Learn to take no step
without God
'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.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
(2/9AM)
