2 Samuel 5:1-5: a reflection

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. The LORD said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

At last, after long years of waiting, David is made king over all Israel. He had been anointed king by Samuel long before, as a youth; but the fulfillment was long delayed, through years of fleeing from Saul, of danger and waiting. Now, finally, all the tribes come to him, and he is anointed king over all Israel, the promise fulfilled at last. What God had promised long before came to pass in his time, after long waiting, when David was thirty years old.

Notice the long gap between the promise and its fulfillment. David had been anointed king as a youth; but the throne did not come at once. Years passed, hard years of waiting, fleeing, danger, before the promise was fulfilled. God did not fulfill the promise immediately; he fulfilled it in his time, after David had waited long. The delay did not mean the promise had failed; it waited for its appointed time, and then came to pass. The long-awaited promise was fulfilled at last, in God's time.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's promises are sometimes long in coming, and we are called to wait for them. God may make us a promise, or give us a hope, that is not fulfilled at once; long years may pass, hard years of waiting, before it comes to pass, as David waited long between his anointing and his throne. But the delay does not mean the promise has failed; it waits for God's appointed time. When God's promise seems long delayed, do not conclude that it has failed; God fulfills his promises in his time, after the waiting, as he brought David to the throne long after anointing him. Wait for God's promise even when it is long in coming, trusting that he fulfills it in his time, as David waited through hard years before being made king over all Israel at last; for God's promises, though sometimes long delayed, come to pass in his appointed time.

Lord, at last, after long years of waiting, David is made king over all Israel. He had been anointed king by Samuel long before, as a youth; but the fulfillment was long delayed, through years of fleeing from Saul, of danger and waiting. Now, finally, all the tribes come to him, and he is anointed king over all Israel, the promise fulfilled at last. What you had promised long before came to pass in your time, after long waiting. Show me the long gap between the promise and its fulfillment. David had been anointed as a youth; but the throne did not come at once. Years passed, hard years of waiting, before the promise was fulfilled. You did not fulfill the promise immediately; you fulfilled it in your time. The delay did not mean the promise had failed; it waited for its appointed time. Take that to my heart, for your promises are sometimes long in coming, and I am called to wait for them. You may make me a promise, or give me a hope, that is not fulfilled at once; long years may pass before it comes to pass, as David waited long between his anointing and his throne. But the delay does not mean the promise has failed. When your promise seems long delayed, keep me from concluding that it has failed; you fulfill your promises in your time, Lord, after the waiting. Help me wait for your promise even when it is long in coming, trusting that you fulfill it in your time, as you brought David to the throne long after anointing him.