Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2996
“And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORRD, saying, Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” 2 Samuel 2:1.
You perceive, dear Friends, that, although David knew that he was anointed to be king over Israel, yet he would not take a step towards his rightful position without first asking guidance from God and, moreover, he was not content with a general direction, but wanted to have a particular and special indication as to where he was to go. It was not enough for God to say to him, “Go up”—he wants to know precisely to which town of Judah he shall go!
Nor, mark you, was this an exception to David’s usual habit. From his youth up, he had been accustomed to ask the Lord’s direction in all cases of difficulty. When he fled from Saul and went to Nod, to Abimelech the priest, Doeg told Saul that Abimelech enquired of the Lord for David. It was not enough for David that he had Goliath’s sword, he must also have guidance from God. When he was in the town of Keilah, which he had rescued from the Philistines, after he had twice enquired of the Lord whether he should do so, he asked whether the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul and, as a result of the oracular response which he obtained from God, he was able to make good his escape. Afterwards, when David had become king over Israel in Hebron, before he fought with the Philistines, he enquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” The Lord’s answer was favorable and David gained a great victory. But when the Philistines came up again, David did not go out to fight with them until he had once more enquired of the Lord—and then it was that God gave him that memorable answer, “And let it be when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall bestir yourself; for then shall the Lord go out before you, to smite the hosts of the Philistines.” David was a man who always needed to see God’s finger pointing out the right road, to hear God’s voice, saying, “This is the way, walk you in it.” And he never seemed to be satisfied unless he could hear the sound of his Master’s feet close behind him, or see a clear indication that his Master was just in front of him, or walking by his side!
I hold up David to you as a model for your imitation in this respect, although I am going to leave David and talk more generally of the duty of enquiring of God as to what we shall do when we are in any difficulty and, indeed, of enquiring of Him at all times, whether we are in difficulty or not!
I. My first remark is that TO ENQUIRE OF THE LORD AND TO SEEK GUIDANCE AT HIS HANDS IS THE DUTY OF ALL CHRISTIANS.
This may be inferred from God’s relationship to them. God is their Father and they are His children—minors who have not yet come of age. When a son is of age, it is respectful and often very prudent for him to still consult his experienced sire, but the child in his minority should venture upon nothing of importance without first going to tell his father. And if that child is beset by many false friends—by those who would mislead and ruin him—it will be his privilege as well as his duty to be often running to his parent and saying, “Father, what shall I do in this matter? What is true and what is not? Show me what you would have me do.” If God is our Father, we are His children. And if we do not consult Him, surely we are but sorry children. We lose a great blessing and incur no small guilt if, professing to be the sons and daughters of our Father who is in Heaven, we never ask Him to direct our way!
We also talk of God as our Shepherd. And an important part of a shepherd’s duty is that of guiding his flock. What would you think if, in the East, where the shepherd leads the way, the sheep should all think themselves wise enough to find the road alone? Why, the flocks would soon be broken up and the pastoral relationship would become mere farce! If
God is your Shepherd, follow Him. Often say to Him, “Show me the footsteps of the flock.” Desire always to hear the Shepherd’s voice, for this is the mark of God’s sheep! “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” How can you call God your Shepherd if you do not follow Him and never consult Him?
Do you not know also, dearly Beloved, that Christ calls us His spouse? But what sort of spouse would she be who never entrusted any of her secrets to her husband and who asked no counsel of him even when she came into dire distress? There may be some women who are wiser than their husbands and who can give advice rather than require to ask it, but it is not so in this case, for never did any other husband have so weak and foolish a spouse as Jesus Christ has! In fact, her only wisdom is to confess her folly and to throw herself into her Husband’s arms, and cry—
“Lead me all my journey through!’