Psalms 74:16

ALTERNATIONS AND CONSOLATIONS

‘The day … the night.’

Psalms 74:16

I. The alternation of day and night is part of a universal law.—(1) Everywhere in nature. (2) In our daily life. (3) In our spiritual experiences. (4) In all history.

II. All these alternations are Divinely regulated and controlled.—God rules the darkness as well as the light. Our misfortunes as well as blessings are under His control. ‘I, the Lord, create light, and I create darkness.’

III. Side by side with this law of alternation there is another—viz. the law of compensation.—Darkness and light are not opposing forces. Night has its beauties, its pleasures, and its purposes as well as day. (1) Night reveals more of the heavens than we see by day. ‘Sorrow brings out truths as night brings out the stars.’ (2) If day afford opportunity for work, night brings rest. (3) If day yields heat, night brings the cool refreshing dews. (4) Night is quite as essential as day. ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted.’

IV. These laws of alternation and compensation have many valuable lessons for us.—(1) We must expect changes and vicissitudes. (2) We should learn lessons of contentment. (3) We should learn to trust in the Lord at all times. (4) We should remember that the night of death as well as the short day of life is in God’s hands. He will wake us in the morning where there are no more alternations.