How does waiting for news in 2 Samuel 18:24 relate to trusting God's timing? Between the Gates—2 Samuel 18:24 “Now David was sitting between the gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone.” A Moment Packed with Meaning • David has dispatched his army and awaits word on the outcome—and on the fate of his son, Absalom. • He positions himself “between the gates,” a literal place of waiting, neither fully inside nor outside, mirroring the emotional tension of uncertainty. • The watchman’s sighting of a lone runner heightens anticipation; news is coming, but not yet in hand. The Weight of Silence • Every second David waits feels amplified by concern, fear, and hope. • Waiting exposes human limits: no amount of pacing or strategizing can hasten the messenger. • This pause spotlights the truth that outcomes ultimately rest in God’s sovereign hands (cf. Proverbs 16:9). Waiting as an Act of Faith • Scripture repeatedly ties waiting to trust: – “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14) – “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him… It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) • David’s posture—seated, watching, yet immobile—illustrates faith that God’s purposes will unfold at the right moment, even when the stakes are intensely personal. • His restraint parallels earlier choices to leave matters in God’s care (cf. 2 Samuel 15:25-26). God’s Timing in the Broader Story • The delayed news prepares David for hard truth; Absalom’s death will hurt deeply, but it also ends a rebellion threatening the kingdom. • Romans 8:28 assures that God weaves good from every thread; the timing of the messenger is part of that tapestry. • God’s perfect timing surfaces again and again: Joseph’s prison-to-palace journey (Genesis 41), Israel’s Red Sea pause (Exodus 14:13-14), and Christ’s “hour” that arrived precisely (John 2:4; 12:23). Lessons for Our Waits Today • Position yourself where you can hear from God—David stayed near the gate; we stay near His Word. • Accept that waiting is active trust, not passive resignation. • Remember that God sees the outcome already, even while we watch the horizon. • Draw strength from promises: – Isaiah 40:31—waiting renews, not weakens. – Proverbs 3:5-6—trust directs our paths. • Recognize that God may use the wait to prepare your heart for what comes next. Scriptures to Anchor the Heart • Psalm 130:5—“I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.” • Micah 7:7—“But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation.” • Hebrews 10:36—“You need to persevere, so that after you have done God’s will, you will receive what He has promised.” |
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