She Called His Name Ben-Oni
Faith helps us to see the mercy of the child's birth even in the midst of sorrow and death, and to find good in every adversity.
Philippians Newton and S Lewis Johnson emphasize the urgency for believers to awaken from spiritual lethargy, symbolized by 'sleep', and to be alert to the imminent return of the Lord. Bruce Goettsche and Bethany Bible sermon notes highlight the need for Christians to shake off a hypnotic state induced by worldly distractions and to live with a sense of urgency and expectation for Christ's return. The metaphor of 'sleep' is used to describe passive, indifferent Christians who lack enthusiasm for righteous living and serving God. The exhortation is to wake up, live with an eternal perspective, and be actively engaged in faith while anticipating the glorious day of salvation.
Text
To every matter there is a bright as well as a dark side. Rachel was overwhelmed with the sorrow of her own travail and death; Jacob, though weeping the mother's loss, could see the mercy of the child's birth. It is well for us if, while the flesh mourns over trials, our faith triumphs in divine faithfulness. Samson's lion yielded honey, and so will our adversities, if rightly considered. The stormy sea feeds multitudes with its fishes; the wild wood blooms with beauteous flowerets; the stormy wind sweeps away the pestilence, and the biting frost loosens the soil.
Dark clouds distil bright drops, and black earth grows gay flowers. A vein of good is to be found in every mine of evil. Sad hearts have peculiar skill in discovering the most disadvantageous point of view from which to gaze upon a trial; if there were only one slough in the world, they would soon be up to their necks in it, and if there were only one lion in the desert they would hear it roar. About us all there is a tinge of this wretched folly, and we are apt, at times, like Jacob, to cry, "All these things are against me."
Faith's way of walking is to cast all care upon the Lord, and then to anticipate good results from the worst calamities. Like Gideon's men, she does not fret over the broken pitcher, but rejoices that the lamp blazes forth the more. Out of the rough oyster-shell of difficulty she extracts the rare pearl of honour, and from the deep ocean-caves of distress she uplifts the priceless coral of experience. When her flood of prosperity ebbs, she finds treasures hid in the sands; and when her sun of delight goes down, she turns her telescope of hope to the starry promises of heaven. When death itself appears, faith points to the light of resurrection beyond the grave, thus making our dying Benoni to be our living Benjamin.
Sermon Outline
- The Bright and Dark Sides of Trials
- The Folly of Focusing on the Negative
- Faith's Way of Walking
- The Value of Difficulties and Distresses
- Rachel's Sorrow and Jacob's Mercy
- Finding Good in Every Adversity
- Jacob's Complaining Spirit
- The Importance of Faith in Trials
- Casting Care on the Lord
- Anticipating Good Results from Calamities
- Extracting Pearls from Oyster-Shells
- Finding Treasures in the Sands
Key Quotes
“It is well for us if, while the flesh mourns over trials, our faith triumphs in divine faithfulness.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“When her flood of prosperity ebbs, she finds treasures hid in the sands;” — C.H. Spurgeon
“When death itself appears, faith points to the light of resurrection beyond the grave, thus making our dying Benoni to be our living Benjamin.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should learn to cast all care on the Lord and anticipate good results from the worst calamities.
- Faith helps us to find treasures hid in the sands even when our flood of prosperity ebbs.
- We can extract pearls of honour and experience from the rough oyster-shell of difficulty.