Daily Devotional

2/8/2010 3:00:00 AM

"As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came...'You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God.'" - 1 Samuel 13:10-13 NASB

God's Timing

The prophet Samuel had been very specific. He told King Saul what to do and when to act. But Saul chose to ignore these directions.
      Instead of waiting for Samuel, he decided to move forward, making an offering on his own. Saul had not waited quite long enough, for Samuel arrived as soon as the offering was completed, precisely when he had promised.
      Through his actions, Saul revealed a tendency to reinterpret directions according to his own understanding. He proved he couldn't be trusted.
      Saul didn't realize that timing is important to God. Samuel had given him a specific time, a time that was "appointed" (v. 8). This was the same word God used in Leviticus 23 to establish the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles as His "appointed times." This also was the same word used to describe the creation of seasons as God's appointed times in nature (Genesis 1:14).
      The Bible tells us "there is an appointed time for everything." There are specific times when we are to act, and times when we are not to act...times to give birth and to die, to plant and to uproot, to kill and to heal, to tear down and to build up, to be silent and to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
      God's timing always is perfect. He looks for people who will believe Him, trust Him, obey Him, and act according to His timetable--not like Saul, who made himself the judge of time and lacked the patience to trust in God.
      Today, make sure that you are sensitive to God's timing. As you're waiting for His Word to come to pass, don't give up. Keep trusting. His Word is true, and He keeps His promises.

Father, I seek Your guidance and wisdom. Help me to stay sensitive to Your timing. Lead me into Your purposes for me. I commit my life and decisions to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 13