“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when
men succeed in their ways?” (Psalm 37:7 NIV).
destroy the Amalekites and his rejection as king of Israel by God, God
sent Prophet Samuel to anoint David as the new king. David served King
Saul for several years in spite of the fact that he knew that he was
the rightful person approved by God to be the king of Israel. Hefought many wars to the credit of Saul. Even when Saul hated him and
sought to kill him, he did not try to retaliate and forcefully claim
the throne. He had two good opportunities to kill Saul and become the
king, yet he spared his life on the two occasions (1 Samuel 24, 26).
He diligently waited for his time. The time eventually came when the
men of his own tribe came and anointed him as king over them, and when
the whole people of Israel came after some years to proclaim him king
over the whole land (2 Samuel 2, 5). He waited for his appointed time.
In one of the Yoruba legends about destine, a man has chosen before he
came to the world that he would become affluent when he clocks the age
of forty. When he came to the world, he began to struggle from one
place to another in order to be rich. All his efforts were
unsuccessful. He became a laughing stock among his contemporaries
especially those that were successful in their undertakings. At age
39, when he could not bear the ridicules of his friends, he committed
suicide. When he got to the gate of heaven, the gatekeeper looked at
him with pity and led him to where the records of people’s destinies
were kept. When he saw his own record, he discovered that it remained
only a year for him to become affluent. He begged the gatekeeper to
allow him to go back to the world, but he did not have such
opportunity any more. He did not wait for his appointed time.
I believe there is a lesson in this legend for everyone.
Waiting for one’s appointed time the time God deems it best.
Has God promised you something? Do not be in haste to get the promise.
Do not try to help God to fulfill the promise. Abraham and Sara tried
to help God in fulfilling His promises for them. Their help nearly
ruined their peaceful home (see Genesis 16, 21). Wait for God’s
appointed time. He will fulfill His promise in His own time in His own
way. Even when it seems that the time does not come. Wait for God’s
appointed time. Do not lose hope. His appointed time for you will
come!
”You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you
will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,
‘He who is coming will come and will not delay’” (Hebrews 10:36-37
