Waiting on God
Lessons in Patience from King David
Pastor R.C. Sproul once said, “It’s one thing to believe in God. It’s another thing altogether to believe God.”
God told Abraham He would give him as many descendants as there were stars in the sky. And even though he had no children at the time and was 75 years old, Abraham believed God.
But as the years passed and Abraham and Sarah grew older and remained childless, Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands.
It’s hard to wait.
I especially find it challenging to wait for someone to do something I need done, but can’t do for myself.
And it’s hard when it feels like God is taking too long. (And it often feels like God is taking too long.)
David was just a boy when Samuel anointed him with oil. There in the presence of his father and brothers, Samuel pronounced him Israel’s next king.
Jonathan affirmed it.1
Abigail affirmed it.2
Even Saul affirmed it.3
But when and how would it happen?
After King Saul’s jealousy consumed him and David fled for his life, God tested David by providing him two separate opportunities to kill Saul and thereby force his way onto the throne.4
But David showed great restraint and chose instead to wait on God.
Years continued to pass and Saul continued to relentlessly pursue David, but he never succeeded to take his life. David was the Lord’s anointed, and God never failed to protect him over the course of his life.
From lions and bears threatening his flock when he was a shepherd boy.
From the giant Philistine, Goliath.
From the mad, jealous rage of Saul.
However, despite the Lord’s faithfulness, despite such amazing displays of prior faith and assurance, despite hearing the promise of kingship from the Lord’s own prophet, David’s faith in God’s promises vacillated.
“Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 1 Samuel 27:1
Convinced Saul would eventually catch up to him and end his life, David fled for refuge to the Philistines, the very enemy of the Israelites and of God. He attributed to man more power than Almighty God.
Friends, this happens to us all.
One of the most challenging struggles followers of Christ have is to live by the Word of God.
Do we only believe in God? or do we believe God? When God makes a promise, do we believe it will come to pass? No matter the time it takes? No matter how impossible it might seem to us?
David waited 15 years5 for God to make him king of Israel.
Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac.
And Christians have been waiting 2000 years for God to fulfil His promise of Christ’s return.
Are you in a season of waiting right now? Is there a prayer you’ve prayed again and again for weeks? months? years? maybe even decades? If so, I see you, friend. I, too, have a decades long prayer I remain hopeful of being answered.
For many, when prayers aren’t answered immediately, our faith begins to come apart at the seams.
But I want to encourage you this day to continue to wait on God.
As the psalmist reminds us, “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:10
He is good and generous; and He fulfills His wise plans for us in His perfect timing.
Not only can we rest on the character of God, but we can also find joy in the waiting. There are many blessings in store for those who wait on the Lord. From David’s example, we learn:
our character is shaped
the fruit of patience is matured
our endurance strengthens
the sin of pride and revenge gives way to humility and gratitude
our dependance on God deepens (and that’s a good thing!)
the Lord shows mercy to those who wait on Him6
the Lord fights for those who wait on Him7
May the Lord bless you richly as you continue to lay your requests at His feet and wait on Him. He is faithful, He hears you, and He loves you more than you know. Be encouraged!
16 “And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 1 Samuel 23:16-17
28 “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel” 1 Samuel 25:28; 30
20 “I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.” 1 Samuel 24:20
See 1 Samuel 24 and 26 to read about these incidents in full.
Most scholars agree David was 15 years old when Samuel anointed him Israel’s next king, but he may have been as young as 10. The Bible explicitly tells us David was 30 years old when he assumed the throne (2 Samuel 5:4); so he waited 15-20 years to be king depending on his age at his anointment.
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14