Your Times

Your Times

“Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer . . . with all his reign and his might, and the times that passed over him, over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the lands.”

Times passed over David and over Israel, and there are times that pass over our life and also over the church. Many things are discovered by searching in these times. Our life is hidden there.

David had a time when he was a shepherd; he had a time at the royal court of Saul, a time in exile, a time when he was king of Judah, then king over all Israel, a time when he had to flee from his son, etc.

These times can be compared to the layers of the earth. These layers correspond to the different ages, and by studying these layers, scientists find out about the civilizations that existed in those days. From their excavations they can form a picture of how people lived and developed centuries ago.

One era forms the basis for the next. Had David not been faithful as a shepherd, then he could never have slain Goliath and thus been invited to sit at Saul’s table. If he had not been faithful in the time of his exile, he could never have become king over Israel. If he had not been faithful as king, then his throne could not have been established forever.

Different times also passed over Israel while David was king and in a position of responsibility. There were times of war, times of upheaval, of famine, of pestilence, and times of peace. Whatever affected Israel also affected David. By examining these times, we can “excavate” David’s wisdom, his great deeds, and his mistakes. Nothing is lost, for it lies hidden in the layers—in these times.

God also allows different times to pass over our lives. We experience times of prosperity, times of blessing, and times of honor. We experience times of adversity, with cursing and reproach. We experience times of misunderstanding and jealousy, times in which we are the object of envy and backbiting. We also have a time of childhood, of youth, a time of manhood, and a time of old age. These times present us with their various difficulties and temptations, as well as tasks and possibilities. There are victories to be won and opportunities to be grasped during a particular time that cannot be won or grasped during the time that follows. Nothing of what we do or do not do is lost. It lies buried in these layers. Only a few are awake to this fact, and they understand it only after the time has passed them by. Then they wake up and realize everything they should have done and not done, but then it is too late, and the layers in the earth testify against them. Isa. 57:12. Therefore Jesus also rebuked the scribes, because they did not understand the time in which they were living and the grace that was available to them only during that time. Matt. 16:3; 23:29-32. The Pharisees said, “If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.” They were building the tombs of the prophets, but because they did not understand the time in which they were living, they killed Jesus.

There are also times that pass over the church—times of revival, times of drought, times of peace, of turmoil, times of honor and of reproach. We are also included in these layers. There have to be at least two witnesses. When they wrote about Israel, David was also included. It is the same with the church and us. When these times pass over the church, then the question is whether or not we understand the time so we become as a gold nugget in this layer of the church and not a rusty piece of scrap iron.

There was a time in Israel when they did not know who should be king, whether it should be David or Saul’s son. Then we read about the sons of Issachar. They were men who had understanding of the times, “to know what Israel ought to do.” 1 Chron. 12:32. They went out to make David king.

We must also learn to understand the times, so we can know what the church has to do in the different times. Nevertheless, there are many who do not know what to do, and their folly will remain as an admonition for those who live after them.

People usually prefer one time to another. They would rather have only times of revival and peace, and not times of war and drought. However, such desires are not born of wisdom, because all these times must pass over our life and the church, so we can be tested and qualified to sit on thrones with Jesus. But just as Jesus was the cause for the fall and rising of many, so these times will also reveal people’s attitudes and will be either for their fall or their rising.

Most people do not want anyone to dig in these layers; they hate these “scientists.” Nevertheless, we cannot hinder them, and we must accept it. People cannot find everything, but God shall one day manage to dig up everything that is hidden in these layers—in these times. Therefore we must watch and pray so we can remain blameless during these times, and stand without spot or wrinkle after having overcome all things.