God's Timing and Patience

How easy it would have been for David to claim the kingdom from Saul as recounted in 1 Samuel 26.10. Spear him in his sleep and what God had promised would come about. Quite a temptation. David fortunately resists the temptation, indeed, from the text it hardly seems like it was a temptation at all. David firmly rejects Abishai's suggestion because he does not want to put out his hand against the Lord's anointed.

It is often difficult to wait for the Holy Spirit to move—the salvation of an unbelieving spouse, a child who is in rebellion, illness, we want to force God's hand and get him to do what we want him to do now! God's timing is the best, but it often requires more patience than we would like. Lord, give us the heart of David to willingly accept your timing and plan.

How I Do Not Want to be Described!

In Ezekiel 3.7, this morning. God's description of his own people is that they are hard of forehead and stiff of heart. It is a shocking indictment when we understand that Pharaoh was described in the exact same way. The people would not be willing to listen to Ezekiel because God had sent him. In the same way Israel had rejected Samuel in favor of a king, so they would now reject Ezekiel because they did not want to hear God's message.

Strong words to make us search out our hearts again and again so that we do not become hard of forehead and stiff of heart, because that is a sign of a people who have gone their own way and will not listen to God any more. Lord, give me a soft forehead and a pliable heart!

A "Graced" Woman and a Servant of The King

Two compelling biblical characters today. First from 1 Samuel 1.20, we see Hannah whose name means "grace." She thought that her name was a mockery, since she was childless which was about the worst thing that could happen to a Hebrew wife. Yet in due time she who thought she was "graced-less" received a son of the Lord. He would be the greatest judge in Israel's history and a type of Christ (see Galatians 4.4). She who thought she was cursed of God discovered that her name was true. Hannah was graced by God in a marvelous and unmistakable way.

From Jeremiah 39.16 we find Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian whose name means merely "servant of the king." We aren't even told his Ethiopian name. Ebed saved the life of Jeremiah, no doubt because he believed Jeremiah's word and honored the God whom Jeremiah served. Ebed-melech is in some danger—he is fearful of those who oppose him at the (now destroyed by Babylon) court. Jeremiah promises him that he has nothing to fear because God will deliver him from these evil men. So the one who is nothing more than the "servant of the king," is proven to be the "servant of the True King."

Like Hannah, may we find God's grace in our greatest difficulties, and may we serve the True King with the devotion and commitment of Ebed-melech.