Waiting for the Lord’s Timing

Written by Emmie Stanley

Are you facing a difficult situation and not sure if God is listening to you? Talk to one of our mentors.

He (David) said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers houses of the Levites, sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order” (1 Chronicles 15:12-13 NKJV).

As David was established as king over Israel, It was his hearts desire to bring the ark of God back to Jerusalem. He gathered together all of the leaders to discuss it with them, and then announced to all of Israel that “if it seemed good to them” they would go and bring back the ark. All the people agreed as it was “right in their eyes.” So they gathered together, placed the ark on a new cart, which was pulled by oxen and driven by Uzza and Ahio. They played music, and sang and praised with all their might. But as they came upon Chidon’s threshing floor, disaster hit! The oxen stumbled, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, which aroused the anger of the Lord, who then struck Uzza dead. David was afraid of God after that and wondered how he would be able to bring the ark back. (1 Chronicles 13:1-12)

David started out with a good idea, likely it was even an idea that God had set in his heart, and he had the agreement of all the leaders and of all the people. However, he did not consult God on the “when, where, and how” to follow through with this plan, and Uzza ended up dead. Sometimes God sets something in our hearts and we all know it is the right thing to do, but we fail to wait on Him for the right time, and His specific instructions for the task. It can be so easy to see God’s intended end result, and then take it upon ourselves to figure out how we will accomplish it. Properly done, the Ark was to be borne on poles on the shoulders of the Levites, and their brethren (Levites) were to be the appointed singers and musicians. (1 Chronicles 15:2, 12, 15, 16). The things of God are holy, and how we handle them can make a significant difference in the outcome. When we wait on Him and do it His way, we will have good success.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 NJKV).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV).

Questions: Why is it so difficult to wait on God’s timing?

About the Author Emmie Stanley

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Expressions of the Goodness of God, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: ark, David, emmie stanley, israel, leaders, Levites, sanctify, timing, trust, Uzza, waiting

2 Responses to “Waiting for the Lord’s Timing”

Loading comments
kanj says:

August 5, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Emmie, thank you for the devotional.
To answer your question, I think that because we are so impatient. After all, everything today is made with ‘ease’ in mind, ‘faster’ for sure, ‘convenient’. Just to sit still for 5 minutes with no distractions, nothing, can be nigh to impossible for most. Guilty as charged but that doesn’t mean I cannot learn to listen.
sharon b says:

August 1, 2009 at 10:56 am

are you still working on the followup comments?