Going Oat With Joy
We can go out with joy and confidence, trusting in God's providence and presence, and praising Him in every movement.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the joy of going out, drawing from the blessing of Zebulun in Deuteronomy 33:18. He encourages believers to rejoice in their journeys, whether traveling, emigrating, or serving as missionaries, reminding them that God's providence accompanies them. Spurgeon highlights that even amidst fears of the unknown, the promise of God's presence should inspire joy and praise in every endeavor. He urges the faithful to carry this blessing in their hearts and express it through joyful songs and actions. Ultimately, he calls for a life marked by rejoicing in the Lord's continual companionship.
Text
And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out. (Deuteronomy 33:18)
The blessings of the tribes are ours; for we are the true Israel who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh. Zebulun is to rejoice because Jehovah will bless his "going out"; we also see a promise for ourselves lying latent in this benediction. When we go out we will look out for occasions of joy.
We go out to travel, and the providence of God is our convoy. We go out to emigrate, and the Lord is with us both on land and sea. We go out as missionaries, and Jesus saith, "Lo, I am with you unto the end of the world." We go out day by day to labor, and we may do so with pleasure, for God will be with us from morn till eve.
A fear sometimes creeps over us when starting, for we know not what we may meet with; but this blessing may serve us right well as a word of good cheer. As we pack up for moving, let us put this verse into our traveling trunk; let us drop it into our hearts and keep it there; yea, let us lay it on our tongue to make us sing. Let us weigh anchor with a song, or jump into the carriage with a psalm. Let us belong to the rejoicing tribe and in our every movement praise the Lord with joyful hearts.
Sermon Outline
- The Blessing of Going Out
- Overcoming Fear with Faith
- The Promise of God's Presence
- The Blessing of Travel and Emigration
- The Blessing of Missionary Work
- The Power of Good Cheer
- The Importance of Praise and Worship
Key Quotes
“We go out to travel, and the providence of God is our convoy.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Let us weigh anchor with a song, or jump into the carriage with a psalm.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Let us belong to the rejoicing tribe and in our every movement praise the Lord with joyful hearts.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We can trust in God's providence and presence as we travel, emigrate, or labor.
- Praising the Lord helps us to have a positive attitude and to belong to the rejoicing tribe.
- We can use the promise of God's presence to give us good cheer and confidence when starting something new.