The Patience God Honors

Some friends from Florida once stayed with us for a few days during a hurricane. They had six children, ages ten and under. That sounds like a setup for a horror story, but these were in fact the best-behaved kids I have ever met. Once, they were all sitting in a line on our couch, when I offered them all some ice cream. In response, six little heads turned quietly to their mom and dad to see if it was ok. These kids were not little robots—they laughed and played and were tons of fun to be around. But they also knew that their mom and dad were in charge, and loved them. So they waited patiently for their direction and permission. That’s the picture I get of David today.

An old pastor told me once “you don’t have any problems in your church a few funerals wouldn’t fix.” I would certainly never say that! But we all understand what he means, and so would David. His biggest problem these last ten years has been King Saul, blocking his path to the throne. Now that Saul is dead, the problem is solved! He should dance on Saul’s grave to that old Jeffersons’ theme song: “Movin’ on Up!” After all, David has been waiting for more than a decade for the throne that God told him was his. All his men are pushing him forward. Nothing is stopping him from riding into Judah and declaring himself king! But David doesn’t move a muscle. Like those kids sitting on my couch, David won’t budge until he first “inquires of Yahweh (1).”

Don’t be confused: David wants to move up. He’s tired of sleeping in a cave when God promised him the crown. But David also knows that God is in charge, and that he loves him. So he does not want the kingdom one second before God wants to give it to him. That’s why David consistently refuses to move himself up. He never “helps God” by exalting, advancing, or promoting himself. As in Jesus’ parable, he chooses the lowest seat at the table, and trusts God to call him up higher when he is good and ready (Luke 14:7–11) After God anointed him as king, David kept tending his father’s sheep and delivering food to his brothers. Then he played the harp for King Saul and fought in his army. Finally, he lived as a fugitive, suffering slander and injustice. He has stayed low before the Lord; he’s not moving now. “If you don’t want me to have it, I don’t want it.” God always honors this kind of faith-filled, humble, patience.

Today, finally, God says, “It’s time: come on up.” So David moves his merry men out of Sherwood Forest, and back to their own beds in Judah. In the morning, David hears a knock at his door. He steps outside to see all the men of Judah. None of them came to him when he was in the cave. But they have watched David all these years, and now are convinced that he is Yahweh’s anointed. So Judah voluntarily declares David to be king over them! After all that waiting, David now wears the crown. God honors David’s patience by moving him up in his time, in his way, with no regrets. And when God moves you up, you stay up.

These are principles all of us can live by! I think of Peter’s words: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time, he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:6).” Don’t worry today about your position, recognition, or honor among men. You just stay low before the Lord—all the way under his mighty hand. It can get lonely under there, but he knows where you are. At the proper time, he will exalt you. The way of humility, patience, and trust will put you out of step with the world. But it will put you in step with Jesus Christ, our Servant-Savior (Phil 2:5–11).

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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church