十二月二十九日

到如今耶和華都幫助我們。（撒上7：12）

“到如今”三個字好像一隻手指向著“過去”。過去二十年，或是七十年，但是“到如今耶和華都幫助我們”。無論在什麽情形當中：貧窮，富有，疾病，健壯，在家，出外，登山，航海，尊榮，羞辱，安舒，煩惱，吉凶，順逆，快樂，悲傷，患難，得勝，禱告或試探，“到如今耶和華都幫助我們。”

我們很喜歡看一條林蔭大道，從兩行樹木的蔭下筆直地望去，很是令人歡欣高興，真像一座蓊鬱的聖殿，樹幹爲梁柱，綠葉成拱門；回顧我們已過的歲月，看到頭上滿了恩典的青枝，慈愛和信實的巨柱支撑著我們的快樂。枝上沒有鳥兒在歌唱嗎？當然有很多，它們都爲“到如今”所得的恩歌唱不停。

但“到如今”也指向前面。因爲當一個人到了某一階段的時候，就注明說“到如今”，他還沒有走到終頭，前面仍有一段當走的路程。還有更多的患難，更多的快樂；更多的誘惑，更多的得勝；更多的禱告，更多的應允；更多的辛勞，更多的力量；更多的爭戰，更多的得勝；再有軟弱、老年、疾病和死亡。至此就完了嗎？沒有，仍舊還有——復活以後要有耶穌的樣式、寶座、金琴、歌詩、頌詞、白衣、耶穌的恩面、聖徒的相交、神的榮耀、永遠的豐富和無限的福樂。信徒啊！當剛强壯膽，存著感恩的信心舉起你的“以便以謝”，因爲那到如今都幫助你的必仍幫助你走上前去。當我們讀此話的時候，願天上的恩光開了我們感恩的眼，叫我們看出“到如今”是多麽的榮耀和奇妙。

December 29

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."—1 Samuel 7:12

The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto."

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for-

He who hath helped thee hitherto

Will help thee all thy journey through.

When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye!