Originally posted: 12/21/2019
Though David was not provided a timetable, the Spirit of the LORD had confirmed David was to be king through the prophet, Samuel…
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” … And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward, (1 Samuel 16:1, 12-13).
Saul is dead …yet still another delay… a long war.
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; (3:1).
Consider His Delays
During His Delays, as the enemy weakened, the house of David was being strengthened .
…and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually, (3:1).
I wonder if David grew impatient as he waited for events to unfold that would ultimately bring him into the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Though we cannot identify the level of his patience, we do know there were times David did question His Delays.
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2).
In every interruption, with each obstacle threatening to keep David from taking the throne, God was developing His man for His purpose.
- His Delays Developed David as a warrior.
- Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him,” (1 Samuel 16:18).
- His Delays Developed David as a just and righteous king.
- So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people, (2 Samuel 8:15).
- His Delays Developed David’s love for the LORD.
- (For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,)
“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, (Psalm 18:1-2).
- (For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,)
- His Delays Developed David’s understanding of the incomparable value of God’s Word.
- The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward, (Psalm 19:7-11).
- The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
- His Delays Developed David’s unshakeable faith and trust in the LORD.
- The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1).
- The Lord is my light and my salvation;
How do we respond to His Delays?
David is not the only one recorded in Scripture who asked the Lord about His Delays.
How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save, (Habakkuk 1:2).
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10).
Asking is not a lack of faith; it’s okay to ask. But when we don’t understand what He is up to, when we cannot explain His timing, we must choose to trust that His Delays are always for our good in accomplishing His purpose.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, (Romans 8:28).
May we trust Him to use His Delays to grow our patience, faith, and love as we wait on His perfect timing in bringing about His perfect purpose.
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified, (Romans 8:29-30).