GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH WAITING FOR

Part 3

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering." 1Samuel 13:8

In our previous studies we learned how young David after being anointed by Samuel waited for the appointed time. He knew he was anointed king over Israel but that did not run to his head and make it swell. He waited for the fullness of time. He waited for the right time. The right time is God's time.

But Saul could not wait. According to the text above, Saul was supposed to wait for seven days for Samuel the prophet to arrive before he could attack the Philistines. When he saw that Samuel was delayed he panicked – he became restless. That drove him to overstep his authority. You don't do this with God and get away with it.

You see Samuel was a spiritual leader of Israel and Saul a political leader. Samuel was priest and prophet of God to the nation. The king had political authority and the priest had spiritual authority. According to God's setup; there were certain things which only the priest was authorized to do. One of them was to offer burned sacrifices to God.

When Saul saw that the man of God was not showing up he assumed the office of a priest and burned offerings. This in itself was disobedience and a show of less regard of God's arrangements. He did not wait for priestly assistance from Samuel. He wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power in civil and sacred matters. Samuel had wanted the seven days as a test of Saul's character and obedience to God, but Saul failed it by invading the priestly office himself.

As soon as he finished, Samuel arrived. When did Samuel arrive? He arrived as soon as Saul finished offering burned sacrifices i.e. on the same day that Saul offered unlawful burned offerings. When was that? I have a strong belief that all these things happened on the selfsame seventh day. Saul could not wait until the end of the seventh day.

Here what Samuel says when he arrives; "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you" 1Samuel 10:13-14. The prophet calls this kind of behavior foolishness.

Oftentimes when we fail to wait we become restless and end up acting foolishly. Decisions taken in the name of fear are always regrettable. This is a typical example of what most people do when faced with uncertainties of life – they can't wait. How many times have we missed genuine opportunities when we hastily embracing deceit just because it glitters. David waited and got the crown. Those who cannot wait will end up with a mirage.

My sister; if that so called Mr. Right cannot wait for you; he is not worth sharing your life with him. If he cannot wait for you to finish your studies you better think again. If he cannot wait until you are married, know what type of animal you are intending to married. Human beings can wait. Only animals can't wait. Don't be fooled; love does not drive people into illicit behavior; only lust can.

My brother if that so called Miss. Right pushes for the day, take a second look. Why would she push so hard for you to take her to the altar? What deal is she hoping to land? Honest people can wait.

The problem is; when you are pushed and you succumb to pressure, you are vulnerable to act in an unbecoming manner. Samuel the prophet says it is an act of foolishness. If that deal cannot wait for you to make up your mind; if it can't wait for you to interrogate it, maybe it's better for you to let it go irrespective of how lucrative it looks. Never allow anyone to pressurize you to act until the decision to act is yours. Even God who created you does not treat you like that. He respects your freedom of choice.

Remember; all good things are worth waiting for and good things should also be prepared to wait for you. YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE WORTH WAITING FOR.