One of the more familiar and encouraging verses in the Bible is Psalms 30:5, the later portion of which states: “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
That phrase encourages us because we all have experienced weeping nights of sorrow and pain – with the hope that joy will come in the morning. But what if morning is a long way off? What about the times when it seems so dark that morning isn’t coming? What do you do when it seems like the light of morning dawn is unable to rise in the face of your daunting darkness?
Let us consider the author of these words – David, who
- was overlooked and considered insignificant as a child
- was rewarded with the death penalty for sparing the Kingdom of Saul
- lost his best friend
- saw family and friend murdered when the sword couldn’t reach him
- experienced the torment of a daughter abused and the sorrow of a son murdered
- suffered the pain of betrayal at the hands of his closest allies – including his own flesh and blood.
- and alas, saw his glorious kingdom that he fought for divided against him
Yes, that’s the man who wrote, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” In 2 Samuel 15 David finds himself on the outskirts of Jerusalem after being forced into battle against his own son. The priest began to follow David with the Ark of God. (The Ark was a powerful symbol to all of Israel. No army in the generation of David ever lost a battle while the Ark was in their presence.) Stunningly, David says to the priest in verse 25: “Take the ark of God back into the city.” This had to mystify the priests and all of David’s army. Why would he send the Ark back into the city? It is at this moment we get a peek into the soul of David as he says to the priest, “If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, He will bring me back and let me see it and His dwelling place again. But if He says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
David’s Hope was not influenced by the depth of the darkness that surrounded him. Rather, his Hope – his Joy was shaped by his unflinching trust and confidence in the sovereign goodness of his God. David knew God could never be manipulated, but that He could always be trusted. David’s focus shifted from the surrounding darkness – to the surpassing glory of the one who had originally breathed the light into existence to start with.
Do you find yourself surrounded by darkness and weeping that lasts through the night? Maybe even wondering if morning light will come? If so let me encourage you to pray another Psalmist’s prayer – Psalm 33:22 May Your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in You.
Put your hope in God your heavenly Father, not the coming light. After all, He made the light to begin with.
– Brad
bradraby.com 