17. The Battle Is the Lord's
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands. I Samuel 17:47
Here are always two ways of handling the same doctrine. The truth in the text may be used as a narcotic or as a stimulant. Some are so wicked as to say that if it be the Lord's battle, we are excused from fighting: as if, seeing the harvest is the Lord's, we might justly refuse to sow or reap, We see how David used this truth: it fired his soul and nerved his arm. We are all battling on one side or the other, and the worst of all are those who boast their neutrality. To the Christian man these words are so true that he may emblazon them on his banner, and write them as the headline of "the book of the wars of the Lord"
I. THE GREAT FACT: "The battle is the Lord's"
  1. Inasmuch as it is for truth, right, holiness, love, and all those things which the Lord loves, the battle is the Lord's (Ps. 45:4).
  2. His name and glory are the object of it. It is his honor to see righteousness established in the earth. The gospel greatly glorifies God: men strike at the divine honor when they oppose it, and the Lord will vindicate his own name; thus our conflict becomes God's battle (Isa. 40:5).
  3. We fight only by his power. The Holy Ghost is our strength; we can do nothing without the Lord: hence the battle is his in the highest degree (2 Chron. 13:12; 20:12).
  4. He has bidden us fight. At our monarch's bidding we go upon this warfare. We are not free-lances on our own account, but warriors under his command (1 Tim. 6:12).
  5. He has bound himself to fight this battle. The reward promised to his Son, the covenant of grace, and the distinct pledges of his word, make it his battle. His fidelity is engaged to cause the Lord Jesus to divide the spoil with the strong. He must bruise Satan under our feet shortly (Rom. 16:20).
  6. When the battle is fully won, the glory will be unto the Lord alone (Ps. 98:1). "He hath triumphed gloriously" (Exod. 15:1).
II. ITS INFLUENCE ON OUR MINDS.
  1. We make light of opposition. Who can stand against the Lord?
  2. We are not cowed by our weakness. "When I am weak then am I strong" The Lord will make us mighty in his own fight.
  3. We throw ourselves into the work heartily. We owe so much to the Lord Jesus that we must fight for him (1 Cor. 16:13).
  4. We choose the best weapons. We dare not fire the Lord's cannons with the devil's powder. Love, truth, zeal, prayer, and patience should be at their best in God's battle (2 Cor. 10:4).
  5. We are confident of victory. Can the Lord be defeated? He vanquished Pharaoh, and he will do the same with Satan in due season (1 Cor. 15:25).
III. LESSONS IN CONNECTION WITH IT.
Make it God's cause. Never let it sink into a selfish matter.

• By your motive. Aim at his glory only. Keep clear of all sinister designs.
• By your method. Contend for the faith as Jesus would have contended, and not in a way which the Lord would disapprove.
• By your faith. Can you not trust God to fight his own battles?

Do not forget that it is the Lord's cause.

• Or you will bring self into it.
• You will begin to judge the conflict; and as it is on too huge a scale for human comprehension, you will fall into many errors, expecting defeat where victory is sure, or hoping for success in ways which lead to disaster.
• You will be enervated by fear, for the battle must end in your destruction if the Lord's hand be not with you.

Since it is his battle:

• Be happy if personally defeated; for Jesus is still highly exalted.
• Be calm and confident always; for there cannot be the smallest cause for fear as to the ultimate issue. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15).

This assembly does know that the battle is the Lord's. Does it not? Are all in this assembly on the conquering side? Why not look to him who is himself our salvation? He needs not our sword or spear; but will himself deliver those who trust in him.
Aids to Attention
Mr. Oncken told me that he was summoned before the burgomaster of Hamburg, who bade him cease from holding religious meetings. "Do you see that little finger?" cried he. "As long as I can move that finger I will put down the Baptists""Yes" said Oncken, "I see your little finger, and I also see a great arm which you cannot see. As long as the great arm of God is lifted on our behalf, your little finger will have no terror for us"
We are like William of Orange, with a few followers and an empty purse, making war against the master of half the world, with the mines of Peru for a treasury. But like William, too, when questioned concerning our resources, we can reply, "Before we took up this cause we entered into a close alliance with the King of kings" — David Gracey, in "The Sword and the Trowel"
When Tarik the Saracen went to vanquish Spain, he informed his followers that he had been favored by Heaven with a dream which had given him the fullest assurance of success. He had seen the prophet Mohammed surrounded by those holy saints and faithful companions who had adhered to his cause while he was an exile in Medina. They stood close by his couch with their swords unsheathed and their bows bent, and he heard the prophet say, "Take courage, O Tarik, and accomplish what thou art destined to perform" He then saw the prophet and his companions entering Spain as if to herald the way for the faithful followers of Islam. With a truer vision and more confident assurance may we enter the lists, go on to the struggle, and engage in the warfare of those who are fighting beneath the leadership of the cross. For, as surely as day conquers night, the cause of Heaven shall prevail, and he shall reign whose right it is to reign. — G. McMichael, in "The Baptist Magazine"
It is not the will of God that his people should be a timorous people. — Matthew Henry
It has been said of the persecuted Quakers, that, looking steadfastly at the strength of their Almighty leader, they —
Said not, who am I? but rather,
Whose am I, that I should fear?
— Annals of the Early Friends
Luther's strength lay in the way in which he laid the burden of the Reformation upon the Lord. Continually in prayer he pleaded, "Lord, this is thy cause, not mine. Therefore, do thine own work; for if this gospel do not prosper, it will not be Luther alone who will be a loser, but thine own name will be dishonored."
Our Lord does not expect us to go a warfare at our own charges. No soldier finds himself in rations or ammunition. Our King is never ungenerous: if he sends us to battle he will go with us, both to cover our head and nerve our arm. If we will but care for his cause, he will care for us. Queen Elizabeth requested a merchant to go abroad on her service, and when he mentioned that his own business would be ruined, she replied, "You mind my business and I will mind yours" If it be but the Lord's battle, we may be sure that he will see us through with it.
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

17．爭戰在乎耶和華

一、這一偉大的事實：「爭戰在乎耶和華」

• 因為這爭戰是為了真理、公義、聖潔、愛，以及一切耶和華所喜悅的事，
  所以這爭戰是屬於耶和華的（詩 45:4）。
• 這爭戰的目標是祂的名與祂的榮耀。
  看到公義在地上建立，是神的榮耀；福音大大榮耀神。
  人若反對福音，就是攻擊神的尊榮；而耶和華必為自己的名伸冤。
  因此，我們的爭戰成了神的爭戰（賽 40:5）。
• 我們完全是靠祂的能力爭戰。
  聖靈是我們的力量；離了主，我們什麼都不能做。
  因此，這爭戰在最高意義上是祂的（代下 13:12；20:12）。
• 是祂命令我們去爭戰。
  我們是奉君王之命進入這場戰役；
  我們不是為自己而戰的自由傭兵，而是受祂指揮的戰士（提前 6:12）。
• 祂已經把自己與這場爭戰綁在一起。
  賜給祂兒子的賞賜、恩典之約，以及祂話語中清楚的應許，
  都使這爭戰成為祂自己的事。
  祂的信實已經承諾：使主耶穌與強者分擄物；
  祂必要快快將撒但踐踏在我們腳下（羅 16:20）。
• 當爭戰完全得勝時，一切榮耀都單單歸於耶和華。
  「耶和華已經大大得勝」（出 15:1；詩 98:1）。

二、這真理對我們心思的影響

• 我們不把反對勢力放在眼裡。
  有誰能敵擋耶和華呢？
• 我們不因自己的軟弱而膽怯。
  「我什麼時候軟弱，什麼時候就剛強了。」
  在祂自己的爭戰中，耶和華必使我們成為有能力的人。
• 我們全心投入這工作。
  我們虧欠主耶穌太多了，非為祂爭戰不可（林前 16:13）。
• 我們選用最好的兵器。
  我們不敢用魔鬼的火藥來發射主的大炮。
  在神的爭戰中，愛、真理、熱心、禱告與忍耐，都必須是最上好的（林後 10:4）。
• 我們對得勝滿有信心。
  耶和華豈會被打敗嗎？
  祂曾擊敗法老，到了時候，也必同樣擊敗撒但（林前 15:25）。

三、與此相關的教訓

要把這件事確實當作神的事工，切不可讓它墮落為私人的事。

在動機上

只以祂的榮耀為目標，遠離一切不正當的企圖。

在方法上

要用耶穌所認可的方式為真道爭辯，而不是用主所不喜悅的方法。

在信心上

你豈不能信靠神，讓祂為祂自己的爭戰負責嗎？
千萬不要忘記：這是耶和華的事工。
否則——

• 你會把「自我」帶進來；
• 你會開始憑自己判斷這場爭戰；
  而這爭戰的規模遠超人的理解，
  你就會在該得勝之處預期失敗，
  或在必致災禍的途徑中妄想成功；
• 若沒有耶和華的同在，你會被恐懼削弱，
  因為這爭戰最終只會導致你的滅亡。

既然這是祂的爭戰：

• 即使你個人似乎失敗，也可以喜樂；
  因為耶穌仍然被高舉。
• 要常常安靜、篤定；
  因為對最終結果，絲毫沒有懼怕的理由。
  「你們得力在乎平靜安穩」（賽 30:15）。

這會眾知道爭戰在乎耶和華，對嗎？
這會眾中的每一個人，是否都站在得勝的一邊？
為何不轉向那一位——祂自己就是我們的拯救？
祂不需要我們的刀或槍，卻必親自拯救一切信靠祂的人。

引人專注的事例

昂肯牧師告訴我，他曾被召到漢堡市長面前，市長命令他停止舉行宗教聚會。
市長喊道：「你看到我這根小指頭嗎？只要我還能動這根指頭，我就能把浸信會打垮！」
昂肯回答說：
「是的，我看到你的小指頭；但我也看到一隻你看不見的大能的膀臂。
只要神那大能的膀臂為我們舉起，你那根小指頭就一點也不可怕。」
我們好比奧倫治的威廉，
帶著少數追隨者與空空如也的錢袋，
向那掌控半個世界、以秘魯銀礦為國庫的人宣戰。
但和威廉一樣，當人問到我們的資源時，
我們可以回答：
「在我們舉起這面旗幟之前，
我們已與萬王之王結成了緊密的盟約。」
——David Gracey，《劍與鏟》
當撒拉森人塔里克征服西班牙時，
他告訴部下，自己蒙天啟得了一個夢，
使他對成功有完全的把握。
他看見先知穆罕默德，身旁圍繞著在麥地那流亡時忠心跟隨他的聖徒與同伴，
他們拔出刀、拉滿弓；
他聽見先知說：
「鼓起勇氣吧，塔里克，去完成你命定要完成的事。」
隨後，他又看見先知與眾同伴彷彿為伊斯蘭的追隨者開路一般，進入西班牙。
但我們帶著更真實的異象、更確定的把握，
進入競技場、投身爭戰、
在十字架的旌旗下作戰。
因為正如白晝必勝過黑夜，
天國的事業必然得勝；
那位有權柄作王的，必然掌權。
——G. McMichael，《浸信會雜誌》
神並不要祂的百姓成為膽怯的百姓。
——馬太·亨利
有人論到受逼迫的貴格會信徒說，
他們定睛仰望全能元帥的能力，
於是——
不再問「我是誰？」
卻問「我是屬於誰的，
何必懼怕？」
——《早期貴格會史》
路德的力量，在於他把宗教改革的重擔完全交託給主。
他常在禱告中呼求：
「主啊，這是你的事工，不是我的；
因此，求你親自成就。
若這福音不能興旺，受虧損的不只是路德，
乃是你自己的名要被羞辱。」
我們的主並不期望我們自備軍糧、獨力作戰。
沒有哪個士兵要自己供應糧食或彈藥。
我們的君王從不吝嗇：
若祂差遣我們上戰場，
祂必與我們同在，既遮蓋我們的頭，又剛強我們的手臂。
只要我們顧念祂的事工，祂就必顧念我們。
伊麗莎白女王曾請一位商人為她出國辦事；
商人說這會毀了自己的生意。
女王回答說：
「你顧我的事，我就顧你的事。」
既然這是耶和華的爭戰，
我們就可以確信，祂必帶領我們到底。
查爾斯．海登．司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）

18. Love Plighting Troth
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. I Samuel 18:3
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. I Samuel 20:17
Why so many sermons on Jonah, and so few on Jonathan? Are the cross-grained more worthy of study than the gentle and generous? This noble prince counted it his joy to further the interests of the man who was to be preferred before him. There was something very beautiful in Jonathan, and this came out in his unselfish, magnanimous love of David. How much more beauty is there in the unparalleled love of Jesus to us poor sinners!
I. GREAT LOVE DESIRES TO BIND ITSELF TO THE BELOVED ONE.
            "Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him"

• The covenant was made, not so much because of their mutual love, but because Jonathan loved David. "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women" (2 Sam. 1:26).

  1. Jesus bound himself to us by covenant bonds. He undertook the charge of us as our Surety in the covenant of grace.

• He entered into our nature to represent us, thus becoming the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:47).
• He pledged himself to redeem us with the sacrifice of himself. "He loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
• He took us into union with himself. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Eph. 5:30).
• He has bound up our future lives with his own. "Your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19) "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am" (John 17:24) "Ye in me and I in you" Seven golden words.
• He has made us share in all that he has, changing garments with us, as in this narrative (1 Sam. 18:4).
• He could not come nearer to us, or he would.
• In all these covenant deeds he proves his perfect love.

  2. Jesus would have us bound to him on our part: therefore he would, have us,

• Submit ourselves to the saving power of his love.
• Love him for his great love; even as David loved Jonathan.
• Own that we are his by choice, purchase, and power; and do this deliberately and solemnly, as men make a covenant.
• Join ourselves to his people; for he reckons them to be himself.
• Show kindness to all who are his, for his sake; even as David was good to Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9).
• More and more merge our interests in his, and find our gain in advancing his honor (2 Cor. 5:14-15). "Bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God" (1 Sam. 25:29). What an expression! Yet how true!

  3. If this be our Lord's desire, shall we not fulfill it?

• Let the bonds be mutual and indissoluble (Song of Sol. 2:16).
• Let us accept the priceless gifts of the Prince, and then give ourselves to him without reserve.
• Let us love him as we love ourselves, for he loved us better than himself (Matt. 27:42).
• Let this be a time of love, a season for renewing our vows, a time of fuller self-merging into Jesus (Gal. 2:20).

II. GREAT LOVE DESIRES RENEWED PLEDGES FROM ITS OBJECT. "Jonathan caused David to swear again"

• Not out of selfishness, but from a sacred jealousy. "The Lord thy God is a jealous God." See also Song of Solomon 8:6.
• It is the only return love can receive. We can love Jesus, we can do no more. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Ps. 31:23).

• It is for our highest benefit. Bound to the horns of the altar we are free. Wedded to Christ we are blessed.
• We are so chill already that we have need to renew the flame of affection with flesh coals of loving communion.
• We are so tempted and assailed that the more solemnly and the more often we renew our vows, the better for us.
• We are most unhappy if drawn aside: every backsliding is misery, Therefore, let us be bound firmly to our Lord.
• Hence he invites us to new pledges (Song of Sol. 9:8).
• Our first surrender was attended with a solemn dedication.
• Our baptism was his own appointed token of our being one with him in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:4).
• Our communions should be hallowed renewals of our covenant:

"Let every act of worship be,
Like our espousals, Lord, to thee;
Like the dear hour when from above,
We first received thy pledge of love.

• Our restorations from sickness ought to be remembered with special praise, and we should pay our vows in the presence of the Lord's people (Ps. 116:8, 14).
• Our flesh conditions should be attended with extraordinary devotion. Removal, promotion, marriage, birth of children, death of relatives, etc., are notable seasons for rededication.
• Our times of spiritual revival, when we are full of hearty fellowship with the Lord and his saints, should be new departures.
• Come and let us renew our loves at this good hour.
• Let us get alone, and express our pure desires before our well-beloved, when only he can hear.
• Let us think of some special act of devotion by which to express our affection, and let us carry it out at once. Have we no alabaster box Can we not wash the Beloved's feet, and kiss them with reverent affection

Windows of Agate
A little girl was playing with her doll in a room where her mother was busily engaged in some literary work. When she had finished her writing, she said, "You can come now, Alice, I have done all I want to do this morning" The child ran to her mother, exclaiming, "I am so glad, for I wanted to love you so much." "But I thought you were very happy with dolly." "Yes, mother, I was, but I soon get tired of loving her, for she cannot love me back" "And is that why you love me — because I can love you back? — That is one why, but not the first or best why." "What is the first and best why?" "Because you loved me when I was too little to love you back" Mother's eyes filled with tears as she whispered," We love HIM because HE first loved us."
Lord Brooke was so delighted with the friendship of Sir Philip Sydney that he ordered to be engraved upon his tomb nothing but this, — "Here lies the friend of Sir Philip Sydney."
Christ and the believer that loves him live as if they had but one soul betwixt them. It is not the distance between earth and heaven that can separate them: true love will find out Christ wherever he is. When he was upon the earth, they that loved him kept his company; and now that he is gone to heaven, and out of sight, those that love him are frequently sending up their hearts unto him. And, indeed, they never think themselves intelligent in any thing that is worth the knowing, until they have made their souls much acquainted and familiar with their crucified Savior (1 Cor. 2:2). — The Morning Exercises
"Lovest thou me" "Feed my sheep" It was a tender act on our Lord's part to allow Peter three times to speak his love, and then all the rest of his life to exercise that love by giving him work to do. Jesus, the Friend, asks thrice, and then appoints a token: Peter, out of sincere love, answers thrice, and renders the life-long token. Love is conspicuous on either side.
Saints are to look upon themselves as wholly the Lord's, in opposition to all competitors. The Lord will not divide with rivals; if ye take him these must go. The soul till it comes within the covenant is in a restless case, like a bee going from flower to flower, or a bird from bush to bush; but when it is married to Christ it is settled with him, and breaks its league with all others.
Remember, the covenant ye have entered into is an offensive and defensive league. You are to have common friends and common foes with the Lord. His people must be your people, and his enemies your enemies.
Remember that your ears are bored to the Lord's doorposts, you have opened your mouth to the Lord, and you cannot go back. You must be his without end, and without interruption. It is a laudable practice of saints to go over the bargain again, hold by it, seal it afresh, and evermore look at themselves as the Lord's. There is a backsliding disposition in the best; but a renewal of our covenant is an antidote for this poison. Moreover, he that hath truly made such a covenant has given himself to Christ without reserve, and hath put a blank into the Lord's hand, saying, with Paul, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" This is well-pleasing unto our God. — Thomas Boston
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

18．愛的盟約（以愛立誓）

一、偉大的愛，渴望把自己與所愛者緊緊聯合

「約拿單和大衛立約，因為他愛他」
這盟約的成立，與其說是因為彼此相愛，不如說是因為約拿單愛大衛。
「你向我發的愛奇妙非常，過於婦女的愛。」（撒下 1:26）

1．耶穌藉著約，把自己與我們聯合起來

• 祂在恩典之約中，擔當了我們的責任，成為我們的中保。
• 祂進入我們的本性，代表我們，成為末後的亞當（林前 15:47）。
• 祂以捨己為祭，立誓救贖我們：「祂是愛我，為我捨己」（加 2:20）。
• 祂使我們與自己聯合：「我們是祂身上的肢體，是祂的骨、祂的肉」（弗 5:30）。
• 祂把我們未來的生命與祂自己的生命綁在一起：
• 「你們的生命與基督一同藏在神裡面」（西 3:3）
• 「因我活著，你們也要活著」（約 14:19）
• 「父啊，我在哪裡，願你所賜給我的人也同我在那裡」（約 17:24）
• 「你們在我裡面，我也在你們裡面」——七個金句！
• 祂使我們與祂分享一切所有，正如這段記載中所說，彼此交換衣服（撒上 18:4）。

祂再也無法比這更靠近我們了；若可以，祂還願意。
在這一切立約的作為中，祂顯明了完全的愛。

2．耶穌也要我們在自己這一方與祂立約

因此，祂要我們：

• 降服在祂救贖之愛的大能之下；
• 因祂的大愛而愛祂，正如大衛愛約拿單；
• 承認我們屬於祂，是出於揀選、救贖與大能，並且要鄭重、刻意地如此承認，如同人立約一般；
• 聯合於祂的百姓，因為祂把他們看作祂自己；
• 為祂的緣故，善待一切屬祂的人，正如大衛善待米非波設（撒下 9）；
• 越來越把我們的利益融入祂的利益中，以推動祂的榮耀為我們的得著（林後 5:14–15）。

「把性命繫在耶和華你神的生命冊上。」（撒上 25:29）
何等的說法！卻又何等真實！

3．既然這是主的心意，我們豈不當回應嗎？

• 讓這聯結成為彼此的、不可解開的（歌 2:16）。
• 接受這位王子無價的恩賜，然後毫無保留地把自己獻給祂。
• 像愛自己一樣愛祂，因為祂愛我們勝過愛自己（太 27:42）。
• 願這成為愛的時刻、更新誓約的季節、
  更深把自己融入基督的時候（加 2:20）。

二、偉大的愛，渴望所愛者更新誓言

「約拿單使大衛再起誓」
這並非出於自私，而是出於聖潔的妒愛。
「耶和華你的神是忌邪的神。」（參歌 8:6）
這是愛唯一能得到的回報。
我們能為耶穌做的，只有一件事——愛祂。
「你們要愛耶和華，祂的眾聖民哪！」（詩 31:23）
這也是為了我們最高的益處：

• 被綁在祭壇的角上，我們才是真正自由；
• 與基督成婚，我們才是真正有福。

我們的心已經夠冷淡了，更需要藉著愛的交通，重新點燃感情的火焰。
我們誘惑與攻擊甚多，因此越鄭重、越頻繁地更新誓約，對我們越有益。
一旦偏離主，我們就極其痛苦；每一次退後，都是悲慘。
所以，讓我們緊緊與主相連。
因此，祂邀請我們立新的誓約（歌 8:8）。

• 我們最初的降服，是一次莊嚴的奉獻；
• 我們的洗禮，是祂所設立的記號，表明我們與祂在死、埋葬、復活上成為一體（羅 6:4）；
• 我們的聖餐聚會，應當成為更新盟約的聖潔時刻：

「願每一次敬拜，
都像我們的訂婚之時，主啊，歸於你；
像當初從天上，
初次領受你愛的憑據那一刻。」

• 我們從病中得恢復時，當以特別的讚美記念，並在主民面前還所許的願（詩 116:8、14）；
• 人生的重要時刻——遷居、升遷、婚姻、兒女出生、親人離世——
  都是重新奉獻的良機；
• 屬靈復興、與主和眾聖徒親密相交的時候，
  都應成為新的起點。

來吧，就在這美好的時刻，讓我們更新我們的愛。
讓我們獨自與主同在，在只有祂能聽見的地方，傾訴我們純淨的心願。
讓我們思想一個具體的奉獻行動，來表達我們的愛，並立刻付諸實行。
我們沒有玉瓶嗎？
不能為所愛的主洗腳，用敬虔的愛親吻祂嗎？

瑪瑙窗（感人片段）

一個小女孩在房間裡和洋娃娃玩，她的母親正忙於寫作。
母親寫完後說：「愛麗絲，現在可以來了，我今天早上該做的都做完了。」
孩子跑向母親，說：「我好高興，因為我很想愛你。」
母親說：「但我以為你和娃娃玩得很開心。」
「是的，媽媽，但我很快就厭倦愛她了，因為她不能回愛我。」
「那你愛我，是因為我能回愛你嗎？」
「這是原因之一，但不是第一、也不是最好的原因。」
「那第一、最好的原因是什麼？」
「因為你在我還不能回愛你的時候，就已經愛我了。」
母親含著淚低聲說：
「我們愛祂，因為祂先愛我們。」
布魯克勳爵深愛與西德尼爵士的友誼，
他吩咐在自己的墓碑上，只刻一句話：
「這裡安葬著——西德尼爵士的朋友。」
基督與愛祂的信徒，彷彿只有一個靈魂。
天地之遠也不能使他們分離；真愛必定尋見基督。
當祂在地上時，愛祂的人與祂同行；
如今祂在天上，愛祂的人不斷把心送到祂那裡。
他們若未曾使自己的靈魂與那位被釘十字架的救主極其親密，
就不以為自己在任何真正重要的事上有見識（林前 2:2）。
——《晨更講章集》
「你愛我嗎？」——「你餵養我的羊。」
主讓彼得三次表白他的愛，
然後用一生的服事來實踐這愛，
這是何等溫柔的安排！
愛，在主與門徒雙方都顯得何等明亮。
聖徒應當看自己是完全屬於主的，拒絕一切競爭者。
主不與對手分享；若你要祂，其餘的就必須離去。
靈魂在未進入盟約之前，是不安的，
像蜜蜂在花間飛，像鳥在枝間跳；
但一旦與基督成婚，便安定下來，
並與一切其他對象斷絕盟約。
要記得，你所立的約是攻守同盟：
主的朋友必須成為你的朋友，
主的仇敵也必須成為你的仇敵。
要記得，你的耳朵已經鑿在主的門框上，
你已向主開口，就不能回頭。
你必須永遠、毫不間斷地屬於祂。
聖徒常常重溫這筆交易、再次蓋印、
不斷提醒自己：我是屬主的。
最好的信徒也有退後的傾向；
但更新盟約正是對抗這毒素的解藥。
真正立約的人，是毫無保留地把自己交給基督，
把一張空白支票交在主手中，
與保羅同聲說：
「主啊，你要我做什麼？」
這是神所喜悅的。
——湯瑪斯．波士頓（Thomas Boston）
查爾斯．海登．司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）

19. David's Spoil
This is David's spoil. I Samuel 30:20
We see in David a type of the Lord Jesus, in his conflicts and victories, and as in a thousand things beside, so also in the spoil. To him as a warrior against evil the spoils of war belong. Jehovah saith, "I will divide him a portion with the great; and he shall divide the spoil with the strong" (Isa. 53:12). We may say of him, "Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey" (Ps. 76:4).
I. ALL THE GOOD THAT WE ENJOY COMES TO US THROUGH JESUS. All that we held under the law the spoiler has taken.
By our own efforts we can never gain what we have lost.
Our great Leader has made us share the spoil.
  1. It was for David's sake that God gave success to the hosts of Israel.
  2. It was under David's leadership that they won the battle.

• Even thus is Jesus the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10).
• Within us he has wrought a great deliverance. He has overcome the strong man, taken from him all his armor, and divided his spoils (Luke 11:22). He can say with Job, "I plucked the spoil out of his teeth" (Job 29:17).
• We had lost all by sin, but Jesus has restored it: "Then I restored that which I took not away" (Ps. 69:4). "David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away" (verse 18).
• Our very selves were captive; he has set us free."David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them" (verses 18-19).
• Our eternal heritage was forfeited; he has redeemed it (Eph. 1:14). The prey is taken from the mighty. "David recovered all."
• Our enemies have been made to enrich us, and to glorify his name. "Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15). Now is fulfilled the promise,"They that spoil thee shall be a spoil" (Jer. 30:16).

II. THAT WHICH IS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE LOST BY SIN COMES BY JESUS. "And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil" (verse 20).

• As Jesus has made us more safe than we were before the fall, so has he also made us more rich.

  1. The exaltation of humanity to kinship with God. This was not ours at the first, but it is acquired for us by the Lord Jesus.
    Election, sonship, heirship, spiritual life, union to Christ, espousal to Jesus, fellowship with God, and the glory of the future wedding-feast--all these are choice spoils.
  2. The fact that we are redeemed creatures, for whom the Creator suffered, is an honor belonging to none but men, and not to men except through Jesus Christ (Heb. 2:16).
    As ransomed persons we are bound to our Redeemer by special ties. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
  3. Our singular condition as creatures who have known sin, and have been delivered from it, comes by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our perfection will be that of voluntary agents, who will for ever abhor the evil from which they have been saved, and love the good unto which they have been wedded by the grace of God. This belongs not to the angels.
Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace and dying love.
  4. Our resurrection, which is a gem not found in the crown of seraphs, comes by our risen Lord (2 Cor. 4:14).
  5. Our relation to God, and yet to materialism, is another rare gift of Jesus. We are kings and priests unto God on behalf of the universe; the sanctification of mind and matter is consummated in our favored persons.
  6. Our manifestation of the full glory of the Lord. Our experience will declare to all intelligent beings the choicest wisdom, love, power, and faithfulness of God (Eph. 3:10).
    Truly all these things make us cry, "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Ps. 119:162).
III. THAT WHICH WE WILLINGLY GIVE TO JESUS MAY BE CALLED HIS SPOIL.
  l. Our hearts are his alone for ever. Hence, all that we have and are belongs to him. "This is David's spoil"--the love and gratitude of our lives (! John 9:19).
  2. Our special gifts. Our tithes and dedicated things are for him. Let us give plentifully (Mai. 3:10). Abraham gave Melchizedek the tenth of the spoil (Gen. 14:20).
  3. Our homage as a Church is to him. He is Head over all things to his Church. It is his reward to reign in Zion.
  4. Our race must yet bow before him; all thrones and powers acknowledge his supremacy. This also is our David's spoil.
Yield to Jesus now, and find in him your safety, your heaven.
What say you? Are you David's spoil?
If not, sin and Satan are spoiling you every day.

Notabilia
(1) Sin contracts no guilt that grace does not more than remove, (2) sin deforms no beauty that grace does not more than renew, (3) sin loses no blessedness that grace does not more than restore. --Outline of Sermon on Romans 5:20, by the late Charles Vince
In 1741, at the Northampton Assizes, a poor Irishman was sentenced to death for murder. Dr. Doddridge believed him innocent, and so exerted himself in his behalf that a respite was obtained. Nothing could be more touching than the poor fellow's expressions of gratitude. He said, "Every drop of my blood thanks you, for you have had compassion on every drop of it. You are my deliverer, and you have a right to me. If I live I am your property, and I will be a faithful servant."
We all remember the poem of "The man of Ross." Every good thing in the place came from him. Ask who did this or that, "The man of Ross," each lisping babe replies.
Even so, as we survey each blessing of our happy estate, and ask whence it came, the only answer is, "This is Jesus' spoil The crucified hand has won this for us."
A Pastor in Cumberland has formed in his church a Good Intent Society, composed of poor persons who have no money to give, but yet desire to do something for the Lord Jesus. These give one hour in the week to some charitable work, or to some labor by which they earn a few pence which is given to the service of the Lord. Each one, according to her several ability, does something distinctly for Jesus. These people find a blessing in so doing. Should we not each one regularly and systematically set aside a portion for our Lord and Savior, and say, "This is David's spoil"?
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

19．大衛的戰利品
「這是大衛的戰利品。」
——撒母耳記上 30:20
我們在大衛身上，看見主耶穌的預表——在他的爭戰、得勝之中如此，在戰利品上亦然。作為對抗邪惡的勇士，戰利品理當歸他。耶和華說：「所以我要使他與位大的同分，與強盛的均分擄物」（賽 53:12）。我們也可以對他說：「你比打獵的山更為榮美尊貴」（詩 76:4）。

一、我們所享受的一切美善，都是藉著耶穌而來

在律法之下，我們所有的一切早已被擄掠者奪去；
憑我們自己的努力，永不能取回所失去的；
惟有我們偉大的元帥，使我們得以分享戰利品。

• 是因著大衛的緣故，神賜下勝利給以色列的軍隊。
• 也是在大衛的帶領之下，他們贏得了爭戰。

同樣，耶穌乃是「救恩的元帥」（來 2:10）。
在我們裡面，他已成就了極大的拯救：
他勝過了那壯士，奪去他的全副軍裝，分了他的擄物（路 11:22）。
他可以像約伯一樣說：「我從他牙齒中奪了所搶的」（伯 29:17）。
我們因罪失去了一切，但耶穌已為我們恢復：「我償還了我沒有搶奪的」（詩 69:4）。
「大衛奪回亞瑪力人所擄去的一切」（30:18）。
連我們自己也曾被擄去，但他已釋放我們：
「大衛救回了他的兩個妻子；凡亞瑪力人所擄去的，無論大小、兒女、財物，大衛全都奪回」（30:18–19）。
我們永恆的產業曾被沒收，但他已將之贖回（弗 1:14）。
擄物從勇士手中被奪回——「大衛奪回了一切」。
我們的仇敵反倒成了我們的豐富，也顯明了他的榮耀：
「既將一切執政的、掌權的擄來，明顯給眾人看，仗著十字架誇勝」（西 2:15）。
如今應驗了那應許：「搶奪你的，必成為被搶奪的」（耶 30:16）。

二、那超過我們因罪所失去的，也都是藉著耶穌而來

「大衛將那些牛群羊群奪來，趕在原有的牲畜前頭，說：這是大衛的戰利品」（30:20）。
耶穌不但使我們比墮落以前更安全，也使我們比從前更富足。

• 人性被高舉，與神有親屬的關係
  這並非起初所有，乃是主耶穌為我們贏得的：
  揀選、兒子的名分、後嗣的地位、屬靈生命、與基督的聯合、與耶穌的婚約、與神的交通、將來婚筵的榮耀——這一切都是精選的戰利品。
• 我們成了被救贖的受造者
  創造主竟為我們受苦——這是天使所未得的尊榮（來 2:16）。
  「你們不是自己的人，因為你們是重價買來的」（林前 6:19–20）。
• 我們曾經認識罪，又從罪中被拯救
  我們將來的完全，是自由意志的完全——永遠恨惡曾拯救我們出來的惡，並愛慕神的恩典所賜的善。
  這不是天使所能經歷的：

天使未曾嚐過
救贖之恩與捨命之愛。

• 我們的復活
  這顆寶石不在撒拉弗的冠冕中，卻因復活的主臨到我們（林後 4:14）。
• 我們既與神相連，又與物質世界有關
  我們是為全宇宙向神作王、作祭司的人；
  心思與物質的成聖，在我們身上得以完成。
• 我們將彰顯神完全的榮耀
  我們的經歷要向一切有智慧的受造者宣告神至高的智慧、愛、能力與信實（弗 3:10）。

誠然，這一切使我們呼喊：
「我喜愛你的話，好像人得了許多戰利品」（詩 119:162）。

三、我們甘心獻給耶穌的，也可稱為他的戰利品

• 我們的心永遠屬他
  因此，我們所有的一切也都屬他——
  「這是大衛的戰利品」：就是我們一生的愛與感恩。
• 我們特別的奉獻
  十一奉獻與分別為聖之物都屬於他（瑪 3:10）。
  亞伯拉罕將擄物的十分之一獻給麥基洗德（創 14:20）。
• 教會對他的敬拜與順服
  他是教會萬有之首；
  在錫安作王，是他應得的賞賜。
• 萬邦終必向他屈膝
  一切寶座與權勢都要承認他的主權——
  這也是我們大衛的戰利品。

現在就降服於耶穌，在他裡面得著你的安全與天堂。
我要問你一句：
你是大衛的戰利品嗎？
若不是，罪與撒但正天天在擄掠你。

雜記（Notabilia）

1. 罪所帶來的罪責，恩典不但除去，且有餘；

2. 罪所造成的敗壞，恩典不但更新，且超越；

3. 罪所失去的福樂，恩典不但恢復，且更加豐盛。
   ——查爾斯．文斯，《羅馬書 5:20 講道大綱》

（以下故事與見證略，主題皆歸結於一句話：）
我們每一樣屬靈的福分，只能說——
「這是耶穌的戰利品。」

—— 查爾斯．哈登．司布真

20. Prayer Found in the Heart
For thou, O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. II Samuel 7:27
How often God does for his servants what they desire to do for him! David desired to build the Lord a house, and the Lord built him a house. When God's servants are not accepted one way, they are another. Neither do they take it ill that the Lord puts them off from the work upon which they had set their desires; but they learn his will, bow before it, and praise him for it. David went in and sat before the Lord, and offered prayer, for he felt moved in heart, so that he could not do otherwise. When the Lord promises, we should supplicate: his giving times should create for us special asking times.
I. HOW DID HE COME BY HIS PRAYER? He "found in his heart to pray this prayer."

• He found it, which is a sign he looked for it. Those who pray at random will never be accepted: we must carefully seek out our prayers (Job 13:4).
• In his heart-not in a book, nor in his memory, nor in his head, nor in his imagination, nor only on his tongue (Ps. 84:2).
• It is proof that he had a heart, knew where it was, could look into it, and did often search it (Ps. 77:6).
• It must have been a living heart, or a living prayer would not have been within it.
• It must have been a believing heart, or he would not have found "this prayer" in it.
• It must have been a serious heart, not flippant, forgetful, cold, indifferent, or he would have found a thousand vanities in it, but no prayer. Question: Would prayer be found in your heart at this time (Hosea 7:11)?
• It must have been a humble heart, for such was the prayer.
• Is this the way you pray? Do you answer, "I never pray"? God grant you may yet find it in your heart to do so.
• Is this the way you pray? Do you answer, "I say my prayers"? How can prayers which do not come fromyour heart ever reach God's heart?

II. HOW DID HIS PRAYER COME TO BE IN HIS HEART?.
 Through the Lord's being there, and putting it there.
  1. The Lord's own Spirit instructed him how to pray.

• By giving him a sense of need. Great blessings teach us our necessity, as in David's case.
• By giving him faith in God. When sure that God will keep his promise we are moved to plead it.
• By bringing before his mind the appropriate promise. "Thou hast revealed; therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee."

  2. The Lord inclined him to pray.

• It has been said that an absolute promise would render prayer needless; whereas the first influence of such a promise is to suggest prayer. The Lord inclined David's heart:
• By warming his heart. Prayer does not grow in an ice-well.
• By gladdening him with bright prospects. Prayer comes flying in by the open window of hope.
• By communing with him. When God speaks to us we are moved to speak to him.

3. The Lord encouraged him to pray, by means of:

• A promise spoken."I will build thee an house."
• A promise sealed home to the heart."Thou hast revealed to thy servant."
• His covenant is ordained on purpose to excite prayer. "I will yet for this be enquired of" (Ezek. 36:37).
• His former great mercy, his previous answers to our petitions, his immutable goodness, his undiminished power, and his unquestioned faithfulness, all lead us to pray.
• His Son Jesus is an Intercessor who is always pleading with success, and this puts it into our heart to pray.
• His Holy Spirit has undertaken to help our infirmity in prayer, and this again suggests prayer.

III. HOW MAY YOU FIND PRAYER IN YOUR HEARTS?

• Look into your heart, and make diligent search.
• Think of your own need, and this will suggest petitions.
• Think of your ill-desert, and you will humbly cry to the Lord.
• Think of the promises, the precepts, and the doctrines of truth, and each one of these will summon you to your knees.
• Have Christ in your heart, and prayer will follow (Acts 9:11).
• Live near to God, and then you will often speak to him.
• Do you find prayers and other holy things in your heart? Or is it full of vanity, worldliness, ambition, and ungodliness?
• Remember that you are what your heart is (Prov. 23:7).

Things to the Point
In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part,
Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.
—R. Herrick

On the cover of his "Kyrie Eleison;" the great musician Beethoven wrote, "From the heart it has come to the heart it shall penetrate."
The Asiatic Russians say that it is only upon the Baikal—an exceedingly dangerous lake in Siberia—in autumn, that a man learns to pray from his heart.
"A great part of my time," said M'Cheyne, "is spent in getting my heart in tune for prayer."
It is not the gilded paper and good writing of a petition that prevails with a king, but the moving sense of it. And to that King who discerns the heart, heart-sense is the sense of all, and that which he only regards; he listens to hear what that speaks, and takes all as nothing where that is silent. All other' excellence in prayer is but the outside and fashion of it; this is the life of it. —Leighton
I asked a young friend, "Did you pray before conversion?" She answered that she did after a sort. I then enquired, "What is the difference between your present prayers and those before you knew the Lord?" Her answer was, "Then I said my prayers, but now I mean them. Then I said the prayers which other people taught me, but now I find them in my heart."
There is good reason to cry "Eureka!" when we find prayer in our heart. Holy Bradford would never cease praying or praising till he found his heart thoroughly engaged in the holy exercise. If it be not in my heart to pray, I must pray till it is. But oh, the delight of pleading with God when the heart casts forth mighty jets of supplication, like a geyser in full action! How mighty is supplication when the whole soul becomes one living, hungering, expecting desire!
Remember, God respecteth not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how long they are; nor the music of our prayers, how methodical they are; but the divinity of our prayers, how heart-sprung they are. Not gifts, but graces, prevail in prayer. —Trapp
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

20．在心中找到的禱告

「萬軍之耶和華—以色列的神啊，因你啟示你的僕人說：『我必為你建立家室』，所以你的僕人心中才敢向你如此祈求。」
——撒母耳記下 7:27
神是何等常常為祂的僕人成就他們原本渴望為神所做的事！大衛想要為耶和華建造殿宇，而耶和華卻為他建立家室。當神的僕人未能以一種方式被使用時，神就用另一種方式成全他們；他們也不因神攔阻他們所渴望的工而心懷不平，反倒學會明白祂的旨意，俯伏順服，並為此讚美祂。
大衛進到耶和華面前坐下禱告，因為他的心被感動，使他不能不如此行。當主應許的時候，正是我們祈求的時候；神賜下的時刻，應當成為我們特別祈求的時刻。

一、大衛是如何得著這個禱告的？

「他在心中找到這個禱告。」
他是「找到」這禱告的——這表示他曾尋找過。那些隨意禱告的人，永遠不會蒙悅納；我們必須仔細尋找我們的禱告（伯 13:4）。
這禱告是在他的心中——
不是在書本裡，
不是在記憶裡，
不是在頭腦裡，
不是在想像中，
也不僅僅是在舌頭上（詩 84:2）。
這證明他有一顆心，知道心在哪裡，能省察它，並且常常搜尋它（詩 77:6）。
這必定是一顆活的心，否則不可能有活的禱告在其中。
這也必定是一顆信靠的心，否則他不可能在其中找到「這個禱告」。
這必定是一顆認真的心——
不是輕浮的、
不是健忘的、
不是冷淡的、
不是漠不關心的；
否則他在心中會找到千百樣虛空的東西，卻找不到禱告。
問題：此刻，在你的心中能找到禱告嗎？（何 7:11）
這也必定是一顆謙卑的心，因為這是一個謙卑的禱告。
這就是你禱告的方式嗎？
你是否回答說：「我從不禱告？」
願神施恩，使你有一天也能在心中找到禱告。
這就是你禱告的方式嗎？
你是否說：「我只是念禱告？」
若不是從你心中出來的禱告，怎能到達神的心呢？

二、這禱告是如何進入他心中的？

1．因為主自己在那裡，並把禱告放在那裡

主自己的靈教導他如何禱告：

• 藉著使他感受到需要
  大的祝福常教導我們自己的貧乏——大衛正是如此。
• 藉著賜給他對神的信心
  當我們確信神必成就祂的應許時，就會被激勵去懇求。
• 藉著把合宜的應許帶到他心中
  「你既啟示了，所以你的僕人心中才敢向你祈求這禱告。」

2．主使他的心傾向於禱告

有人說，絕對的應許會使禱告變得多餘；
但事實正相反——應許最先產生的果效，就是激發禱告。
主使大衛的心傾向於禱告：

• 藉著溫暖他的心
  禱告不會生長在冰井裡。
• 藉著以明亮的盼望使他歡喜
  禱告是從盼望敞開的窗戶飛進來的。
• 藉著與他交通
  當神對我們說話時，我們自然也會對神說話。

3．主藉著以下方式鼓勵他禱告

• 一句說出的應許：「我必為你建立家室。」
• 一句深深印入心中的應許：「你啟示了你的僕人。」

神設立祂的約，正是為了激發禱告：
「我還要為這事被以色列家求問」（結 36:37）。
祂以往的憐憫、
先前對禱告的回應、
不變的良善、
未曾削弱的能力、
毫無疑問的信實——
這一切都推動我們禱告。
祂的兒子耶穌是常常得勝的中保，
這也把禱告放進我們心中。
祂的聖靈應許幫助我們禱告中的軟弱，
這同樣催促我們禱告。

三、你如何也能在心中找到禱告？

• 察看你的心，並殷勤搜尋它
• 思想你自己的需要——這會引出祈求
• 思想你的不配——你就會謙卑呼求主
• 思想應許、誡命與真理的教義——每一樣都會召你跪下
• 讓基督住在你心裡——禱告自然隨之而來（徒 9:11）
• 親近神而活——你就會常常與祂交談

那麼，你在心中找到禱告和聖潔的事嗎？
還是你的心滿了虛空、世俗、野心與不敬虔？
要記得：你是怎樣的人，全在於你的心是怎樣的心（箴 23:7）。

直指要害的話（Things to the Point）

禱告之時，嘴唇從不擔當勝利的角色，
若沒有甜美之心的同聲回應。
——赫里克（R. Herrick）
貝多芬在他的《垂憐經》封面上寫道：
「它是從心而來，也必穿透人心。」
亞洲的俄羅斯人說：
只有在西伯利亞極其危險的貝加爾湖上，
人才能學會從心裡禱告。
麥琴說：
「我大量的時間，都花在使我的心調整到禱告的音準上。」
一位年輕的朋友曾被問：「你信主以前有禱告嗎？」
她回答說：「算是有。」
又問：「那你現在的禱告與從前有何不同？」
她說：
「那時我是『說』禱告，現在我是『真心』禱告；
那時我是說別人教我的話，
現在我是在心中找到它們。」
神不看我們禱告的算術（有多少），
不看禱告的修辭（有多長），
不看禱告的音樂性（有多有條理），
只看禱告的神性——是否從心湧出。
——特拉普（Trapp）

查爾斯．哈登．司布真

17. The Battle Is the Lord's
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands. I Samuel 17:47
Here are always two ways of handling the same doctrine. The truth in the text may be used as a narcotic or as a stimulant. Some are so wicked as to say that if it be the Lord's battle, we are excused from fighting: as if, seeing the harvest is the Lord's, we might justly refuse to sow or reap, We see how David used this truth: it fired his soul and nerved his arm. We are all battling on one side or the other, and the worst of all are those who boast their neutrality. To the Christian man these words are so true that he may emblazon them on his banner, and write them as the headline of "the book of the wars of the Lord"
I. THE GREAT FACT: "The battle is the Lord's"
  1. Inasmuch as it is for truth, right, holiness, love, and all those things which the Lord loves, the battle is the Lord's (Ps. 45:4).
  2. His name and glory are the object of it. It is his honor to see righteousness established in the earth. The gospel greatly glorifies God: men strike at the divine honor when they oppose it, and the Lord will vindicate his own name; thus our conflict becomes God's battle (Isa. 40:5).
  3. We fight only by his power. The Holy Ghost is our strength; we can do nothing without the Lord: hence the battle is his in the highest degree (2 Chron. 13:12; 20:12).
  4. He has bidden us fight. At our monarch's bidding we go upon this warfare. We are not free-lances on our own account, but warriors under his command (1 Tim. 6:12).
  5. He has bound himself to fight this battle. The reward promised to his Son, the covenant of grace, and the distinct pledges of his word, make it his battle. His fidelity is engaged to cause the Lord Jesus to divide the spoil with the strong. He must bruise Satan under our feet shortly (Rom. 16:20).
  6. When the battle is fully won, the glory will be unto the Lord alone (Ps. 98:1). "He hath triumphed gloriously" (Exod. 15:1).
II. ITS INFLUENCE ON OUR MINDS.
  1. We make light of opposition. Who can stand against the Lord?
  2. We are not cowed by our weakness. "When I am weak then am I strong" The Lord will make us mighty in his own fight.
  3. We throw ourselves into the work heartily. We owe so much to the Lord Jesus that we must fight for him (1 Cor. 16:13).
  4. We choose the best weapons. We dare not fire the Lord's cannons with the devil's powder. Love, truth, zeal, prayer, and patience should be at their best in God's battle (2 Cor. 10:4).
  5. We are confident of victory. Can the Lord be defeated? He vanquished Pharaoh, and he will do the same with Satan in due season (1 Cor. 15:25).
III. LESSONS IN CONNECTION WITH IT.
Make it God's cause. Never let it sink into a selfish matter.

• By your motive. Aim at his glory only. Keep clear of all sinister designs.
• By your method. Contend for the faith as Jesus would have contended, and not in a way which the Lord would disapprove.
• By your faith. Can you not trust God to fight his own battles?

Do not forget that it is the Lord's cause.

• Or you will bring self into it.
• You will begin to judge the conflict; and as it is on too huge a scale for human comprehension, you will fall into many errors, expecting defeat where victory is sure, or hoping for success in ways which lead to disaster.
• You will be enervated by fear, for the battle must end in your destruction if the Lord's hand be not with you.

Since it is his battle:

• Be happy if personally defeated; for Jesus is still highly exalted.
• Be calm and confident always; for there cannot be the smallest cause for fear as to the ultimate issue. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15).

This assembly does know that the battle is the Lord's. Does it not? Are all in this assembly on the conquering side? Why not look to him who is himself our salvation? He needs not our sword or spear; but will himself deliver those who trust in him.
Aids to Attention
Mr. Oncken told me that he was summoned before the burgomaster of Hamburg, who bade him cease from holding religious meetings. "Do you see that little finger?" cried he. "As long as I can move that finger I will put down the Baptists""Yes" said Oncken, "I see your little finger, and I also see a great arm which you cannot see. As long as the great arm of God is lifted on our behalf, your little finger will have no terror for us"
We are like William of Orange, with a few followers and an empty purse, making war against the master of half the world, with the mines of Peru for a treasury. But like William, too, when questioned concerning our resources, we can reply, "Before we took up this cause we entered into a close alliance with the King of kings" — David Gracey, in "The Sword and the Trowel"
When Tarik the Saracen went to vanquish Spain, he informed his followers that he had been favored by Heaven with a dream which had given him the fullest assurance of success. He had seen the prophet Mohammed surrounded by those holy saints and faithful companions who had adhered to his cause while he was an exile in Medina. They stood close by his couch with their swords unsheathed and their bows bent, and he heard the prophet say, "Take courage, O Tarik, and accomplish what thou art destined to perform" He then saw the prophet and his companions entering Spain as if to herald the way for the faithful followers of Islam. With a truer vision and more confident assurance may we enter the lists, go on to the struggle, and engage in the warfare of those who are fighting beneath the leadership of the cross. For, as surely as day conquers night, the cause of Heaven shall prevail, and he shall reign whose right it is to reign. — G. McMichael, in "The Baptist Magazine"
It is not the will of God that his people should be a timorous people. — Matthew Henry
It has been said of the persecuted Quakers, that, looking steadfastly at the strength of their Almighty leader, they —
Said not, who am I? but rather,
Whose am I, that I should fear?
— Annals of the Early Friends
Luther's strength lay in the way in which he laid the burden of the Reformation upon the Lord. Continually in prayer he pleaded, "Lord, this is thy cause, not mine. Therefore, do thine own work; for if this gospel do not prosper, it will not be Luther alone who will be a loser, but thine own name will be dishonored."
Our Lord does not expect us to go a warfare at our own charges. No soldier finds himself in rations or ammunition. Our King is never ungenerous: if he sends us to battle he will go with us, both to cover our head and nerve our arm. If we will but care for his cause, he will care for us. Queen Elizabeth requested a merchant to go abroad on her service, and when he mentioned that his own business would be ruined, she replied, "You mind my business and I will mind yours" If it be but the Lord's battle, we may be sure that he will see us through with it.
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

17．爭戰在乎耶和華

一、這一偉大的事實：「爭戰在乎耶和華」

• 因為這爭戰是為了真理、公義、聖潔、愛，以及一切耶和華所喜悅的事，
  所以這爭戰是屬於耶和華的（詩 45:4）。
• 這爭戰的目標是祂的名與祂的榮耀。
  看到公義在地上建立，是神的榮耀；福音大大榮耀神。
  人若反對福音，就是攻擊神的尊榮；而耶和華必為自己的名伸冤。
  因此，我們的爭戰成了神的爭戰（賽 40:5）。
• 我們完全是靠祂的能力爭戰。
  聖靈是我們的力量；離了主，我們什麼都不能做。
  因此，這爭戰在最高意義上是祂的（代下 13:12；20:12）。
• 是祂命令我們去爭戰。
  我們是奉君王之命進入這場戰役；
  我們不是為自己而戰的自由傭兵，而是受祂指揮的戰士（提前 6:12）。
• 祂已經把自己與這場爭戰綁在一起。
  賜給祂兒子的賞賜、恩典之約，以及祂話語中清楚的應許，
  都使這爭戰成為祂自己的事。
  祂的信實已經承諾：使主耶穌與強者分擄物；
  祂必要快快將撒但踐踏在我們腳下（羅 16:20）。
• 當爭戰完全得勝時，一切榮耀都單單歸於耶和華。
  「耶和華已經大大得勝」（出 15:1；詩 98:1）。

二、這真理對我們心思的影響

• 我們不把反對勢力放在眼裡。
  有誰能敵擋耶和華呢？
• 我們不因自己的軟弱而膽怯。
  「我什麼時候軟弱，什麼時候就剛強了。」
  在祂自己的爭戰中，耶和華必使我們成為有能力的人。
• 我們全心投入這工作。
  我們虧欠主耶穌太多了，非為祂爭戰不可（林前 16:13）。
• 我們選用最好的兵器。
  我們不敢用魔鬼的火藥來發射主的大炮。
  在神的爭戰中，愛、真理、熱心、禱告與忍耐，都必須是最上好的（林後 10:4）。
• 我們對得勝滿有信心。
  耶和華豈會被打敗嗎？
  祂曾擊敗法老，到了時候，也必同樣擊敗撒但（林前 15:25）。

三、與此相關的教訓

要把這件事確實當作神的事工，切不可讓它墮落為私人的事。

在動機上

只以祂的榮耀為目標，遠離一切不正當的企圖。

在方法上

要用耶穌所認可的方式為真道爭辯，而不是用主所不喜悅的方法。

在信心上

你豈不能信靠神，讓祂為祂自己的爭戰負責嗎？
千萬不要忘記：這是耶和華的事工。
否則——

• 你會把「自我」帶進來；
• 你會開始憑自己判斷這場爭戰；
  而這爭戰的規模遠超人的理解，
  你就會在該得勝之處預期失敗，
  或在必致災禍的途徑中妄想成功；
• 若沒有耶和華的同在，你會被恐懼削弱，
  因為這爭戰最終只會導致你的滅亡。

既然這是祂的爭戰：

• 即使你個人似乎失敗，也可以喜樂；
  因為耶穌仍然被高舉。
• 要常常安靜、篤定；
  因為對最終結果，絲毫沒有懼怕的理由。
  「你們得力在乎平靜安穩」（賽 30:15）。

這會眾知道爭戰在乎耶和華，對嗎？
這會眾中的每一個人，是否都站在得勝的一邊？
為何不轉向那一位——祂自己就是我們的拯救？
祂不需要我們的刀或槍，卻必親自拯救一切信靠祂的人。

引人專注的事例

昂肯牧師告訴我，他曾被召到漢堡市長面前，市長命令他停止舉行宗教聚會。
市長喊道：「你看到我這根小指頭嗎？只要我還能動這根指頭，我就能把浸信會打垮！」
昂肯回答說：
「是的，我看到你的小指頭；但我也看到一隻你看不見的大能的膀臂。
只要神那大能的膀臂為我們舉起，你那根小指頭就一點也不可怕。」
我們好比奧倫治的威廉，
帶著少數追隨者與空空如也的錢袋，
向那掌控半個世界、以秘魯銀礦為國庫的人宣戰。
但和威廉一樣，當人問到我們的資源時，
我們可以回答：
「在我們舉起這面旗幟之前，
我們已與萬王之王結成了緊密的盟約。」
——David Gracey，《劍與鏟》
當撒拉森人塔里克征服西班牙時，
他告訴部下，自己蒙天啟得了一個夢，
使他對成功有完全的把握。
他看見先知穆罕默德，身旁圍繞著在麥地那流亡時忠心跟隨他的聖徒與同伴，
他們拔出刀、拉滿弓；
他聽見先知說：
「鼓起勇氣吧，塔里克，去完成你命定要完成的事。」
隨後，他又看見先知與眾同伴彷彿為伊斯蘭的追隨者開路一般，進入西班牙。
但我們帶著更真實的異象、更確定的把握，
進入競技場、投身爭戰、
在十字架的旌旗下作戰。
因為正如白晝必勝過黑夜，
天國的事業必然得勝；
那位有權柄作王的，必然掌權。
——G. McMichael，《浸信會雜誌》
神並不要祂的百姓成為膽怯的百姓。
——馬太·亨利
有人論到受逼迫的貴格會信徒說，
他們定睛仰望全能元帥的能力，
於是——
不再問「我是誰？」
卻問「我是屬於誰的，
何必懼怕？」
——《早期貴格會史》
路德的力量，在於他把宗教改革的重擔完全交託給主。
他常在禱告中呼求：
「主啊，這是你的事工，不是我的；
因此，求你親自成就。
若這福音不能興旺，受虧損的不只是路德，
乃是你自己的名要被羞辱。」
我們的主並不期望我們自備軍糧、獨力作戰。
沒有哪個士兵要自己供應糧食或彈藥。
我們的君王從不吝嗇：
若祂差遣我們上戰場，
祂必與我們同在，既遮蓋我們的頭，又剛強我們的手臂。
只要我們顧念祂的事工，祂就必顧念我們。
伊麗莎白女王曾請一位商人為她出國辦事；
商人說這會毀了自己的生意。
女王回答說：
「你顧我的事，我就顧你的事。」
既然這是耶和華的爭戰，
我們就可以確信，祂必帶領我們到底。
查爾斯．海登．司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）

5. Gently! Gently!
And he said unto him, my Lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me:
and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Genesis 33:13
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

5．溫柔！溫柔！

「他對他說：我主知道孩子們年幼嬌嫩，牛羊也正帶著小的；若是催逼牠們走一天，群畜都必死
——查爾斯・哈登・司布真

6. Joseph Opening the Storehouses
Joseph opened all the Storehouses. Genesis 41:56
THE story of Joseph is full of interest; but it is chiefly useful to us as being marvelously typical of the
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

6．約瑟開啟糧倉

「約瑟就開了各處的倉。」
——創世記 41:56
查爾斯・哈登・司布真

7. Judah
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies;
thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Genesis 49:8
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

7．猶大

「猶大啊，你弟兄們必讚美你；你手必掐住仇敵的頸項；你父親的兒子們必向你下拜。」
——創世記 49:8
——查爾斯・海登・司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）