Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out. So the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day. Joshua 15.63.

What started as cohabitation devolved into domination by the Jebusites. Warring world views never peacefully coexist. One always dominates.

In a few generations, one of the sons of Judah, a little runt of a shepherd boy, would do what his ancestors could not.

6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David. 8 David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” Therefore they say, “The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him. 2 Sam 5:5-10.

The sons of Benjamin had the same problem as the early sons of Judah. Judges. 1.21.

God’s promise was to completely destroy the Jebusites. Ex. 23.23. Why couldn’t the early generations of Judah and Benjamin experience this promise?

Lack of faith? Lack of asking, i.e., prayer? The absence in the Joshua and Judges passages of Judah or Benjamin entreating the LORD to fulfill His promise is conspicuous.

Timing? Did God intend for his people to live intermixed with Jebusites? This runs counter to most of the admonitions on the topic in the Pentateuch.

The answer to these questions is obscure. But God’s promise is not. And David walks in fulfillment of it.

We can, and sadly often do, violate God’s will. But His purposes can never be thwarted. Even if delayed beyond our human timing and expectations.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. Hebrews 11.

God will accomplish His purposes. Make no mistake.

Faced with opposition and setbacks, will we give up, compromise, and live intermixed with the enemy? Or rise up and press in, first in prayer, to what God has promised?

It is an extraordinarily powerful prayer to say, “God, you promised … .” (See, e.g., Daniel 9.)

And whether we actually see the promise fulfilled with our own eyes or in our lifetime is irrelevant. God is not limited by such temporal things. We have the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Standing and walking in such confidence is our calling and what pleases God.

Never giving up. Never settling. Never compromising. Waiting, perhaps. Enduring, always. Pressing forward in prayer, confidence and obedience, continually. What guides us is His promise, not circumstance or transitory opposition or setback.

LORD, may I press forward faithfully every day toward what You have promised and intentioned. Thank You that You never give up, even on me, and that You never fail to accomplish Your promises and purposes.