by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Day and Night Are God’s

You  can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.”
Psalm 74:16 English Standard Version

The psalms were not written in some Levite’s chamber far removed from life’s realities. They are often raw with pain.

The psalmist who penned these words knew tragedy. His city, Jerusalem, was in ruins. The enemy burned the temple and set up idols where God commanded that he alone be worshipped. I can only image that he saw family and friends killed or taken in chains to a foreign land. Maybe he too was on this journey to Babylon.

His statement of faith was written at what was the lowest moment in his life.

“We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.”
Psalm 74:9 (ESV)

The psalmist sings about what some have called the dark night of the soul; a song that many of us have also sung. “Where are you God? Come rescue us! I’m not sure I can handle any more.”

“To you belongs the night!” This is probably the most difficult prayer that many of us have prayed, and if we couldn’t form the words, that the Holy Spirit prayed on our behalf.

Jesus experienced the dark night of the soul on his cross. The land grew dark, an eerie darkness in the middle of the day. “My God, my God, why have your forsaken me!” (Mark 15:34) The darkness of death encompassed Jesus and he submitted to its power, but not to corruption.

What we see as the sun setting, Jesus sees as the sun rising. Death’s darkness could not hold him. The darkness not only belongs to God, but more importantly the day, the light, belongs to him.

Though the psalmist was surrounded by the night, he was able to confess that the day belonged to God. May you also know that though you might be experiencing the dark night of the soul, the day also belongs to God.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado