Midnight Song

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:16-40

Today's Treasure: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and signing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25).

When was the last time someone continued an annoying habit until you wanted to scream? I recall a bumper sticker that read, "I have one good nerve, and you're on it." The apostle Paul was no stranger to this feeling.

As Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke were going to the place or prayer one morning, they encountered a demon-possessed slave girl. This girl was able to predict the future, and her owners were exploiting her for a great deal of money. When she saw the missionary band, she began to follow them shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved" (Acts 16:17). For days she continued to follow them until Paul lost his patience. Tired of the unwanted demonic testimony, he commanded the demon to leave the girl.

Few of us have ever encountered a demon-possessed slave girl. But all of us have felt exactly like Paul when he finally had enough! As he and the others tried to preach, teach, and meet for prayer, this young, disturbed woman followed them and shouted incessantly. Obviously the apostle tried not to react, but after many days he became troubled.

The apostle had to do something about his frayed nerves, and he commanded the spirit to come out of the girl. As a result, her exploiters lost a source of income. They were more than troubled. They were incensed. Paul and Silas ended up being dragged into the marketplace to face the authorities, not because of the charges being made against them, but because they ruined a good scheme. The magistrates had them stripped and beaten. "After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks" (Acts 16:23-24).

The two bloodied servants of God were taken to a dungeon and placed in stocks, unable to move, pain wracking their bodies. Though they were bound in iron chains, they found freedom to sing. We cheat the faithful servants from showing us God's glory if we believe God anesthetized their pain. Death would have been a relief. The challenge of their moment was living until the pain became bearable.

Pain is never more vivid than in the midnight hour. The night lacks the kindness of the day when the demands and activities distract. Bound in stocks, each time their hearts beat every nerve ending throbbed with pain. In spite of their anguish, their prayers ascended before the throne and God gave them "songs in the night" (Job 35:10).

Prayers come naturally when we are distressed, but songs? Finding notes is difficult when your body is gripped with pain. Nonetheless, a few notes found their way into a melody, and their melodies turned into hymns. Every stanza issued a fresh strength, and their voices were unchained—penetrating walls and bars.

The most difficult part of my service as a Sunday school teacher has been watching my members bury loved ones. Several years ago one of my members lost her fifteen-year-old son in an automobile accident. I will never forget accompanying our friend to the funeral home and helping her choose a casket. All four of us walked to the car and drove away without saying a word. Within a couple of blocks, one of us began to cry, and then the rest joined her without saying a word. After several minutes of silence, another began to sing with broken notes, "I love you, Lord.and I lift my voice.to worship You.O, my soul rejoice." I could hardly believe the nerve of my fellow member to sing at a time like that. Before I could look at her with proper horror, the mother's best friend joined in, "Take joy, my King, in what you hear.may it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear."

The words fell from their lips a second time and to my shock, the brokenhearted mother began to sing. If she could sing, I knew I could not remain silent. We sang the rest of the way home that day. Not one of us had a solo voice, and yet I wonder if I will ever hear a sound so beautiful again. I knew that day what God meant when He told us to lift up the sacrifice of praise. When praise is the last thing that comes naturally to us and we choose to worship Him anyway, we've had the privilege of offering a genuine sacrifice of praise.

In their bondage, Paul and Silas were free to sing. They were also free to stay. Finally their songs were eclipsed by the rumblings of an earthquake. The foundations of the prison trembled before an awesome God. The prison doors flew open, every chain was loosed, and the jailer drew his sword to kill himself. Paul's words penetrate my heart: "Don't harm yourself!" (Acts 16:28). How many people have sought to harm themselves over hopelessness? The jailer knew he would be held responsible for their escape. "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" shouted Paul.

Sometimes God frees us from chains so we can turn our backs on our slavery and walk away like Peter in Acts 12. He was free to leave. As a result, the church that was praying for his release was edified. Other times God frees us from chains so we can remain where we are to share the message of freedom with other captives. Paul was free to stay. Because he did, a man asked, "'What must I do to be saved?'" (Acts 16:30). And an entire household found sweet liberty.

When we sing a midnight song or speak praises in the darkest hours, the chains of hopelessness not only drop from our ankles but sometimes from the ankles of those who listen. We can preach the gospel in many ways, but the message is never more clear than when God's people refuse to cease their praises during intense suffering.

Lord, please grant me the grace to worship You in times of suffering. Thank You for the example of godly men and women in the Scriptures and in my life who have demonstrated a sacrifice of praise. Help me proclaim Your salvation, whether through sharing my testimony with a friend in aerobics class, or through praises lifted in tears. Please give me a heart to love You and a mind to know You, Lord. Amen.

Adapted from To Live Is Christ, by Beth Moore, pages 114-119. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001. Used by permission.