(7) And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. (8) Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. (9) If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. (10) But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
It should seem to have been pretty much the custom, in the early ages, to ascertain the reality of being commissioned by the Lord, by some sign. Thus Abraham's servant; (Genesis 24:12-21) and Gideon respecting the Midianites: Judges 6:36-40. And Reader, I know not, what your own experience may furnish of such things, but I confess, that in the circumstances of my life, I do feel a growing confidence in divine assurances, when they are opened to my view by divine instructions. I consider that mercy, be it what it may, as good as possessed, which the Lord leads me to ask in the faith of Jesus. Oh! it is a sweet and self-rewarding employment, to watch the Lord Jesus in all things: for sure I am, that then, in all things, we shall find him watching over his people for good. What a very very precious scripture is that of he Lord by the prophet to this purpose: Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole heart, and with my whole soul. Jeremiah 32:41.