II Samuel 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

    At this time of year, I am reminded again just how much the academic cal-endar is the overriding calendar in my mind. Having spent so much time in a class-room, I really never look at December as the end of they year. The end of the year is coming now. That means graduation. As students approach graduation, they have a range of emotions, naturally. But one pretty common feeling is “I never thought this day would come!”    

    David had been anointed king by Samuel, the ‘man of God.’ Samuel’s anointing was God’s anointing. David would be king! Then, he faced Goliath. Then he was brought into Saul’s household. Then he was the leader of a commando unit. Then he was hunted by Saul. Then he was exiled. Then he heard Saul had died. Then he was made king! But only king of Judah. Only over a fraction of the people of Israel; less than one tenth. Was this what God had in mind? Had David done something wrong? Was Samuel mistaken? Had God forgotten David? Or changed His mind?

    David had over seven years to ponder those questions while he was King over a subdivision of Israel. Over seven years of opportunity for Satan to tempt him to doubt God and think that God had let him down. There’s certainly no reason to doubt that Satan didn’t use the opportunity that God’s timetable presented him.

    But, in time, the rest of Israel did come to David. They came to him. He did not need to conquer them. It all happened. He was made king over all Israel and he reigned as king for 33 years! 

    Waiting is never easy. Waiting is, however, opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for the enemy of our soul to make us question God. Opportunity for him to make us doubt. Opportunity for him to make us sullen and irritable.

    But it’s also a great opportunity for us. Opportunity for us to trust God. Opportunity for us to obey God. Opportunity for us to just ‘do the next thing.’ Opportunity to excel in the mundane. Opportunity for us to learn, once again, that God’s timing is perfect! He knows what He is doing!

    Opportunity awaits!

 

blessings,

Pastor Russ