Waiting could seem like a lifetime for someone called as a little boy to do a special work. Were you appointed to do a special work? How old were you? And how long did you have to wait. Or are you still waiting?
We are continuing our examination of the Life of Christ and others from the perspective of Living in a Crucible.
Symbolically, a crucible is the fiery trials we experience as we grow and develop.
Crucibles are painful, they are uncomfortable, and they hurt, but they are beneficial in developing our character.
From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 3: Sabbath.School
See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School
Inviting the Holy Spirit’s Presence
Heavenly Father, waiting is trying and difficult. Give us patience and teach us how to wait. In Jesus Name Amen.
Many put off higher education because they don’t want to wait 4 to 6 years to start earning money.
In 1 Samuel 16:1–13, when David was a little boy, tending sheep in his father’s field, Samuel anoints him with oil as an indication that he would become King of Israel.
1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”
4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5 He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
Samuel anoints David to show that God would one day remove the existing, King Saul, and make David Israel’s king. But David journey from tending sheep in his father’s field to the throne of Jerusalem was a long one. While on this long journey David suffered a lot. His journey must have felt like he was many times in the middle of a crucible.
You can read about David’s experiences in the crucible in 1 Samuel.
First, in 1 Samuel 16, David is asked to play music to sooth King Saul troubled spirit.
Then we see in 1 Samuel 17 David becomes Israel’s hero when he kills Goliath.
Despite his victory with Goliath, David also spends many years on the run. He was continuously on the run because King Saul wants and tries to kill him.
Both Saul and his son Jonathan were aware that David would be the next king according to 1 Samuel 23:17; 1 Samuel 24:20.
1 Samuel 23:17
17 Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” (1 Samuel 23:17)
1 Samuel 24:20
20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. (1 Samuel 24:20)
This is most likely why Saul was in constant pursuit of his life.
However, David doesn’t do anything to make himself king, even though he knows that becoming king was his God-given destiny.
In fact, while Saul was on a mission to kill David, David is given the opportunity to kill him, but he instead cuts a piece of cloth off the king’s clothes. And after doing this, David feels bad that he had did it. He regretted doing it according to (1 Samuel 24:5–7).
5 It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.
6 So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”
7 David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way. (1 Samuel 24:5-7)
This was not the only time David had the opportunity to kill his adversary. Again, when Saul tries to kill David, David refuses to kill him. This, we discover in 1 Samuel 26:7–11. Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”
2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,
4 David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.
5 David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to A-bi-shai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him.
8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?”
10 David also said, “As the Lord lives, surely the Lord will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.
11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.” (1 Samuel 26:1-11)
Why does David refuse to kill Saul?
Here is what Patriarchs and Prophets says about this incident”:
Hidden by the deep shadows of the hills, David and his attendant entered the encampment of the enemy. As they sought to ascertain the exact number of their foes, they came upon Saul sleeping, his spear stuck in the ground, and a cruse of water at his head. Beside him lay Abner, his chief commander, and all around them were the soldiers, locked in slumber.
Abishai raised his spear, and said to David, “God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee. . . .”
He waited for the word of permission; but there fell upon his ear the whispered words: “Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? . . . (Split)
the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed.” . . .
The second instance of David’s respect for his sovereign’s life made a still deeper impression upon the mind of Saul and brought from him a more humble acknowledgment of his fault. He was astonished and subdued at the manifestation of such kindness. In parting from David, Saul exclaimed, “Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail.” But the son of Jesse had no hope that the king would long continue in this frame of mind.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 668–672.
How does David’s decision not to kill Saul change Saul’s heart? In 1 Samuel 26:12-25 we are gives a lesson in patience. It helps us see why it is important to be patient and wait for God to work things out in our lives in his time.
12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. (Split)
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them.
14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.
16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”
17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”
18 He also said, “Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?19 Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it is men, cursed are they before the Lord, for they have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”
22 David replied, “Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it.
23 The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
24 Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. (1 Samuel 26:12-25)
Examining the story of David becoming king teaches us the importance of not grabbing or taking what God hasn’t given us. We must learn to wait. God’s gifts are always best when we wait to receive them from His hand and in His time.
The time of waiting in our eyes may seem long. But think about it: Bean sprouts can literally grow up within hours. In contrast an oak tree will take many years. But when the strong winds come, the tree will not be uprooted.
David had many justified reasons to kill Saul. After all, Samuel told David he was going to be Israel’s future king. And besides, King Saul was a very evil man. But David chooses not to kill him. David’s behavior shows his faith and trust in God. David’s patient reactions to King Saul, and his choice to wait on God should be an example to us. We must learn to wait on God and move in His time and not in our time.
Yet, sometime circumstance can make things seem urgent. They give us the feeling we must react immediately or something terrible might happen. What happen when rush or move in a hurry?
