Monday, September 7, 2009

In God's Time

In God's Time
April 20, 2009
Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

God was tired of the man He appointed king over the children of Israel. His name was Saul, and God was disappointed in him. So God sent His prophet, Samuel, to anoint a very young man to be the new king. This young man's name was David. In fact, David wasn't even a man, as he was referred to as the 'son of Jesse.' He wasn't mature enough to be his own man, let alone be a king. And there was another problem; King Saul was still on the throne. Throughout history, when a man was appointed king over any land, his first job would be to immediately take over the throne, to assume his new position. This did not happen in David's case.

God anointed David king over all Israel, but did not give him the throne. It wasn't even a private or secret anointing; it was done in the presence of David's entire family, who were not instructed to keep it a secret. David was an aspiring man of God who wanted to do God's will, and though he was anointed king over Israel, he was not given permission to simply take over the throne. For some reason, it wasn't God's perfect timing yet for David. David soon found himself in a unique position, in service to the current king, Saul, but appointed to be King by none other than God, Himself.

Though David was told his future and given his exact position and calling by God, he was not allowed to assume his position. It wasn't God's time yet and David knew that, even though most people knew David was supposed to be the king. David was given many opportunities to overtake the throne and was encouraged to do it many times by numerous people. But David knew God and was submitted to God's perfect timing. David was a man of integrity who did not want to take anything that wasn't his yet. Though David was told he would be king, he still waited patiently for God's timing to bring it to fruition. David could have taken what was rightfully his, but He wanted to wait for God to give it to him. David wanted God's timing.

Christian, I am confident that your current situation may not be what God has for your future, but your future is not yours for the taking; it is God's for the giving. Let me say it another way, if you take your future before God gives it to you, you will be in rebellion to God and His timing for your life. A perfect example of this is Abraham. Abraham did not wait for God to give him a son, so Abraham slept with his wife's maidservant, Hagar, who bore him a son, Ishmael. As you know, Ishmael was the father of all the current Muslim nations of today. Abraham did not wait for God to give him a future and we are still paying for it today.

David waited for God's timing, even though he was tempted to take it. In fact, he even had to encourage himself to wait for God's timing, as David was the one who penned the words in the scripture above, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." I'm sure if he had to do it all over again, he would still wait for the Lord and HIS appointed time for everything.

1. What specific future are you waiting for?
2. How have you tried to take it before God has given it to you?
3. How can you wait patiently for God to GIVE it to you?

Add. Scriptures for Study: Gen 16, 1 Sam 16, 1 Sam 24:6, 1 Sam 26:11-16, Psalm 37:7, Is 30:18, Lam 3:24

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