problem is not with God, is it? No, no. God is always with his own. The
problem is we don't look to the hills from whence cometh our
help. Our help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.
Fellow believer, I don't need to spend a minute of this message
proving to you that we have our times of darkness. You don't need that proof till
you do. You have your night hours. You have your times of darkness. You've had your nights and we
yet will. Those nights of weeping, Weeping
may endure for the night, but the verse doesn't stop there,
does it? It doesn't stop there. But joy
cometh in the morning. Yeah, though God's people have
their nights, Thank God, we no longer abide in darkness. A vast difference, a vast difference. Yes, we have our times of night
seasons, but we no longer abide in darkness. If we did, we would
be lost. Unbelievers abide in darkness.
They live in darkness, not so with the child of God. Turn,
if you will, to 1 Thessalonians. This is exactly what the apostle
Paul is telling the church of Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. As you read these words, I'll
send up thanks to your God that it's so. Verse 4, but ye, brethren... Now, Paul has said the children
of the world, darkness, they don't know any better. Oh, but
you, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake
you as a thief. Ye are the children of light.
Children of light. and the children of the day.
We are not of the night, nor of darkness." Oh, thank God. I once was in darkness. I was
engulfed in darkness. And just as the Lord said, men
love darkness rather than light. Love the darkness. Blinded by
the darkness. We were once that way, just like
lost people are now. Oh, but by His grace, by His
grace, the Lord God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness
when He said, let there be light, in the same way, with the same
power, have shined in our hearts to give us the knowledge of God
in the face of Jesus Christ. Christ said, I'm the light of
life. If any man follow me, he shall
not walk in darkness. God called us out of darkness.
Yes, we were once blind, but not anymore. Not anymore. Now we see. God called us out
and we came. Effectually. Thank God the believer
no longer abides in darkness. We've been... made to see, to
see the Lamb of God, to see our need being brought to Christ,
the light of the world. Turn, if you will, to 1 John
chapter 5, and then we'll come back to our text there in Job.
Or listen while I read 1 John chapter 1, I'm sorry. Look what
he says here. And notice how emphatic John
says. There's no room here for a Christian,
a so-called Christian, abiding in darkness. John says that's
not true. That cannot be. He says that's
impossible. Now, I know we live in a time
when easy-believe-ism, because It's produced a multitude of
people who have made a profession and said the sinner's prayer,
but they show no evidence whatsoever of knowing God. What are we going
to do with all these people? Preachers, instead of confessing
something's wrong with what they've been listening to and what those
preachers have told them, have said, they're carnal Christians.
They've never bowed to King Jesus. John says, that's a lie. They're
still in darkness. What's going to happen to them?
They're going to lose some reward. Oh, no. No. No such thing. Look
what John writes here in chapter 1, verse 5. This then is the
message which we have heard of him and declare unto you, that
God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we
have fellowship with him and we walk in darkness, Walk in
darkness. Now, you know, walk in the Word
of God means the way we live, our manner of life, our whole
life. If we walk that way, if we walk
in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. We're deceived. But
if we walk in the light, If we walk in the light as he is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Oh yes, grace does make a difference,
does it not? Makes all the difference. Now,
now we can sing of our God who called us out of darkness into
his marvelous light. We can say, yes, I once was blind,
but not anymore. Yes, I once was lost, but not
anymore. Yes, I once loved the world,
but not anymore. Grace has made a difference.
To deny that is to deny the grace of God. Yes, as Paul said in
1 Corinthians 15, I'm not worthy to be called an apostle. I persecuted
the church of God. I was a blasphemer. I was injurious. A persecutor of God's church.
Oh, that's true. But Paul didn't stop there. He
said, but I'm not that way anymore. But I am what I am by the grace
of God. It makes a difference. One description
of heaven is it's that city that has no need of the light. Because the Lamb is the light
thereof. There's no darkness there. It's
all light. It's all light. Nothing there
that needs to be hid in the shadows. It's all light. It's all perfect. Our God, our Redeemer, the Shepherd,
the Bridegroom, and so is His Bride. Nothing to be ashamed
of. No regrets in glory. That city
of light. No dark valleys there. But we're
not there yet, are we, Lord? As Job had his night season,
so do you and I. But the children of God yet have
their night times. In the world, our Lord said,
ye shall have tribulation. Expect it. It's so. Often we find ourselves on a
stormy sea and it grows dark. And our hearts grow faint. Oh, but God, my maker, he give
us songs in the night, does he not? I said a moment ago, no
need to spend any time proving to you that God's people have
their night season. You know it. You've experienced
it yourself. All but know this too. This is
your experience as well. He giveth songs in the night.
That's the title of my message. Night songs. They're the best
kind. They're the best kind. To multiplied
sorrows, He gives multiplied grace. First of all, where do
they come from? The songs that God only can give. He's the giver. They come from
Him. Mr. Spurgeon said, anybody can
sing in the daytime. He meant when everything's well,
when my health is fine, when my bank account is in pretty
good shape, sure, I can sing God's praises then. Oh, but what
about in the nighttime, when the night comes, like it did
to Job? I once heard about a fellow who
lived in a neighborhood where there had been some burglaries
going on, people breaking into homes and stuff. This man professed
to be a believer. And he said, well, I'm going
to just trust God. But he got about six extra deadbolts for
his front door, loaded up his shotgun and put it under his
bed, put his pistol under his pillow, and I don't know what
else. He said, I'm trusting God. Didn't seem like he gave too
much elbow room for faith to exercise, did it? No. No, we look to God our maker. If he's worth trusting in the
daytime, he's worth trusting at night, or those night seasons
when the bottom falls out, as we put it. Will you curse God
and die?" his wife asked. Or, why don't you curse God and
die? Remember, Job's just a man, and
the best of men are just men at their best. Job wasn't made
out of anything different than you and I. That's exactly right,
Louie. He was just a man. James said,
remember, Job, you've seen the patience of God, how he's of
tender mercy. He was just flesh, but he was
God's man. Now, that matters. That matters. Yes, he was just a man, but he
was God's man. In the very first verse of the
very first chapter, Job was a man who feared God. He worshipped
God. And God said to Satan, have you
considered my servant Job? He belongs to me. He's mine. God chose Job. God loved Job
with an everlasting love. And although it was difficult
for Job to perceive while he was going through all this, all
this loss, all this heartache, God's love to Job hadn't changed
one iota. Still loved him with an everlasting
love. And oh, bless his name. He can give us songs in the night.
Can he? Can he? In Isaiah chapter 50,
listen to this verse. It speaks along this very line
in Isaiah 50 verse 10. Who is among you that feareth
the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh
in darkness? Now, he's talking to believers.
who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice
of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light, is
going through a night's season. Let him trust in the name of
the Lord and stay upon his God." That word, stay, means just throw
all your weight, just roll all the weight of your soul upon
your God. Like that picture of the bride
coming up out of the wilderness in the Song of Solomon, leaning
upon her beloved, upon her bridegroom. Christ said, casting all your
care upon him. Why? Because he cares for you. He can bear it. It's no problem
on his mighty shoulders. He's already proven that, hasn't
He? He's already proven that He can turn the greatest sorrow
into joy. He's already proven to this sinner
that He turned my darkest night into my brightest day, my darkness
into light. What do I mean? I mean when I
lived in darkness. And He came to me. and turned
the light on. He called me out of darkness
into His marvelous light. Oh, what darkness that was! That
darkness like in the land of Egypt that night, that could
be felt. The darkness of the blindness and depravity of my
fallen nature. The darkness that didn't see
my need, didn't see Christ, didn't see my need of mercy, lived and
breathed, did everything and never gave God a thought. What
darkness. And then, I like old Barnard's
expression, when God got me lost. When God in sovereign mercy said,
arrest that man, come down sinner. Oh, how he changed my tune. This
rebel soon found himself crying, how can I be just with God? How can God have mercy on me? Oh, what a night. But like the psalmist, I waited
patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me and heard my
cry. He brought me up also out of
a horrible pit, out of the murray clay, and he set my feet up on
a rock, and he established my goings, and he put a new song
in my mouth. A new song in my mouth. What? Even praising to our God. This is Psalm 40. Many shall
see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Oh yes, God our
maker gives his children songs in the night. Songs in their
dark valleys. Like that once Horatio Spatford,
I think is his name, wrote that song, It Is Well With My Soul. That man had lost children, had
lost his business in the great Chicago fire. While he stayed
to take care of business and his family sailed across the
sea, I don't remember exactly, but he lost some of his children.
The ship went down and he lost two daughters, I think. He crossed
over after that and he asked someone, the captain of the ship,
the spot or near the area where that may have happened The captain
said, I think he was here. I know the man that was on that
vessel. I think he was near this area
where we're at now. Oh, my soul, what an evidence that he gives
songs in the night because that man sat down and wrote, when
peace like a river attendeth my way, or sorrows like sea billows
roll, whatever my lot, He hath taught me to say, It is well,
it is well with my soul. He giveth songs in the night,
because the foundation of God standeth sure. I mentioned a
moment ago, I used the expression, when the bottom falls out, but
this bottom never falls out, does it? Oh, not the foundation
upon which the church of God is built. It never falls out. Yes, child of God, a believer
may fall, They may fall. They do fall. But bless His name,
they can never fall away. They can never fall away. How
can you fall out of the reach of the everlasting arms of God
Almighty? How can you get beyond that?
You can't. Underneath every child of God
are the everlasting arms. I remember years ago, Children
were still young. I took them out one afternoon,
and we stopped along a creek, parked the car, and we walked
over, and we were sitting on the bank of this creek as it
was going by with our feet, took our shoes off with our feet dangling
in the water. I'm right here. Misty's here,
my daughter, Larry Dale, and the youngest one, Roger. and
I'm watching him, but just this quick, I look and there goes
a little blonde head just going by. There was a waterfall right
below there. It wasn't wise for Dad probably
to even be there with him, but I reached in and grabbed him.
That quick, if he'd have went over that fall. Oh, that's our
God. That's our Heavenly Father. Oh
yes, we may fall, but bless His holy name. We'll fall right into
the arms of God our Maker. who give us songs in the night. The old Puritan said, when I
find myself in the cellar of affliction, I remember that my
heavenly Father keeps his best wine there, and I begin to look
for it, and I'm soon drinking wine on the leaves well refined. Yes, to multiplied sorrow, he
gives multiplied grace. Our God can and does give songs
in the night, doesn't he? That's an evidence of the power
of his grace. Paul will still, after praying
three times concerning that thorn in the flesh, that thorn will
still be there. The messenger of Satan will still
buffet him. Oh, but God gave him a song in
the night, didn't he? My grace is sufficient for you,
Paul. My grace is sufficient. And hear
Paul sing. with the thorn yet in his flesh,
he sees that I'll glory in the infirmities that the power of
God may rest upon me." Paul said, it's worth it. It's worth it.
And the evidence of his love? Oh yes, he always does what's
best for us, does he not? He always works all things whether
we know it or not, and I doubt that we seldom, or I figure we
seldom do. but he works all things together
for our good. We may not see how, we may not
know why. Job didn't, but he did. And all the joy, the joy, when he brings us to the place,
a good place to be, when we're forced, when we're forced to
look to nobody but him, that's a good place to be. not to lean
upon my own arm of flesh or anyone else, but to look unto my God
that gives songs in the night. For those resting on the rock
of ages, their foundation is secure. I love what our Lord
said. The gates of hell shall not prevail.
Satan says, I shall prevail. And Christ says, ye shall not.
Ye shall not. Satan said, when he was yet in
heaven, I will ascend up to the throne of the most high God.
I'll be like him. And God said, no, you won't.
No, you won't. Ye shall not. Job, by the grace
of God, will not curse his maker. God proved to Job and us the
power of His grace. His grace. Oh, I tire, weary
of hearing men talk about the grace of God as though it's just
an offer or something a man can get hold of and use. No, the
grace of God is God working in you, both the will and the do
of His good pleasure. The grace of God is He that's
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ. That's His promise. The salvation
of sinners has much to do with the glory of God, does it not? God's glory is at stake in the
salvation of a sinner. If all those He loved and chose
and Christ redeemed, if they're all not brought to glory, If
they're all not gathered around the throne, if they all don't
see the face of the one who loved them and gave himself for them,
who will be the blame? The one who promised that he
would bring them there. And bless God, it'll never happen. All that the Father giveth me
will come to me. They'll come to me here. They'll
hear my voice. They'll come to me throughout
their journey. I'll keep them. Nobody will pluck them out. and
they're going to come to me in eternity, that where I am, there
they may be also. The song, the song giver is God
our maker. The song God gives, briefly,
they're songs of praise, are they not? Songs of worship, songs
of hope. But sweet good news the gospel
brings, it bids me fly and gives me wings. with these my heavy
soul may fly away to Christ and reach the sky. Nor faint nor
falter in the race, but walk with cheer and sing of grace. Be cheerful in the God our Maker. Let others see the joy of our
salvation in our life. We sorrow, yes, we do sorrow. We have our night season, but
we don't sorrow like others who have no hope. or we have a good
hope through grace, do we not? Those without Christ should mourn."
Oh, I remember Daniel Parks telling the story in a message
once he preached. I listened to it on a cassette. And he said the night before,
his son, Little Moose, D, called him up. Daniel, the daddy had
prayed for that rebel for years. And he called him up and he said,
Daddy, I'm lost. I'm lost. Moose said he'd been
praying to hear those words for years. I'm lost. Oh, that our
sons and our daughters, our loved ones, yes, they should mourn. They should mourn. Oh, that God
would bring them to mourn over their sins, that they would seek
His mercy and grace, because they have without Christ no hope.
But we, believers, have a good hope. We have Christ. All that
He is is ours. Paul said, in Him dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you're complete. Well, why
wouldn't we be? If we're in Him, all the Godhead,
complete. When life is over, I shall be
with Him. I think it was Terry, Reminded
me I'm getting old. And I reminded him I'm a couple
months younger than he is. And Lester agreed with him before
service started. And I reminded him I'm younger
than you too. There's not enough difference in our ages to make
any difference, is there? Therefore, I suspect we all think
about that more than we did 30 or 40 years ago. Or how frail
we are, how soon this vapor is going to vanish away, and then
we'll open our eyes in glory. We'll be with him. We'll be with
him. I'm sure of that. I'm convinced
of it, unless he lied. Unless Jesus Christ lied. I don't
even like the sound of that. Don't even like the sound of
that. He said, if it were not so, I would have told you. I'm
going to prepare a place for you. and I'll come back for you."
Yes, he'd give us songs in the night. That hymn that we've sung
once or twice lately, God leads his dear children along. I remember
years ago reading a story. The man who wrote that hymn was
G.A. Young. And there was a newspaper publisher
sent out one of his reporters, because that song at that time
was so popular. Seemed to be such a blessing
to folks, and he wanted to do a little history of it, find
out about it. The man who wrote it. Well, he
went to where the G.A. Young had lived, but found out
he had died. He was gone. But was told that
his wife, his widow, was still around. But he couldn't find
her. But he searched and found her. You know where she was?
In what they called a poorhouse. And he had second thoughts, this
reporter. He was reluctant to approach her. He didn't want
to embarrass her. And he said, you know what I
found? I found one of the most contented, happiest ladies I
ever met in my life. We sat down and talked and she
told me about her husband writing that hymn and said, it's true.
God leads His dear children along. Because He brought me here. And
she said, I've met so many lonely people. So many people, poor
and lonely, that I've been able to help, that I've been a blessing
to." She said, isn't it marvelous how God leads His dear children
along? He gave us songs in the night,
and may God give us grace to sing songs in our night for His
glory. These are the best songs, are
they not? The ones we remember the most. After bringing us out
into the light, When I can read my title clear, oh, we appreciate
him so much more. We marvel at his grace so much
more, or so less likely to take it for granted when he brings
us out of that night season. Turn, if you will, to Revelation
chapter 2. I'll conclude this by reading one of my favorite
portions of God's Word, Revelation chapter 7. I'm sorry, chapter
7. Verse 9, John writes, After this
I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of
all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and
palms in their hands. Oh, what a sight! And cried with
a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which setteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb. They have no doubt about who
saved them, do they? And all the angels stood round
about the throne and about the elders and the four beasts and
fell before the throne on their faces and worshipped God, saying,
Amen. It's so. Blessing and glory and
wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our
God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered
and said unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes,
and whence came they? I said, Sir, thou knowest. And
he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth on
the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more, Neither shall the sun light on them nor
any heat for the lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes." There'll be no more night seasons there,
will there? Fanny Crosby, y'all have all
heard of her. She wrote so many, so many hymns. I don't know how many's in our
hymn book. But she was born blind. I read this the other day. It
said, though she was born blind, she never complained about her
blindness. She even wrote, as a very young
girl, she wrote this. Oh, what a happy soul am I. Although
I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will
be. How many blessings I enjoy that
other people don't. To weep and sigh because I'm
blind, I cannot and I won't. A preacher was visiting her one
time and he said, I think it's a great pity that the master
who showered you with so many gifts didn't give you sight.
And this was her answer. She said to that preacher, do
you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition
to my creator, it would have been that I should be born blind?
Why, he asked. Because when I get to heaven,
the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that
of my savior, she replied. She wrote on page 502, She wrote
a hymn there entitled, My Savior First of All. A part of it goes
like this. When my life work is ended and
I cross the swelling tide, when the bright and glorious morning
I shall see, I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other
side and His smile will be the first to welcome me. Oh, the
soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face and the luster
of His kindly beaming eye. how my full heart will praise
Him for the mercy, love, and grace that prepared for me a
mansion in the sky. Yes, the God of all grace gives
songs in the night. Amen. We're getting a low battery signal
there. I've turned it off, but it won't... It looks like it's only got a
couple of watts. But I don't know why it won't
go off. Let me see something. Maybe you have to do it in this
order.