Read the Bible in One Year: OT – 1 Samuel 19-21 NT – Luke 11:29-54
When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
1 Samuel 19:18
God is sovereign and His divine purposes will not be thwarted.
Israel rejected the LORD as their king and they wanted a human king instead. God gave them a human king after their own desire, Saul. But Saul failed and the Bible says the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king (1 Samuel 15:35). What a sad testimony to receive from the Lord! However, the truth is God will never allow His work to die with the death or failure of a man. If it is God’s work, it goes beyond any man
Having rejected Saul as king over Israel, God instructs Samuel to anoint young David as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). Samuel may have been paralysed by the rebellion and fall of Saul, but God was not. There is a time to mourn but also a time to move on.
God describes what made David special he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David will become one of the greatest men of the Bible, mentioned more than 1,000 times in the pages of Scripture. Jesus was known as the Son of David (Matthew 9:27).
And yet, that didn’t mean that David became king the next day. There was a long period of wait. David was probably in his teens when Samuel anointed him and the Bible says David was thirty years old when he became king (2 Samuel 5:4). David took the throne of Israel at about the same age that Jesus would begin His earthly ministry (Luke 3:23).
God uses great preparation when the task is great. David went through many dangers and toils and snares. He had spears thrown at him, was hounded out of his own bed, out of his country, and had to live with enemies. He was an outcast, “having no share in the heritage of the Lord, being told to ‘Go, serve other gods'”. (1 Samuel 26:19). He even had his home raided and his wives and children taken away by the Amalekites. Psalm 63 and 142 express some of his feelings. He strengthened himself in the Lord his God. In and through it all, the Bible says David strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).
Despite the passing of time and the trials David faced, God’s plan steadily unfolded. The path to kingship was not immediate; it involved years of waiting, danger, and uncertainty. Yet, through it all, God’s purpose remained unshakable. Gods purposes will not be thwarted. He is not confined by our limitations or hindered by the circumstances we face. God sees the bigger picture, and His plans extend far beyond what we can perceive in the present moment. His sovereignty reigns supreme, and He is well-acquainted with every twist and turn of our lives (Isaiah 55:8-9).
We too may find ourselves in seasons of waiting and uncertainty, questioning God’s plan for our lives. In our waiting, may we remain faithful and trust in God’s perfect timing. He works in ways that surpass our understanding, molding us, refining us, and preparing us for His appointed purposes. Just as David’s character was forged in the crucible of trials, our own experiences can shape us into vessels that are more aligned with God’s will. When doubts arise and discouragement threatens to overwhelm us, may we cling to the assurance that God’s purposes will not be thwarted, He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
When we surrender our desires and plans to God, trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty, remember, the God of the Impossible, the One who holds the universe in His hands is guiding our steps and His purposes will prevail.
Ponder
Consider the challenges and trials David faced during his journey to becoming king. How can you relate to his experiences? How did David strengthen himself in the Lord during difficult times, and how can you apply that example in your own life?
Reflect on the waiting and preparation period in David’s life between his anointing as king and actually ascending the throne. How do you respond to waiting in your own life? Are there areas where you need to exercise patience and trust in God’s perfect timing?
Can you recall a time when you faced obstacles or setbacks in pursuing God’s calling or plan for your life, how did you respond? Did you trust in God’s sovereignty and persevere, or did doubt and discouragement creep in? What can you learn from that experience?
Scripture Writing: Isaiah 55:8-9
For more daily devotions like this At the Potters Wheel (Kindle)
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