Charles Spurgeon · Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 44, Sermon No. 2558

Songs in the Night: sermon notes

But none says, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?
Job 35:10

Summary

God, our Maker, gives His children songs in the night, sustaining faith through past mercies, present grace, and future hope.

Sermon outline

Likely Title: Songs in the Night

Likely Text/Passage: Job 35:10

Main Theme: God alone gives His people songs of praise and hope in seasons of darkness, suffering, and uncertainty.

Introduction

Elihu asks why people do not seek God, their Maker, who gives songs in the night.
Christians experience many kinds of “nights,” including sorrow, persecution, doubt, anxiety, and affliction.

Main Points

The Source of Songs in the Night
Songs in darkness do not come naturally from human strength; God gives them.
In suffering, God Himself becomes the believer’s central and sufficient song.
Christians should go directly to their Maker for comfort and spiritual joy.

The Matter of Songs in the Night
Believers can sing about past mercies: God’s covenant love, salvation, deliverance, and former blessings.
Even in present darkness, they can praise God for restrained judgment and remaining mercies.
They can sing about the future: Christ’s coming, final deliverance, Heaven, and everlasting joy.

The Excellence of Songs in the Night
Songs sung in suffering are hearty, lasting, and evidence of genuine faith.
They demonstrate courage and love for Christ, especially when following Him brings hardship.
Faith can praise God even when circumstances are dark and God’s purposes are not yet visible.

The Uses of Songs in the Night
Singing strengthens and encourages the believer, helping drive away fear and despair.
God is pleased when His people praise Him while walking through darkness.
A Christian’s joyful endurance can encourage others and provide powerful evidence of the reality of Christianity.

Application

Look to God rather than merely focusing on troubles or relying chiefly on human comfort.
Remember God’s past mercies, recognize present blessings, and hope in the coming day of Christ and eternal life.
Sing praise in hardship and live with visible joy, contentment, courage, and trust so others may be strengthened.
Those who are not reconciled to God should repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Conclusion

Every night has a morning, and God can give His people songs even in the darkest trials.
A final night of judgment awaits those who refuse Christ, but repentant sinners may find forgiveness and salvation in Him.

Scripture references

Job 35:10
Introduces God as the Maker who gives songs in the night and frames the sermon’s central theme.
“the pestilence that walks in darkness”
Describes the fears and dangers people associate with nighttime.
“the terror by night”
Further illustrates the fear and alarm that can accompany darkness.
“Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep”
Emphasizes that spiritual creatures are present unseen both day and night.
“Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name”
Contrasts a daylight song of praise with the difficult songs God gives during spiritual darkness.
Habakkuk
Cites Habakkuk’s declaration of rejoicing in God despite barren crops and lack of visible provision as an example of a song in the night.
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom”
Begins the passage describing faith and joy in God despite loss and hardship.
“yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation”
Shows how a believer can rejoice in God even when circumstances are dark.
“The horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea”
Refers to Moses’ song after God delivered Israel from Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea.
“I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High”
Encourages believers in darkness to remember God’s past faithfulness.
“I know that my Redeemer lives”
Gives an example of a past confession of faith that can sustain a believer during present doubt.
“I know that He shed His blood for me”
Recalls assurance of Christ’s saving work as a source of comfort in spiritual darkness.
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not”
Teaches that God’s continuing mercy gives believers something to sing about even in the darkest night.
“He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities”
Reminds suffering believers that they have received mercy rather than the full punishment their sins deserve.
“The kingdoms of this world” have not yet “become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ”
Expresses hope that Christ’s reign will one day be fully established throughout the world.
“Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord God Omnipotent reigns”
Anticipates the triumphant proclamation of God’s universal reign.
“Behold, I come quickly and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be”
Encourages believers to endure present darkness by looking forward to Christ’s coming and reward.
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him”
Defines heartfelt faith that continues trusting God amid severe suffering.
“The devil cannot stand singing, he does not like music”
Uses a statement attributed to Martin Luther to explain how singing can drive away fear and spiritual oppression.
“O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
Refers to Paul’s rebuke of Elymas to contrast debating unbelievers with demonstrating faith through a godly life.
“Good-bye”
Presents the preacher’s stated refusal to argue with those who reject the Bible’s authority.
“Go, and sin no more”
Offers Christ’s command as a message of forgiveness and changed living to a repentant sinner.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved”
States the Gospel’s way of salvation for sinners who repent and trust in Christ.
“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved”
Further states the Savior’s promise concerning belief and salvation.
“able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him”
Assures sinners that Christ can completely save all who come to God through Him.
“No sinner was ever empty sent back, Who came seeking mercy for Jesus’ sake.”
Concludes with the assurance that no one seeking mercy through Jesus will be rejected.

Small-group discussion questions

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

What kinds of situations tend to feel like a “night” in your life, times of sorrow, uncertainty, fear, or confusion?
When you are discouraged, what helps you regain hope or courage?

Diving In (20 minutes)

The sermon says that God “gives songs in the night.” What did the pastor mean by this, and what are some different kinds of “night” Christians may experience?
In Job 35:10, the question is asked, “Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?” How does this question redirect someone who is focused mainly on trouble and fear?
The pastor suggested singing about the past, the present night, and the day still to come. What could this look like in practical terms on a Tuesday morning when you are discouraged?

Going Deeper (15 minutes)

The sermon encourages believers to praise God even when circumstances are painful or unclear. What tensions or objections might someone have about doing this honestly rather than pretending everything is fine?
Which part of the sermon is most difficult for you personally: remembering God’s past mercies, finding something to thank Him for in the present, or hoping in what is still to come? What makes that difficult?

Prayer Prompt

Pray for God to meet each person in their current “night,” provide a song of faith, and use their encouragement to strengthen others.

Takeaways

Big idea

God, our Maker, gives His children songs in the night, sustaining faith through past mercies, present grace, and future hope.

Live it out

Begin each morning by looking to God before facing people or problems.
Record three past mercies and thank God for each one in prayer.
When troubled, sing or recite a promise of God instead of feeding fear.
Encourage someone in sorrow by sharing how God has sustained you.
Face suffering with cheerful trust, showing others the reality of Christ’s saving power.

Closing prayer

Our God and Maker, meet us in every night of sorrow, doubt, anxiety, and affliction. Teach us to look to You when our mercies seem hidden, and remind us of Your past faithfulness, present compassion, and coming morning. Give us songs when we cannot make them ourselves. Help us sing by faith, cheer our companions, honor Christ before the world, and trust that You will bring us safely from darkness into everlasting light. Amen.

Read the full sermon

Charles H. Spurgeon, “Songs in the Night,” Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 44, Sermon No. 2558. The sermon is in the public domain; the text used here is the CC0 Markdown edition of Spurgeon's sermons.

Full text in the CC0 edition

Get notes like these for your own sermon

These notes came from our Sermon Pack. Upload your sermon and get the transcript, an outline, discussion questions and takeaways back from your own words.

Upload a sermon