Friday, April 08, 2011

I will wait

My beloved told me a story recently. A story that laid much emphasis on the account of when a man of God was told to go and anoint a King; and even though he had some ideas of what a king should look like – You know tall, handsome, stocky, strong and should be at least head and shoulders better than any man in sight – when he arrived, and after the first seven came before him (whom all appeared to have all the aforementioned qualities), the Lord told him, that the king was not among them. And yet, when a not so matured (small)young (boy)man came forward - you could imagine the shock and disappointment that came along with it – the Lord told him to rise and anoint him as king.

This got me thinking, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the testimony of such a man. I couldn’t help but marvel at my own testimony.

We all know that the story is concerning a young man who went by the Name of David and the man of God was Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). We were told that he was sent for, from where he was tending sheep, BUT have we ever wondered how long he may have been out there for? How long he spent being a shepherd. How long he lived as a shepherd.

Now we know how shepherds lived in biblical times. The life of a shepherd was indeed a very lonely one, and could at times be very dangerous. In those days, the shepherd would lead the sheep and goats, who were always herded together, to an area where they could get food and water. He also knew each and everyone one of the animals, and watched over them both night and day. He had to spend time knowing each of the animals, because he would have to give an account of them and pay a very expensive price should anything happen to a single one. At night, when the animals went to sleep in their enclosure, the shepherd was expected to sleep lying across the entrance of the enclosure, with his body acting as a gate for the enclosure so that nothing could get in or out. So as you can see, this meant that the shepherd had no other life, except to live for his animals.

1 Samuel 16:11 - "Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

Now this same bible told us that David was a shepherd. Even though we were not told how long he was a shepherd for, it did tell us, that after waiting, after spending time protecting and shielding his animals, after fighting any devourer that tried to steal or kill his beloved animals, he was surprisingly called back to civilization. And obviously someone would have had to take his place. But I don’t want to dwell on this.

I can tell you that while he lived a life of a shepherd, it probably never crossed his mind that a day such as that day would come. I’m sure that his animals had become his friends, his confidants, his best friends forever (BFFs), his Facebook friends, his twitter followers, his YouTube biggest fans and spectators. I’m sure you get what I am trying to say here. They were his social network. And I won’t be surprised that he had gotten so cosy living that life that he never thought that there could be any other life (better) than what he had going on. But no, God had something better. Much more better.

Friends you have got to learn how to wait.

You know sometimes we go through a period of wilderness, but one thing we must never forget is that a day is surely coming. A surprise visit, a knock on the door, an increase, a promotion, a breakthrough, a healing, friends believe me, I don’t know what you are waiting on the Lord for, such a day is surely coming. Make up your mind to wait until that day comes. Even Habakkuk, waited upon that day (“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint” – Habakkuk 2:1). He was expectant, or else why would he be hanging out on a watchtower. He kept an eye out. Be expectant, regardless of what is going on in your life, remain resolved.

Sometimes the life you are leading isn’t what you expected. Even where you are isn’t where you envisaged is where you ought to be. Wait on the Lord. Sometimes it may seem that that situation is taking longer than it should. Wait on the Lord. Sometimes, you feel that you have done all you can, and feel it is time to just accept your fate, wait on the Lord. He will surely show up and SHOW OUT. He will so show out that people will come and hold the hem of your garment asking you to show them the way to your God (Zechariah 8:23). Believe me, in no time that will be your testimony. This is our month of Divine Rescue; the Lord shall rescue you from all of your challenges in Jesus Name. Amen.

Wait upon the Lord, and He will surely honour you in the sight of all men (Zephaniah 3:19b-20: I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD).

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Wait on the Lord. That's actually the only way to live even though it can be difficult sometimes

Adiya

Jennifer A. said...

One thing you touched on that I marveled at was that young David probably lived a solitary (lonely) life as a shepherd-- out there with no one to talk to, except maybe his sheep (with the language by which he had trained them).

You see, sometimes when God is building up our characters, He needs to do it in a solitary place, where the only people watching might be one or two confidants (and no one else in the world knows). But it's in that very place that He polishes us and passes us through the fire to come out as gold.

That's the place of our greatest treasure, in my opinion. Oh, if we can just learn to wait on our Father. He knows what He's doing.

A-9ja-Great said...

Nice! Waiting on the Lord sometimes can get very challenging,but in the end,it is very worth it.

P.E.T. Projects said...

A vital message being passed across here... though weeping lasts a night, joy comes in the morning