Believer, when you face troubles, do you attempt to do so on your own? Do you rely upon your own wisdom, seek guidance from within, “follow your heart” as so many are apt to advise?
Consider God’s servant David. When he faced difficulty, “David inquired of the Lord” (2 Sam. 5:23). He did not seek guidance from his friends. He did not turn to men he believed to have wisdom. He did not turn to his royal advisers. And he certainly did not seek inner peace or other direction from within.
No, when the Philistines cam up against him, “David inquired of the Lord.” It did not matter to David that he had already once defeated them. David did not rest upon his laurels nor trust that, as he had bested the Philistines once before he would be able to do so anew. Instead, he again, as he had previously, sought the Lord’s guidance so that he would not be led astray nor would he lead his people astray.
Brethren, we ought to follow David’s example. When we face difficulties, we have One to whom we can turn. We need not rely on our own strength, nor should we “lean on [y]our own understanding” (Pr. 3:5), but we should “trust in the Lord with all [y]our heart” (Pr. 3:5).
Let us always, therefore, as Peter exhorts “humble [y]ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt [us] at the proper time, casting all [y]our anxiety on Him, because He cares for [us]” (1 Pet. 5:6-7)
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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, 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.
Believer, when you face troubles, do you attempt to do so on your own? Do you rely upon your own wisdom, seek guidance from within, “follow your heart” as so many are apt to advise?
Consider God’s servant David. When he faced difficulty, “David inquired of the Lord” (2 Sam. 5:23). He did not seek guidance from his friends. He did not turn to men he believed to have wisdom. He did not turn to his royal advisers. And he certainly did not seek inner peace or other direction from within.
No, when the Philistines cam up against him, “David inquired of the Lord.” It did not matter to David that he had already once defeated them. David did not rest upon his laurels nor trust that, as he had bested the Philistines once before he would be able to do so anew. Instead, he again, as he had previously, sought the Lord’s guidance so that he would not be led astray nor would he lead his people astray.
Brethren, we ought to follow David’s example. When we face difficulties, we have One to whom we can turn. We need not rely on our own strength, nor should we “lean on [y]our own understanding” (Pr. 3:5), but we should “trust in the Lord with all [y]our heart” (Pr. 3:5).
Let us always, therefore, as Peter exhorts “humble [y]ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt [us] at the proper time, casting all [y]our anxiety on Him, because He cares for [us]” (1 Pet. 5:6-7)
——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, 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.
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