Waiting for God's Time
Waiting for God's time is essential for achieving His purposes and avoiding the dangers of self-will.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the importance of waiting for God's timing, as illustrated by David's inquiry to the Lord before moving to Hebron. Epp explains that true communion with God leads to divine guidance, contrasting it with the pitfalls of self-will represented by Ziklag. David's patience in waiting for God's plan to unfold, even after being anointed king, serves as a reminder that God's timing is perfect and that we should trust in His process. The sermon highlights that while waiting may be challenging, it is essential for fulfilling God's purpose in our lives.
Text
11 Samuel 2:1-11
Second Samuel 2 opens with these words: "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron" (v. 1). David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him. But we will surely suffer if we take things into our own hands and rush blindly ahead.
The word "Hebron" means "alliance" or "communion" in contrast to Ziklag, which refers to self-will. Being allied with God and being in communion with Him, David was in a place to be led in the will of God.
David's reign began by reigning first over Judah. It was not necessary for David to take the throne; God saw that he received it. God moved him back to Hebron, and his own tribe anointed him king.
Seven and a half years went by, however, before the whole kingdom was put under his hand. David still had to wait, but it was God's time he was waiting for, not people's.
"There is a time therefor every purpose and for every work" (Eccles. 3:17).
Sermon Outline
- Waiting for God's Time
- David's Experience
- The Importance of Believing God
- The Dangers of Taking Things into Our Own Hands
Key Quotes
“There is a time therefor every purpose and for every work” — Theodore Epp
“David found, as we will too, that we never lose anything by believing God and then patiently waiting on Him” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- We should seek God's guidance before making important decisions.
- Patience is a vital virtue for believers, especially when waiting for God's time.
- Believing God and trusting in His plan will always lead to better outcomes than taking things into our own hands.