Morning & Evening: Evening Devo, Jan. 17th

Friday, January 17, 2025

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house."

Evening Thought

At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.

David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures swarm, and neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briars. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door.

Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for retirement and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, a sanctuary from sin! While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops, and enter closets, and even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this night. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of 2 Samuel 11:2 — "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, January 17, 2025

A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Faithful Follower, One of the marks of Our — Father, Son, and Spirit's — people has been their acceptance of "moving out," that is,...."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"[After the return of the people of Judah from Babylon, this is what the Lord said about them,] "They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear...."

About This Devotional

'Morning and Evening' is the classic daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.

Written by Charles H. Spurgeon.