二月九日

大衛求問耶和華。（撒下5:23）

大衛求問耶和華的時候，正是他攻打非利士的時候，因此大獲全勝。非利士人來了很多，但大衛因神的幫助，便不費吹灰之力，使非利士人紛紛逃命。要注意，當他們二次來的時候，大衛先求問了神才上去攻打他們的。他又得了一次勝，他很可以和很多人一樣地說：“我必可再獲大捷；打敗敵人，勢如摧枯拉朽，我可以坐待勝利。為什麼我要到神的手下求問他呢？”大衛卻沒有這樣。他因神力的幫助而得了一次勝；在他沒有得勝的把握前，他不去冒險作戰。他求問神說：“我可以上去攻打非利士人嗎？”他等候在神的面前，直到得了回話。從大衛就可叫我們學會一個功課，若沒有神，一步也不要走。基督徒呀！若你要知道你當走的路，就以神為你的指南針；若要你的小船穩渡洶湧的暗波，那末把舵放在全能者的手裡吧！若父為我們掌舵，我們就可避免許多暗礁；若我們遵順他的聖旨，就可避免淺灘和流沙。清教徒說：“若基督徒自己操刀，必把他的手指割斷。”這是一個真理。早年另一位老牧師說：“走在神旨意的雲柱之前，就是笨人作的笨事。”這話很對。我們必須看清神旨的領導；若神旨未到，即等到神旨來臨再前行。走在神旨之前的人，若有路的話也當快樂地再返回去。神應許他的民說：“我要教導你，指示你當行的路。”那末，現在讓我們把一切煩惱都交給神，並且說：“主啊，我當作什麼？”今晨在你還沒有求問主之前，你不要離開你所在的地方。

February 9

"And David enquired of the Lord." --2 Samuel 5:23

When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, "I shall be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord's hands?" Not so, David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, "Shall I go up against them?" He waited until God's sign was given. Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to His sovereign will to choose and to command. The Puritan said, "As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;" this is a great truth. Said another old divine, "He that goes before the cloud of God's providence goes on a fool's errand;" and so he does. We must mark God's providence leading us; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go," is God's promise to His people. Let us, then, take all our perplexities to Him, and say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord.