Anointed, Then Waiting
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”1 Samuel 16:13 (KJV)
David was anointed king while he was still a shepherd boy. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” And then he waited for years, much of that time running for his life from Saul.
He had chances to take the throne himself. Once Saul walked right into the cave where David was hiding. His men urged him to finish it. David said, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him.”
David knew the promise was God’s to keep, not his to grab. So he kept going back to the Lord for direction, again and again, instead of forcing his way forward.
Maybe God has put a promise or a calling on your life, and nothing seems to be happening. Don’t grab. Wait. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Read it yourself
Read 1 Samuel 24:1–12. What did David cut from Saul’s robe, and how did he feel about it afterwards?
Is there a promise you have been tempted to grab instead of waiting for God to give?
Lord, I trust you with your promises. Give me courage to wait on you and not take matters into my own hands. Amen.