David’s infant son lay in his mother’s arms, caressed by the warmth of her body. As she drew the infant still closer, she gently stroked his wrinkled little brow and marveled at the perfections of her tiny little person, so alive with potential, so satisfying to her mother heart. Not so far away was David, becoming enraged by the words of the prophet Nathan -- words that told a story of greed, power out of control, and a dry void of human compassion. David’s anger allowed for the full impact of Nathan’s accusations to be unleashed. “You are the man!” broke the self-righteous spirit of David as he confessed the atrocities of his own sins of adultery, manipulation, and murder. God responded to David’s brokenness and freely gave forgiveness and cleansing. For David though, fully forgiven, God still brought consequences to bear upon his sin. Why those consequences were imposed, I do not fully understand, but the most imminent of those consequences was to be the death of the infant that was cradled by his mother.
The baby became intensely ill, and David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare floor. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. David had to wait. And in his waiting, he mourned profusely, still crying out to God, and yet knowing that as he waited, his child was dying.
Many of you have been in that deep valley of dark and ponderous waiting. Perhaps you waited for death to come to one you loved, but perhaps you waited for the doctor’s report, for a job assessment, for a prodigal to come back home, or for words that could give you the assurance of safety. The waiting punctuates our every breath, ties our emotions in knots, confuses our thinking, and, depending on our basic nature, immobilizes our actions or creates a frenzy. But prayerfully, like David, our waiting lays us prostrate in our Father’s presence, immensely grateful for that one constant, wanting to be wrapped in His arms and comforted and assured of a grace that knows no measure and a presence that is wholly dependable. I believe God gave those gifts to David even though David knew what the days would unfold. And whether we wait with a certain knowledge of what lies ahead or we wait for a tomorrow that is still clouded, we can wait as David waited – yes, in deep grief, but with an awareness of our God.
David waited for seven days before he heard the whispers that his child was dead. Some of you have waited far longer. Whatever the wait, our God is still there. He loves. He cares. And, yes, He gives – not always what we want, but what His Father-heart knows is best. When David’s waiting was over, he got up and he did what was at hand to do, and he worshiped his God. In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
(Related Bible reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-25)
