"Joy cometh in the Morning"

God comes near his people, so as to give them a sense of his attention, and perfect knowledge, respecting all their distresses. This was the comfort suggested to the ancient church in Egypt, Exod. 3:7. "And the Lord said, I have surely seen," (or, as it is translated by Stephen, in his dying speech), "I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people, which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry, by reason of their task masters: for I know their sorrows." David, having tasted of the sweetness of this comfort, speaks thus: Ps. 31:7. "I will be glad, and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble, and thou hast known my soul in adversities." This stands opposed to the disconsolate apprehensions of sense and unbelief. It is an easy matter for those who are whole-hearted, to enter speculatively into this sentiment. But, I am speaking of things which concern persons who have been cast down, so as to appear to themselves, as it were, out of God's sight. They seem at a vast distance from God's gracious regard; they seem plunged in a gulf, where no eye looks upon them; their bitter feelings seem too intricate and perplexed, to be known by any besides themselves. Men cannot so much as understand their maladies, and God is out of sight. Such is the disconsolate gloom, which gave occasion to many expressions found on the Scripture record: "But joy cometh in the morning." Beams of celestial light are darted into the gloomy dungeon of the heart. The soul, which seemed to itself alone, and groaning under unknown miseries, realizes the presence of God. It cries out, with Asaph, when emerging from his sad thoughts, Ps. 73:23. "Nevertheless, I am continually with thee." The throne, and the eye of Jehovah come into view. The soul apprehends itself, and its miseries, as under the inspection of God: and as being an object of his closest attention. Now, God appears, looking to the bottom of all the evils, which the soul hath felt or dreaded; and intimately acquainted with the methods of deliverance; even as an able physician looks deep into the case of his patient, and then takes an extensive survey of the sources of healing.  John Love