十二月二十九日
到如今耶和华都帮助我们。（撒上7：12）
“到如今”三个字好像一只手指向着“过去”。过去二十年，或是七十年，但是“到如今耶和华都帮助我们”。无论在什麽情形当中：贫穷，富有，疾病，健壮，在家，出外，登山，航海，尊荣，羞辱，安舒，烦恼，吉凶，顺逆，快乐，悲伤，患难，得胜，祷告或试探，“到如今耶和华都帮助我们。”
我们很喜欢看一条林荫大道，从两行树木的荫下笔直地望去，很是令人欢欣高兴，真像一座蓊郁的圣殿，树干爲梁柱，绿叶成拱门；回顾我们已过的岁月，看到头上满了恩典的青枝，慈爱和信实的巨柱支撑着我们的快乐。枝上没有鸟儿在歌唱吗？当然有很多，它们都爲“到如今”所得的恩歌唱不停。
但“到如今”也指向前面。因爲当一个人到了某一阶段的时候，就注明说“到如今”，他还没有走到终头，前面仍有一段当走的路程。还有更多的患难，更多的快乐；更多的诱惑，更多的得胜；更多的祷告，更多的应允；更多的辛劳，更多的力量；更多的争战，更多的得胜；再有软弱、老年、疾病和死亡。至此就完了吗？没有，仍旧还有——复活以后要有耶稣的样式、宝座、金琴、歌诗、颂词、白衣、耶稣的恩面、圣徒的相交、神的荣耀、永远的丰富和无限的福乐。信徒啊！当刚强壮胆，存著感恩的信心举起你的“以便以谢”，因爲那到如今都帮助你的必仍帮助你走上前去。当我们读此话的时候，愿天上的恩光开了我们感恩的眼，叫我们看出“到如今”是多麽的荣耀和奇妙。
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!
