None Saith, Where Is God My Maker,
The sermon encourages believers to seek God's presence and songs of hope during their darkest nights of doubt, grief, and discouragement.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of seeking God during our darkest nights, whether they be filled with doubt, bereavement, or discouragement. He encourages believers to turn their thoughts to God, who can transform our sleepless hours into moments of hope and song. Meyer shares personal anecdotes of how God can lift the burdens of despair and fill our hearts with joy, reminding us that even in our struggles, we are not alone. The sermon calls for a response of faith, urging us to embrace the songs our Maker provides in times of trouble.
Text
None saith, Where is God my Maker,
who giveth songs in the night? Job xxxv. 10.
DO you have sleepless nights, tossing on the hot pillow, and watching for the first glint of dawn? Ask the Divine Spirit to enable you to fix your thoughts on God, your Maker, and believe that He can fill those lonely, dreary hours with song.
Is yours the night of doubt? ‑‑ A holy man tells us that once as he was sitting by the fire, a great cloud came over him, and a temptation beset him to think that all things came by nature; and as he sat still under it, and let it alone, a living hope arose in him, and a true voice said, "There is a living God who made all things." And immediately the cloud and temptation vanished away, and life rose over it all. His heart was glad, and he praised the living God. Was not this a song in the night?
Is yours the night of bereavement? ‑‑ Is it not often to such God draws near, and assures the mourner that the Lord had need of its beloved, and called "the eager, earnest spirit to stand in the bright throng of the invisible, liberated, radiant, active, intent on some high mission"; and as the thought enters, is there not the beginning of a song?
Is yours the night of discouragement and fancied or actual failure? ‑‑ No one understands you, your friends reproach; but your Maker draws nigh, and gives you a song ‑‑ the song of hope, the song which is harmonious with the strong, deep music of his providence. Be ready to sing the songs that your Maker gives.
"What then? Shall we sit idly down and say
'The night hath come; it is no longer day'?
. . . . . . . . .
Yet as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible to day."
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the theme of seeking God in difficult times
- Understanding the context of Job's question
- The importance of recognizing God's presence
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II
- Experiencing sleepless nights and the search for comfort
- The role of the Divine Spirit in our struggles
- Finding hope in God's songs during the night
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III
- The night of doubt and the assurance of a living God
- Testimonies of faith overcoming temptation
- The transformation of despair into praise
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IV
- The night of bereavement and God's comforting presence
- Understanding loss through a spiritual lens
- The promise of reunion and purpose in grief
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V
- The night of discouragement and feelings of failure
- God's nearness in times of personal struggle
- Embracing the song of hope amidst challenges
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VI
- Encouragement to actively seek God's songs
- The metaphor of twilight and the unseen stars
- Conclusion and call to faith
Key Quotes
“Is yours the night of doubt? A holy man tells us that once as he was sitting by the fire, a great cloud came over him...” — F.B. Meyer
“Is yours the night of bereavement? Is it not often to such God draws near, and assures the mourner...” — F.B. Meyer
“What then? Shall we sit idly down and say 'The night hath come; it is no longer day'?” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- In times of struggle, actively seek God's presence and listen for His voice.
- Remember that even in darkness, God can transform your sorrow into songs of hope.
- Embrace the promise that God is near, especially during moments of doubt and grief.