Spurgeon: September PM
* 09/10/PM
"Evening wolves."
--Habakkuk 1:8
While preparing the present volume, this particular
expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid
of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it.
The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and
more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not
the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day
of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps
ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl
in our ears, "Where is now thy God?" How voracious and greedy
they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and
remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these
evening wolves, and bid Thy sheep lie down in green pastures,
undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the fiends of
hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a
cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten
to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian
in the daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they
fall upon him. O Thou who hast laid down Thy life for the sheep,
preserve them from the fangs of the wolf.
False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the
precious life, devouring men by their false-hoods, are as
dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their
element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We
are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep's skin.
Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the
prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the
church.
What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are
converted, for then the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of
cruel ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O
Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray to-night.