Waiting Is Not Easy

In the midst of our modern day troubling times, I've heard several prophecies that promise things will turn around. Up to now, many have not been fulfilled. It’s been months and years. While the prophets can be trusted, I found myself growing frustrated over the slowness of the completion of the prophecy ... even to the point of wondering if the prophet heard correctly. Then the Lord brought to my mind David and Saul.

Saul screwed up to the point that God no longer saw him as worthy to be king over His nation. So, He had Samuel anoint David to be king. There were no large crowds to witness this. Only family and the prophet were there. In researching the time it took from the anointing to him actually being crowned and acknowledged by the people as their king, I discovered something.

I have always thought of David fighting Goliath as a young teenager who just happened to arrive at the right time with the right heart to take down the enemy’s key man. While some of this is true, there is, as in any good story, background that is key to the success of what we read.

David kills Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. But if we go back to 1 Samuel 16, we see that's when Samuel anoints David as king. In God’s eyes, David is the new king. Yes, Saul is still in charge and recognized by the people as king, but when David faces off with Goliath he is the anointed leader of his nation. As king, he kills the giant who represents the men daring enough to come against God’s chosen people.

Not only that, but he represents the tribe of Judah. The battle being fought is on the land of Judah. He is fighting to regain his homeland. He is righting a wrong. Even though, the people surrounding him saw him as a foolish youth, he was their yet-to-be-acknowledged leader … the “God-chosen” leader.

I have to wonder what went through David’s mind. He knew he had been anointed, his brothers knew it, but no one acknowledged it. Was it real? How long did he have to wait to be the real king? Even still, he didn’t let this stop him from fighting to regain something that was his nation’s to begin with. And, after his victory over Goliath there were more battles to be won. We actually don’t see David crowned king until 2 Samuel 2, even then it’s only over the people of Judah. Finally in 2 Samuel 5 the anointing of the Lord is fulfilled and David is crowned king over all of Israel. In other words, it took years.

When a word from the Lord is spoken, I tend to think it will happen right away. But, as with David it doesn’t always happen in that manner. Recently, the Lord told me - “Don’t grow weary in the waiting.” So, in my waiting, I will remember that the spoken word of the Lord will come to pass. He will fulfill it. I will continue to pray and to hope in the promise of His Word. Keeping in mind, “There is always hope.”