Spurgeon: July PM
* 07/31/PM
"And these are the singers . . . they were employed in that work
day and night."
--1 Chronicles 9:33
Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant
never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord,
whose mercy endureth for ever. As mercy did not cease to rule
either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy
ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in
the ceaseless song of Zion's temple, thou too art a constant
debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity,
never faileth. God's praise is constant in heaven, which is to
be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal
hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his
beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so
that by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up
at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving,
and girdle it with a golden belt of song.
The Lord always deserves to be praised for what He is in
Himself, for His works of creation and providence, for His
goodness towards His creatures, and especially for the
transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvellous blessing
flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord;
it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and
softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying
radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare.
Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not
weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances,
or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is
housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun
tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the
interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout
worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the
day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.