Rejoice in the Flood
We can rejoice in God even in the midst of distress and sorrow by remembering His promises and the experiences of others who have gone through similar trials.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about finding joy and triumph in the midst of distress and sadness, emphasizing how God's presence and promises shine brightest in times of trouble. He compares these dark experiences to the night when the believer's lamps of faith are kindled and when God's grace and love are most felt. Through the imagery of crossing the Red Sea and Jordan, he encourages pilgrims to look back on their trials with gratitude, knowing that it was in those difficult moments that they rejoiced in God.
Text
"He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him" (Ps. 66:6).
It is a striking assertion, "through the floods" (the place where we might have expected nothing but trembling and terror, anguish and dismay) "there," says the Psalmist, "did we rejoice in him!"
How many there are who can endorse this as their experience: that "there," in their very seasons of distress and sadness, they have been enabled, as they never did before, to triumph and rejoice.
How near their God in covenant is brought! How brightly shine His promises! In the day of our prosperity we cannot see the brilliancy of these. Like the sun at noon, hiding out the stars from sight, they are indiscernible; but when night overtakes, the deep, dark night of sorrow, out come these clustering stars--blessed constellations of Bible hope and promise of consolation.
Like Jacob at Jabbok, it is when our earthly sun goes down that the Divine Angel comes forth, and we wrestle with Him and prevail.
It was at night, "in the evening," Aaron lit the sanctuary lamps. It is in the night of trouble the brightest lamps of the believer are often kindled.
It was in his loneliness and exile John had the glorious vision of his Redeemer. There is many a Patmos still in the world, whose brightest remembrances are those of God's presence and upholding grace and love in solitude and sadness.
How many pilgrims, still passing through these Red Seas and Jordans of earthly affliction, will be enabled in the retrospect of eternity to say--full of the memories of God's great goodness--"We went through the flood on foot, there--there, in these dark experiences, with the surging waves on every side, deep calling to deep, Jordan, as when Israel crossed it, in 'the time of the overflowing' (flood), yet, 'there did we rejoice in Him!'" --Dr. Macduff
"And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the door of trouble for a door of hope: and she shall sing THERE" (Hosea 2:15).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Psalmist's Experience
- A. Going through the flood on foot
- B. Rejoicing in God in the midst of distress
- II. The Brightness of God's Promises
- A. Hidden in prosperity, revealed in sorrow
- B. Bible hope and promise of consolation
- III. The Divine Angel in the Night
- A. Jacob's experience at Jabbok
- B. Wrestling with God and prevailing
- IV. The Brightest Lamps in the Night
- A. Aaron's sanctuary lamps
- B. The believer's brightest remembrances in solitude and sadness
Key Quotes
“It was at night, 'in the evening,' Aaron lit the sanctuary lamps. It is in the night of trouble the brightest lamps of the believer are often kindled.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Like Jacob at Jabbok, it is when our earthly sun goes down that the Divine Angel comes forth, and we wrestle with Him and prevail.” — Charles E. Cowman
“There is many a Patmos still in the world, whose brightest remembrances are those of God's presence and upholding grace and love in solitude and sadness.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We can trust God to guide us through even the most difficult times.
- God's promises are often revealed in times of need and sorrow.
- We can find hope in the midst of trouble by remembering God's promises and the experiences of others who have gone through similar trials.