Evening
Time: 11:44 PM PST
"Evening wolves." --Habakkuk 1:8
While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me
so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined
to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was
fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the
furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of
mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men?
How our thoughts howl in our ears, "Where is now thy God?" How voracious and
greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as
hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid Thy sheep
lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the
fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a cloudy
and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten to tear and to devour.
They will scarcely attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but in the
gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O Thou who hast laid down Thy life
for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf.
False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life,
devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening
wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is
their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep's skin.
Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous
wolves that enter within the fold of the church.
What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then
the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions become
gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray to-night.