Divine Timing

Divine Timing

In his book, Divine Timing, Bishop Nicholas Duncan Williams says, God in His infinite wisdom has set seasons, which come with their own unique natures, outlooks, demands, and special levels of grace. This setting of seasons makes it easier to understand the activities that help creation fulfill its purpose. Misunderstanding of times and seasons will result in their abuse. The abuse of time impairs the manifestation of purpose and for this reason, the importance of understanding God's timing cannot be under stressed.

Let us examine scriptures that show the importance of divine timing, being in synchrony with God's plan and purpose for one's life.

Ecclesiastes 3: 11 says,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has placed eternity in men's hearts

and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy, yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from beginning to end.]

Ecclesiastes 3: 14, 15 says,

I know that whatever God does, it endures forever: nothing can be added to it nor anything taken away from it. And God does it so that men will [reverently] fear him [revere and worship Him knowing that He is].

That which is now has already been and that which is to be already has been: and God seeks that which is passed by [so that history repeats itself]. Amplified Bible

When we read the bible prayerfully, learning and studying God's word, we begin to discern that everything about God is purposeful and every purpose is set into God's divine schedule of events. Ecclesiastes 3: 11 says, He has made all things in its time. He has also planted eternity in men's hearts and minds. The Amplified Bible describes this as a divinely planted sense of purpose working through the ages which nothing alone but God can satisfy. This purpose has to do with the destiny of the greatest of all God's creations, mankind.

Take a look at an example of God's timing in the life of David.

I Samuel 16: 1

And the Lord said unto Samuel, how long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided for myself a King among his sons.

Saul's failure as King was no surprise to God. Before Saul or David was ever born God's plan and purpose was set in motion. For in Deuteronomy 18: 15, Moses said, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy bretheren, like unto me: unto him ye shall hearken. This scripture was talking about Jesus. The Old Testament is an example in types, of that which was to come. So God chose David a shepherd, and a prophet, to become a King. David was a type of Christ, because it has always been God's plan to point man to God's future. Therefore He uses that which has already been to point us to that which shall be. God chooses David; a shepherd, a prophet, a King as part of His eternal plan.

Samuel then goes to Jesse's house and anoints David, the least likely candidate of all of Jesse's sons, to be King of Israel. Did you ever notice that when Samuel went down to Jesse's house that Jesse never even bothered to call David out of the field to be presented to the prophet as a candidate for King? Jesse called all his sons, except David. When the Lord told Samuel not to look at their appearances because none of Jesse's other sons were God's choice for King. Samuel asked Jesse, are all your sons here? Then Jesse said, Oh yeah, the youngest boy is out tending sheep. He didn't even bother to mention his name.

I want you to know that God knows your name and your address, and at the set time He will bring you out of obscurity into your predestined purpose. In verse 13 of I Samuel chapter 16, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. God chose David and anointed him king, and rejected Saul and took His Spirit away from him. So God showed David His plan for his life, but it was not his time yet, he has to be tested. God knew what was in David and He allowed him to be tested time and time again for thirteen years. While Saul pursued David to kill him, God was honing his character, building integrity, and instilling perseverance and loyalty. To ensure that when David became King he would not be like Saul. It is interesting to note that Saul was never tested by God before he became King, he received all of his tests after becoming King and he failed every test! David was tested before he became King and he passed every test. (to be continued)