Psalm 78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. "All the night!" how much is often conveyed in that word "all": to have lain awake all night without one snatch of sleep; to have tossed to and fro, all night, wondering how long the hours are; these are some of the experiences of those who are familiar with this little word "all" in connection with "night." The soul has its seasons of protracted trial, when it speaks of "all" night. Long-continued temptations, or depressions, or struggles, make it talk of "all night." And now, that which so cheers us is the thought that there is no night too long for God. He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep; whatever may be the length of our night the Lord is unwearied through it all. Man's watching is exemplified by the disciples in Gethsemane; God's by the pillar of fire. "Could ye not watch one hour?" is the record of the one; "all the night" is the record of the other. Is it not a blessed thought that, however much we may weary our fellow-watchers, so that one by one they drop off, by reason of the weariness of the flesh, we never weary out our God! And as God watches with us if we be wakeful, so also He watches over us if we be at rest. We never can enjoy any real repose of soul unless it be in the consciousness that God is near us, above us, manifesting Himself for us. A watchful and a watching God is the believer's warrant for repose; we repose beneath, when we are sure that He watches above. And God's watch is an undivided one — "all the night." He does not take us up, where another has laid us down. We have not to do with a new watcher, who has to learn from his predecessor all the peculiarities of our condition; where we are sore; how we must be handled; what are our peculiarities; what our special needs; it is the one watcher all through. And hence may God's people be assured of true tenderness; and consummate skill; and an anticipation of all their needs; our Divine Watcher has been too long with us not to know all we want. (P. B. Power, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.WEB: In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire. |
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