Trust In God’s Perfect Timing
BRD REFLECTIONS:
1 Kings 5:1-18; 6:1-38 and Psalm 80 (NIV)
(Rebecca Yong, Missions PTM)
READ:
As I read through these passages, my attention was drawn towards 1 Kings 5.
OBSERVE:
The building of the temple in Jerusalem is known to be the greatest and most significant achievement of King Solomon during his reign. Despite David’s concern over the youth and inexperience of Solomon to take on such a daunting task of building a temple for the Lord (1 Chronicles 29:1), we see in this chapter and event that God was faithful and able to provide all that was needed for Solomon, whom God had chosen to accomplish this task in His time.
Firstly, God had given Israel peace during this time where “there is neither adversary nor misfortune” (5:4). God had granted them rest on every side, quite unlike the war-torn years experienced under the reign of the Judges, Saul and David. Secondly, God had granted Solomon favour with Hiram, king of Tyre, who had a close relationship with David and loved David (5:1). This favoured relationship not only earned him excellent materials namely the cedars of Lebanon and cypress timber for the building of the magnificent temple, but it also added to his workforce skilled workers, knowing that there was no one among them who knew how to cut timber like the Sidonians (5:6, 8).
Not only did God grant peace, excellent materials and skilled manpower to Solomon, He also blessed Solomon with wisdom. Even Hiram praised God over Solomon’s wisdom that led to the peace and treaty established between the two (5:7, 12). With such a massive construction underway, God provided Solomon a tremendous workforce to pull this off: 30,000 men out of all Israel, 70,000 burden-bearers, 80,000 stonecutters and 3,300 chief officers (5:13, 15-16).
APPLY:
As I observe what God did through Solomon’s obedience to build the temple, I am reminded that God will never call us to do something where He is not able or willing to provide all that is needed to accomplish the task, all in His perfect timing.
DO:
I want to learn to rest in God’s faithfulness and provision in seeing me through all the works He has called me to do.
Instead of feeling discomfort when things do not seem to go the way I imagined it to be, I want to trust in God’s perfect timing in granting the relationships, abilities, resources and right circumstances in carrying out His work.
PRAY:
Dear God, thank You for the reminder that You are a faithful God who is able to provide all that is needed in all that You have called me to do. Help me to discern and follow Your lead and trust in Your perfect timing for all things. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
