Preaching from the Past


"With my soul have I desired thee in the night"
Isaiah chapter 26 verse 9

Preaching (1) I am about to address this text to the more confirmed believer: and the first fact I shall educe from it is that the Christian man has not always a bright, shining sun: THAT HE HAS SEASONS OF DARKNESS AND OF NIGHT.

It is a great truth that religion - the true religion of God - is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above. But, notwithstanding, experience tells us that if the course of the just be "as the shining light" yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have walked along green pastures, by the side of the still waters, and suddenly they find streams brackish to their taste and bitter to their spirits, and they say "Surely if I were a child of God this would not happen". Oh, say not so, thou who art walking in darkness. The best of God's saints have their nights; the dearest of His children have to walk through a weary wilderness. There is not a Christian who has enjoyed perpetual happiness; there is no believer who can always sing a song of joy. We need clouds and darkness to exercise our faith; to cut off self-dependence, and make us put more faith in Christ, and less in evidence, less in frames and feelings.

The best of God's children - I repeat it again for the comfort of those who are suffering depression of spirits - have their nights.

"Oh sir", says one, "I have not a single evidence of my Christianity now. When I turn over God's Scriptures there is no promise; I am afraid there could not have been a work of grace in my heart, or else I should not have so many corrupt imaginations, filthy desires, hard thought of God; so much pride, so much selfishness and self-will. I am afraid I am none of His". Now, that is the very reason why you are one of His that you are able to say that; for God's people pass through the night. I confess I do myself constantly, and very often there are times when I could not prove my election in Jesus Christ, nor my adoption, though I rejoice that for the most part I can cry:
"A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing"

Yet at other seasons I am sure the meanest lamb in Jesu's fold I reckon ten thousand times more in advance than myself.

(2) The first part then is fully established by experience, that Christians very frequently have their nights. But the second thing here is that A CHRISTIAN MAN'S RELIGION WILL KEEP ITS COLOUR IN THE NIGHT. "With my soul have I desired thee in the night". What a mighty deal of silver-slipper religion we have in this world. There are some goods whose colour you can only see by daylight - and there are many professors the colours of whom you can only see by daylight. If they were in the night of trouble and persecution, you would find that there was very little of them. But beloved, do you not know that the best test of a Christian is the night? The nightingale, if she would sing by day when every goose is cackling, would be reckoned no better a musician then the wren. A Christian, if he only remained steadfast by daylight, when every coward is bold, what would he be?

(3) A third remark from this to the confirmed Christian is: ALL THAT THE CHRISTIAN WANTS IN THE NIGHT IS HIS GOD. "With desire have I desired THEE in the night". By day there are many things that a Christian will desire besides his Lord; but if you place a Christian in trouble, you will find that he does not want gold then - that he does not want carnal honour - that he wants his God.

I suppose he is like the sailor, when he sails along smoothly, he loves to have fair weather, and wants this and that to amuse himself with on deck. But when the winds blow, all that he wants the haven. It is just so with the Christian; when he is going along smoothly, he wants this and that comfort; he is aspiring after this position, or he is wanting to obtain this and that elevation. But let him once doubt his interest in Christ - let him once get into some soul-distress and trouble, so that it is very dark - and all he will feel then is: "With desire I have desired thee in the night":
"Give me Christ or else I die,
These can never satisfy".

(4) But now, one more remark before I leave my address to confirmed saints. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN ALL THE SAINTS CAN DO IS DESIRE. "I have DESIRED thee - I have desired thee in the night". "Yes, Lord, if I have not believed in Thee, I have DESIRED Thee; and if I have not spent and been spent in thy service, yet one thing I know, and the devil cannot beat it out of me, I have DESIRED Thee". "With desire I have desired Thee in the night".
C.H. Spurgeon


(Abridged from Sermon Number 31, New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 1)


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This Page Title – Preaching from the Past — C.H.Spurgeon from Isaiah 26 verse 9
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