Songs in the night

Wednesday March 9, 2022

Songs in the night

Where is God, my creator, who inspires songs of joy in the night ? Job 35:10

Obeying a vision, Paul and his companions arrive in the city of Philippi, Macedonia (Acts 16:9-12). God has in view a new field of activity for the apostle.

In Philippi, Paul and Silas are arrested because Paul has delivered a servant possessed by a spirit of divination. As this gift brought great income to his masters, the latter, furious at losing this source of profit, dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates. Beaten up, they are thrown into the most remote dungeon of the prison and they are immobilized by tying their feet to wooden blocks. Paul and Silas could be filled with bitterness, discouragement, questions : “Lord, you sent us here and here we are, at the first stage, mistreated, put in prison”. But no, they have the certainty of being in the way of God. Their confidence is more unshakable than a mountain.

In the middle of the night, all bruised, they begin to pray and sing the praises of God. Their feet are bound, but their mouths are open. The other prisoners listen to these songs in the night which bring them a word of hope. Maybe some caught salvation that night.

An earthquake occurs, the prison doors open. The jailer wants to kill himself, believing that the prisoners have fled ; but Paul prevents him and, with Silas, announces the Gospel to him. The jailer turns to the Lord as well as all those in his household.

Fortunately today, in many countries, one does not run the risk of being imprisoned for one's faith. But there is often opposition, teasing or some trouble. If we are in this case, do we show as much peaceful confidence ? Let us think of all our brothers who live in countries where persecution is rife. They undergo the same tortures there as Paul and Silas, they experience imprisonment and are even sometimes executed. This is why the Bible urges us to remember prisoners and pray for them (Hebrews 13:3).

God holds the thread of our life in his hand and never remains passive. He can draw glory from any circumstance and he sings songs of joy in the night. The praises of Paul and Silas turned a prison into the gate of heaven.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)