No Delay

Whenever I wish God would hurry up over something, I console myself with the Bible teaching that God will not delay once He’s ready.

The main verse that helps me with this is Habakkuk 2:3. It reads: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Habakkuk lived in a day when one evil empire would take over from another, and neither would be good for God’s people. His prophecy assures us that God’s plans mature slowly, but that He is in full control.

The coming of Jesus into this world illustrates this well. For centuries God’s people had been longing for the voice of God to ring out clearly once again. After Malachi’s prophecies ended, shortly before 400 BC, there had been little or nothing. But God chose the right moment for His Son to be born into the world, God’s definitive word to humankind. The Bible faithfully records this and sets out its meaning for us.

Thank God we are free to read the Bible, with the precious comfort and promises which it gives! This year has been the 400th anniversary of the publication of that great landmark in English literature, the Authorised or King James Version. We have thought about the events leading up to its production: the people who had to suffer and die because the country’s rulers suppressed translations into English. William Tyndale, on whose work the King James Bible is largely based, was put to death by strangling and burning in 1536. His last words were, “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.” Within four years, four translations of the Bible, all based on his work, were circulating with King Henry’s permission. This started a series of translations which led King James to order an authoritative version in 1604. The care that was taken over this is shown by the fact that it was seven years in the making.

The Puritan poet John Milton was a leading literary light shortly after those days. I cherish a hymn of his. Here are two verses from it:

The Lord will come, and not be slow,
His footsteps cannot err;
before Him righteousness shall go,
His royal harbinger.

Surely to such as do Him fear
salvation is at hand;
and glory shall ere long appear
to dwell within our land.