KNOWING WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND

Matthew 21:5 (from “and upon”), note ‘g’; 1 Samuel 1:11, 17,18, 24-28; 3:19-21

This note laid hold of me in our reading on Lord’s day. I know it is only a note but it is an important one; ‘son of one under yoke’. I was impressed with the thought of what can be produced by such persons who are under yoke. I thought of Hannah; she is a very attractive person, one who in her thoughts and prayers thought entirely for God. You do not get that too often – I would have to say that in relation to myself anyway. Do I think entirely for God and is God’s end before me? But she certainly did that, and it was not easy; it involves suffering. She had an adversary. Her husband did not seem too concerned. He certainly did not have in mind what was in her mind anyway, in fact he indicated that he was better to her than ten sons. Then there was Eli, and Eli’s sons. The background was quite dark.

But there was a light shining brightly, and that was in Hannah. Why? Because she had God’s ideal before her. So it says simply, “And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man child …”. That is very interesting; “a man child”. She knew in herself that that was what was needed in the present testimony. Then “…I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head”. We know what that means, but I was just impressed with this matter that she knew exactly what was needed, and she would not allow the suffering that she had to go through to turn her aside. She vowed a vow, you see, and she was faithful to her vow. Of course, on the other side, God was faithful to her too. It says later, “Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition which thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thy bondwoman find grace in thy sight. And the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more as before”. She was settled in her mind as to what God needed; she knew exactly what was needed.

We may think we know what is needed, but do we really know what is needed, what God needs at the present juncture of the testimony? Is it for the success and strengthening of things at the present time? We are in a difficult day, a very difficult day, but there is an answer. I think Hannah was in a difficult day, but she had the answer, and God brought it about and much more. It says in chapter 3 that “Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground”. Wonderful! How God justified Hannah in her thoughts and prayers and her vow. God honoured it, as it goes on to say, “And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah. And Jehovah appeared again at Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Jehovah”.

Well, that is really all I had to say. Be sure, beloved brethren, that you have God’s thoughts as to things. I feel tremendously challenged as to that. We may think, this is the answer or that is the answer, but is it? Hannah prayed about it and she got God’s mind as to it. Brethren, I speak feelingly, let us be sure we have God’s mind, for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Edinburgh,

23 May 2017

R. Trotter