Post by Lee on Jun 24, 2014 23:44:06 GMT
We have first the case of Hannah’s prayer, and its answer. She was barren, and besought the Lord for a son, and received Samuel. This is among the things “written for our learning.” What do we learn from it but this, that God regards the prayer of those who fear Him, and that it is our privilege, in the spirit of faith and hope, to make our requests known unto God? Shall we say it does not apply to a time like ours, when “there is no open vision?” This was the very character of Hannah’s time, as we are informed in 1 Sam. 3.: “The word of the Lord was precious in those days: there was no open vision.” Shall we say we sometimes ask and receive not? Perhaps there may be some mistake here. John says, “We have this confidence, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.” Our requests in particular cases may not be according to His will. His will concerning those who please Him is that they shall have what is for their best interest in the ultimate sense. Of this we cannot be judge: but it must certainly be our desire that we should have this and this only. When, therefore, we ask a specific thing, it is because we think it would be for the best: but in this we may be mistaken: and if God withhold it, He is really answering our prayer in not giving us what we ask. We would not desire what might interfere with our relation to God. So we should reason fallaciously and do ourselves an injustice if we were to conclude that God disregards our prayer because He grants not what we request. We know how it is with our own children sometimes: they ask us to do this or that in their innocent inexperience. We have to say, “My dear, I could not possibly do it:” Why? Because we love our children not? Nay, but because we love them. Let us have this faith towards God, then, that the best answer He can give us sometimes is not to permit what we ask.
. Vol. 27: The Christadelphian: Volume 27. 2001 (electronic ed.) (285). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.
. Vol. 27: The Christadelphian: Volume 27. 2001 (electronic ed.) (285). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.