2 Samuel 5:23-25 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, You shall not go up; but fetch a compass behind them… What a different world this would be if we believed that God governed it — that He was in it — that He was at work in it — that His footsteps were still on its mountains — that He walked amidst its trees, and rode on the wings of the winds — if we realised His presence, and ascertained and saw in the ordinary things of everyday life the indications of His will. We believe there was a time when God was in the world, but it seems to us now like a forsaken world — like a world without God; for we act as if God had nothing to do in it or with it. What a different Church there would be if we recognised spiritual influences, recognised them in all their variety and modes of manifestation. Divine interpositions do not interfere with human agency. Some men are-always waiting — always looking for signs and wonders, for the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens — looking for outpourings, for baptisms of the Holy Ghost, for Pentecostal seasons. They do not see the meaning of common and ordinary things, they do not avail themselves of the means at their disposal. I. THE SAME THINGS ARE TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES: Men have sometimes to do the same things in different ways — in ways prescribed by Divine intimations. David had to contend with the Philistines. He had beaten them once, but they had come up again in undiminished strength, in battle array. He is to adopt new tactics. He is not to "go up," but to "fetch a compass behind them." In every age the Philistines are coming up against the Israel of God. Our mode of warfare must be regulated by providential intimations. II. THE PRESENCE OF DIVINE INDICATIONS WILL BE TO US THE REVELATIONS OF THE DIVINE WILL. If a man desires to do the Divine will, he will have a Divine revelation. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." An earnest man — that is, a man in earnest to do the Divine will — is never left in utter ignorance of that will. The difficulty is not so much to find out the will of God, but to reconcile our wills to it, so that we may be Willing to do it. III. DIVINE INTIMATIONS MAY COME THROUGH ANY CHANNEL GOD PLEASES. We have no ephod, no priest with Urim and Thummin, no response from the oracle, no audible voice like that which fell on the ear of David. To us, however, have been committed the books containing the successive" revelations God has made of His will to men. In all that pertains to the way of salvation, the revelation is clear, distinct, and definite. I hear a little bird singing on the branches of a tree, pouring forth its song with the infinite heavens above and the wide world around, singing in a world where there is winter as well as summer, and I learn a lesson no words of mine can express. There are. Divine intimations still in suggestions and impressions. I am in perplexity. I want to know what to do, or how to do what I have to do. There come sudden suggestions like revelations. How am I to determine their source? If they lead me, in dependence on the strength which God gives, to follow a course involving self-sacrifice, and having a tendency to promote the Divine glory, may I not conclude that they came from God? May not the Father of my spirit speak to me? May not the soul hear His voice? There are Divine intimations in circumstances. IV. THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF DIVINE INTIMATIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SAME OBJECTS TO DIFFERENT MEN. The mulberry trees were seen by the whole army, but the difference between David and his soldiers was the difference between a revelation and no revelation. They merely heard a sound, the wind moving the tops of the trees; there was nothing strange, nothing unusual in this, but David had received an intimation as to the special meaning of this sound. They heard only the movement caused by the wind, but David recognised the presence of the Lord, who was going before them to smite the host of the Philistines. So with Saul of Tarsus. The men who were with him on his way to Damascus saw only the brightness of the light that shone round about him, but Saul saw Christ. They heard only a sound, but he heard a voice. Be thankful for revelations in spiritual matters. You must yourself be spiritual to understand spiritual revelations. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him." (H. J. Bevis.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. |
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