Morning, February 9
Go To Evening Reading
“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.