Spurgeon: February AM
* 02/09/AM
"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.