Dec 31

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” (1Samuel 7:12)

The word“hitherto”seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet“hitherto hath the Lord helped us!”Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health; at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea; in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph in prayer, in temptation-“hitherto hath the Lord helped!”

We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from one end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys.

Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely, there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received“hitherto.”

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes “hitherto,”he is not yet at the end; there are still distances to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death.

Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus’ likeness, thrones, harps, songs psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. Oh, be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy“Ebenezer,”for,

“He who hath helped thee hitherto

Will help thee ail thy journey through.”

When read in Heaven’s light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will thy “hitherto”unfold to thy grateful eye. ━ C. H. Spurgeon.

The Alpine shepherds have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing to one another an evening farewell. The air is so crystalline that the song will carry long distances. As the dusk begins to fall, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths, singing, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Let us praise His name!” And at last with a sweet courtesy, they sing to one another the friendly farewell: “Goodnight! Goodnight! ”The words are taken up by the echoes, and from side to side the song goes reverberating sweetly and softly until the music dies away in the distance.

So let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging the pilgrim host. Let the echoes gather till a very storm of Hallelujahs break in thundering waves around the sapphire throne, and then as the morning breaks we shall find ourselves at the margin of the sea of glass, cryinjg, with the redeemed host,“Blessing and honor and glory be unto him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!”

“This my song through endless ages,

Jesus led me all the way.”

“AND AGAIN THEY SAID, HALLELUJAH!” (Rev.19:3, R.V.) ━Selected

十二月三十一日

　“到如今耶和华都帮助我们。”（撒上7:12）

“到如今”三个字，指着以往━以往二十年、以往七十年，“耶和华都帮助我们！”无论在贫乏中、在丰裕中；在疾病中、在健康中；在家、在外；在陆地、在海洋；在光荣中、在羞辱中；在疑难中、在欢乐中；在试炼中、在胜利中；在祷告中、在试探中━“耶和华都帮助我们！”

我们有时看见一条两旁有树的大道，非常欣赏━从这一头往那一头望去，有绿的景色，看了非常爽快；一株一株的树，正像殿中一根一根柱子。现在让我们来看我们自己年来所走的道路━上面铺张着的是神的怜悯，两旁直立着的是神的慈爱和信实。啊，你看了快乐不快乐呢？

树上岂没有小鸟在唱歌么？有，并且有许多，它们都在唱“到如今”所领受的恩典和怜悯。

“到如今”三个字，也指着将来。因为当我们写“到如今”这三个字的时候，我们的人生还没结束；前面还有很远的道路要走。前面还有更多的试炼、更多的胜利；更多的祷告、更多的答应；更多的跋涉、更多的力量；更多的战争、更多的凯旋；然后才有疾病、老年、死亡。

就这样完了？不！还有许多哩━带着主的形像复活、坐宝座、弹金琴、唱新歌、发赞美、穿白衣、享永生……哦，信徒啊，振起你的精神来，用感激的心来唱“以便以谢”罢！（撒上7:12）

「祂到如今都帮助你,必定帮助你到底。」

求主给我们天上的亮光，叫我们的眼睛能看见“到如今”三个字里面的荣耀的盼望。━司布真

爱尔帕地方的牧童，有一个美丽的习惯：他们每天傍晚分别之前，互相对唱一首“再见歌”。他们一面走，一面唱，“到如今耶和华都帮助我们。让我们赞美他的名！”然后互相行一个再见礼，唱道：“再见！再见！”

但愿我们在黑暗的旅程中，也这样互相呼唤、互相激励。“哈利路亚，赞美主！”我们真需要这口号来破这沉闷的空气！让我们高唱：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势，都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远。”

（启5：13）

「这是我的诗歌,一直到底;耶稣领导我全程。」

又说:“哈利路亚”(启19:3)━选

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