二月九日
大卫求问耶和华。（撒下5:23）
大卫求问耶和华的时候，正是他攻打非利士的时候，因此大获全胜。非利士人来了很多，但大卫因神的帮助，便不费吹灰之力，使非利士人纷纷逃命。要注意，当他们二次来的时候，大卫先求问了神才上去攻打他们的。他又得了一次胜，他很可以和很多人一样地说：“我必可再获大捷；打败敌人，势如摧枯拉朽，我可以坐待胜利。为什么我要到神的手下求问他呢？”大卫却没有这样。他因神力的帮助而得了一次胜；在他没有得胜的把握前，他不去冒险作战。他求问神说：“我可以上去攻打非利士人吗？”他等候在神的面前，直到得了回话。从大卫就可叫我们学会一个功课，若没有神，一步也不要走。基督徒呀！若你要知道你当走的路，就以神为你的指南针；若要你的小船稳渡汹涌的暗波，那末把舵放在全能者的手里吧！若父为我们掌舵，我们就可避免许多暗礁；若我们遵顺他的圣旨，就可避免浅滩和流沙。清教徒说：“若基督徒自己操刀，必把他的手指割断。”这是一个真理。早年另一位老牧师说：“走在神旨意的云柱之前，就是笨人作的笨事。”这话很对。我们必须看清神旨的领导；若神旨未到，即等到神旨来临再前行。走在神旨之前的人，若有路的话也当快乐地再返回去。神应许他的民说：“我要教导你，指示你当行的路。”那末，现在让我们把一切烦恼都交给神，并且说：“主啊，我当作什么？”今晨在你还没有求问主之前，你不要离开你所在的地方。
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.
