Trusting in God's Timing

May 28

2 Samuel 1-2

Psalm 66:16-20

Proverbs 14:24-25

John 18

Trusting in God’s Timing

“In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord.  ‘Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?’ he asked.  The Lord said, ‘Go up.’  David asked, ‘Where shall I go?’  ‘To Hebron,’ the Lord answered.  So David went up there with his two wives…Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.” 

2 Samuel 2:1-4 NIV

In our reading today, we see that instead of being happy Saul was dead, David grieved the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan.  Samuel had anointed David king many years before.  He trusted God and believed that he was going to be king.  During his time in the wilderness running from Saul, David must have wondered how this could possibly come to pass.  He must have been confused as to how he would ever be made king, but he trusted God completely.  Not only did he trust God’s plan, but he also trusted God’s timing.  Even after Saul died, David didn’t immediately try to take over declaring Himself as king.  “In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord.”  Instead of taking matters into His own hands, he asked God what he needed to do.  God told him to go to Hebron and there the men of Judah anointed him king of the tribe of Judah.  His time in Hebron lasted seven years and six months.  During that time, David was at war with the descendants of Saul for the throne.  God blessed him and David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker until David was eventually anointed as king over all Israel fulfilling God’s promise.  It was approximately 15 years between Samuel anointing David king and when he became king over Israel.  God used that time to draw David close to Him.  The long hours on the run gave him plenty of time to pray.  God’s protection and provision for him increased his faith and his fear for his life and recognition of his vulnerability humbled him under God’s mighty hand.  Those long years shaped David into the man God wanted to lead His people. 

God’s timing often does not line up with our desires.  We want what we want when we want it.  We have grown accustomed to immediate gratification and the word “wait” has become a four-letter-word to us.  When God doesn’t answer our prayers right away, we either get impatient and give up or we try to “help” God by jumping ahead of Him and messing things up. God’s will and plan is always perfect.  He knows exactly what is best for us, but part of that plan is the timing.  Sometimes He wants to give us what we want, but He needs to prepare us for it or He needs to prepare other circumstances or people so that everything falls into place at just the right time.  Time waiting is never wasted.  God uses that time to refine and train us and to draw us close to Him.  Even if we don’t understand what is going on, we can be confident that He is at work bringing about good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)