In what ways can we trust God's timing instead of taking matters into our hands? A Shocking Assassination: 2 Samuel 4:5 in Context “Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.” (2 Samuel 4:5) • Ish-bosheth, Saul’s surviving son, is vulnerable. • Rechab and Baanah decide to force history’s hand, believing the kingdom should belong to David. • Their violent shortcut ignores God’s clear pattern of raising up and removing kings in His own way and time. The Impulse to Seize Control • Fear that God may not act quickly enough. • Desire for recognition or advantage, even under a pious pretense. • Listening to popular opinion rather than the Lord’s proven promises. • Forgetting that every detail of history lies under God’s sovereign authority. God’s Commendation of Waiting: David’s Example • 1 Samuel 24:6—David spares Saul: “Far be it from me… to stretch out my hand against him, for he is the LORD’s anointed!” • 1 Samuel 26:9—Again David refuses: “No one can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless.” • 2 Samuel 4:9-12—David condemns Rechab and Baanah for murdering Ish-bosheth, making it clear that “the LORD has delivered me out of every distress.” • David’s patience shows real faith: trusting the literal promise in 1 Samuel 16 that God would place him on the throne, without self-promotion or manipulation. Scriptural Anchors for Trusting the Lord’s Timing • Psalm 27:14—“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous.” • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Isaiah 40:31—“Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.” • Romans 12:19—“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” • Galatians 6:9—“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not give up.” • James 5:7-8—“Be patient… the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil.” Practical Ways to Wait Well Today • Stay anchored in Scripture daily; God’s recorded faithfulness strengthens present trust. • Pray with expectancy, not panic—casting cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and then leaving them there. • Seek godly counsel; friends grounded in truth help resist rash decisions. • Keep obeying in the small things—integrity, diligence, kindness—while the bigger answer unfolds. • Recall past deliverances; gratitude fuels patience. • Celebrate others’ progress without jealousy, remembering each calling has its own timetable. • Guard speech: refuse to grumble or scheme, speak words that honor God’s sovereignty. The Fruit of Trusting, the Cost of Grabbing • Trusting produces peace, renewed strength, and the joy of seeing God’s promises fulfilled His way. • Grabbing brings regret, broken relationships, and—like Rechab and Baanah—often severe consequences. • The kingdom still reaches David, but on God’s schedule, showcasing His glory rather than human cunning. Waiting is never wasted time; it is active faith that lets God’s perfect calendar unfold exactly as He ordained. |
    |