“THE BENEFIT OF THE WAIT”

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“One day, all the wicked will be destroyed, but if you wait on the Lord you will inherit the earth.”
(Psalm 37: 9)

Waiting on GOD is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David’s life teaches us the value of obeying the Lord’s plan, and the danger of getting ahead of Him. When David was a young shepherd, the prophet Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel. However, he did not become its ruler for many years. Waiting for the LORD to put him on the throne became more difficult, because the king in force, Saul, turned against David, and repeatedly tried to assassinate him.

Despite the opportunity he had to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. Nor did he allow anyone to attack Saul. He waited on GOD, and was very blessed for his obedience. King David also knew what it was like to move on without the LORD. One year he decided not to join his troops in battle, although war was one of his duties.

During the time he stayed at home, he noticed Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, and coveted her. Acting in accordance with his wishes, he fathered a son with her and then tried to hide his sin. What a mess he made of his life! Instead of obeying the Lord’s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine punishment and much pain.

As believers, we want to obey the LORD, but there may be situations in which an intense desire drives us forward without waiting for his direction. Like David, we will experience the blessings of obedience, or the pain of disobedience.

Dear LORD, grant us the discipline to obey the plan you have for us, the discernment to understand what you want us to do and the patience to trust in Your times. In the name of JESUS. Amen and Amen.