Evening, September 24
Go To Morning Reading
“I sleep, but my heart waketh.”
Song of Solomon 5:2
Paradoxes abound in Christian experience, and here is one—the spouse was asleep, and yet she was awake. He only can read the
believer’s riddle who has ploughed with the heifer of his experience. The two
points in this evening’s text are—a mournful sleepiness and a hopeful wakefulness. I sleep . Through sin that dwelleth in us we may become lax in holy duties,
slothful in religious exercises, dull in spiritual joys, and altogether
supine and careless. This is a shameful state for one in whom the
quickening Spirit dwells; and it is dangerous to the highest degree.
Even wise virgins sometimes slumber, but it is high time for all to
shake off the bands of sloth. It is to be feared that many believers
lose their strength as Samson lost his locks, while sleeping on the
lap of carnal security. With a perishing world around us, to sleep
is cruel; with eternity so near at hand, it is madness. Yet we are
none of us so much awake as we should be; a few thunder-claps would
do us all good, and it may be, unless we soon bestir ourselves, we
shall have them in the form of war, or pestilence, or personal bereavements
and losses. O that we may leave forever the couch of fleshly ease,
and go forth with flaming torches to meet the coming Bridegroom! My heart waketh . This is a happy sign. Life is not extinct, though sadly smothered.
When our renewed heart struggles against our natural heaviness, we
should be grateful to sovereign grace for keeping a little vitality
within the body of this death. Jesus will hear our hearts, will help
our hearts, will visit our hearts; for the voice of the wakeful heart
is really the voice of our Beloved, saying, “Open to me.” Holy zeal will surely unbar the door.
“Oh lovely attitude! He stands
With melting heart and laden hands;
My soul forsakes her every sin;
And lets the heavenly stranger in.”