“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:5
David was just a youth when Samuel anointed him to be the King of Israel. Perhaps at the time, he did not understand fully what that meant. He went back to looking after his father’s sheep. No doubt he thought often of what the future might hold for him, but in the meantime, he continued to worship the Lord. Probably many of his psalms were written during this time of waiting. They express his great love for the Lord and desire to please Him in the way he lived.
God had chosen him to be a king, but there would be a waiting time before this would happen. He would be tried and tested. He would protect his flock from the lion and the bear, showing him that the Lord was with him. This gave him courage when he faced Goliath on the battlefield. For a time, he would play his music for Saul, giving him some experience of what life was like in the palace. His friendship with Jonathan was a blessing to him.
He found favour with the people of Israel as he became successful in battles against their enemies. Saul became jealous of him and sought to kill him, causing him to flee for his life. But the Lord was with him wherever he went and protected him. After Saul and his sons were slain in battle, the people crowned David as their king. The waiting time was over.
God’s timing is always perfect. His plans have been made from the beginning of time.
Look at Isaiah 60:22 in the NLT: “At the right time, I, the Lord will make it happen.”
Often, the Lord will give someone a dream or a vision of something that He wants them to do. It is natural to want to push it, to see it happen right away. The Lord knows a waiting time is needed to prepare. Spending time in prayer, worship, and studying the Word of God is essential, so that the person will be ready when God says it is time. One of our teachers in Bible College consistently reminded us that “time spent to sharpen the sickle is never spent in vain.”
Thought For Today: Has the Lord shown you something he wants you to do for Him? How are you preparing?
Devotion by Anne Johnston
