Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:28:13 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (July 16); BP: Ps. 119:57-64; RBTTY: Acts 20:1-16;
July 16 “Midnight Praise Meeting”
“At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto You because of Your righteous judgments.”
Psalm 119:62
Regardless of the time of day or night, it’s always proper to give Him praise and thanksgiving.
Some folks are “morning people,” rising up long before daylight, singing a song or whistling a cheery tune—which grates on the nerves of those who are “night owls.” But, today’s Manna reminds us of the importance of always “giving thanks unto the Lord because of His righteous judgments.”
If the truth be known, few there are who are "desperately diligent" in their study of God’s Word. We become easily distracted. Our favorite television show or sporting event is on in prime time. Or, our favorite book beckons to us from the side table as we kick back at the end of a long day.
“Ah, my time to relax,” we say to ourselves.
But, there. . .on the coffee table. . .or lying quietly on the kitchen table. . .or in plain open sight on the nightstand. . .lies the Word—God’s inspired, Holy “Love Letter” to us. And, sadly, too often that’s where it remains. . .unattended and unopened.
Is it any wonder, then, that we’re so often powerless in spiritual warfare against the evil one?
It’s hard to do battle with a rusty sword (Heb. 4:12). And, it’s hard to have “Victory In Jesus” when we spend little or no time meditating upon His Word.
That’s why today’s Manna calls us to self-examination and surrender. Truly, “The Lord, He is God. He’s the One Who has made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps. 100:3). And, it’s impossible for us to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise” (Ps. 100:4a) when we’ve spent little or no time with Him during the day. Guilt has a way of preventing us from resting in His grace.
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, the reason Paul and Silas were able to “pray and sing praises unto God at midnight” (Acts 16:25a) was because they’d been doing that at noonday. If we fail to praise Him on the mountaintop, it’s unlikely we’ll do so in the valley.
The psalmist knew the Lord “was his portion” and he’d vowed “to keep His words” (Ps. 119:57). He knew it was God’s mercy that sustained him (v.58) and how important it was for him to “turn his feet unto the Lord’s testimonies” (v.59). In fact, he “made haste and delayed not in obeying the Lord’s commandments” (v.60)—so great was his love for Him and his felt-need of “urgent intimacy.”
Only in so doing could he say with confidence “The bands of the wicked have robbed me—but I have not forgotten Your law” (v.61). For sure, there’ll be times the evil one does a number on us (Jn. 10:10a), leaving us reeling (Ps. 107:27). However, just as quickly we “rise up at midnight to give praise to Christ” and oh how sweet it is!
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