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經文：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們。」（撒上7:12） 「到如今」這三個字，指著所有的以往；過去的二十年，或者七十年，「耶和華都幫助我們！」；無論是在貧乏或豐裕中；在疾病或健康中；在家或在外；在陸地或海洋；光榮或羞辱；疑難或歡樂；試煉或得勝；禱告或試探；無論在哪「耶和華都幫助我們！」。 當我們看見一條兩側排列樹木的大道，會非常享受從路頭朝尾端望去；油綠的景色多麼地令人暢快；一株株的樹木，正像站立聖殿中的高柱。此時就讓我們回首自己這一年所走的道路；路上鋪張的滿是神的憐憫，兩旁站立著祂的慈愛和信實，你看了是不是也很喜樂？樹上還有許多小鳥正在鳴唱，牠們都在唱「到如今」所領受的恩典和憐憫。 「到如今」同時指著將來；因為當我們寫「到如今」這三個字的時候，我們的人生還沒有結束，面前還有很遠的路要走；還有更多的試煉與歡樂；更多的試探與得勝；更多的禱告與成就；更多的跨越與能力；更多的戰爭與凱旋；然後才有疾病、年老、死亡。 然後，就這樣結束了麼？不，還有許多呢！還要帶著基督的形像復活；坐寶座、彈金琴、唱新歌、發讚美、穿白衣、享永生，那許多種種。所以，信徒們，振作起精神，用感恩的心來唱「以便以謝」（撒上7:12）：到如今耶和華都幫助我們。 求主賜給我們天上的亮光，好叫我們能看見「到如今」三個字其中榮耀的盼望。--司布眞 C.H. Spurgeon 愛爾帕 Alpine 的牧童有一個美好的習慣；他們會在每天傍晚分別之前，彼此對唱一首「再見歌」。他們一面走，一面唱：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們，讓我們讚美祂的名！」，然後互相行一個再見禮，唱道：「再見！再見！」 但願我們在黑暗的旅程中，也能這樣互相呼喚與激勵：「哈利路亞，讚美主！」，因為我們眞需要這號令來打破這沉悶的空氣！讓我們高唱：「但願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢，都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠。」（啟5:13），「又說，哈利路亞。」（啟19:3） 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: “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.) ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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