What Are We Waiting For?

I think it’s interesting that there was SO much time between when the prophet Samuel anointed David to be the next king and when he actually became king. Remember this? Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. (1 Sam 16:13)

Yet it was uncertain years and so many tears before David actually took up his kingly position.

This reminds me of the fact that I’ve been anointed by the Holy Spirit. I’m a child of the king. I have an inheritance. But there’s a long waiting period before actually receiving that inheritance. There’s a reason for that: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Pet 5:10)

David was called, then he was perfected, stablished, strengthened and settled. It happened through trials. The character quality that emerged was a fearless trust in God.

In the Bible, he went from his anointing in chapter 16 to his bout with the giant Goliath in chapter 17. Here are some stand-outs from that episode:

• And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.   (1 Sam 17:32)
• David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (1 Sam 17:37)
• Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (46)  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  (47)  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.  (1 Sam 17:45-47)

He fiercely believed when he couldn’t see. He proved it. He trusted in the LORD with all his heart; and leaned not unto his own understanding. In all his ways he acknowledge him, and he directed his paths. (Prov 3:5-6)

Here, I won’t go deeply into the other events of David’s waiting period, but to say that Saul presented his clearest challenge. Saul continually hunted David to kill him. People problems dogged him. Yet David grew in favor with God and men as he continued to trust God, just like he trusted God regarding Goliath. When David could have turned around and killed Saul (it would have relieved his anguish and hastened him becoming king), he didn’t. He trusted God to eliminate Saul. His fearless faith was evident in the things he did (killed Goliath) and things he didn’t do (kill Saul).

We have such a clear window into how our hearts are supposed to be during our waiting period. The take-away is, when facing trials. Face them nobly with growing faith. We are being perfected, stablished, strengthened, and settled. Hang in there!