Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed.
Principle and expediency
What a solemn and impressive condemnation have we here of that far too common practice--deserting principle to serve expediency. I don’t like to tell a lie, someone may say, but if I had not done it I should have lost my situation. I dislike common work on the Sabbath day, but if I did not do it, I could not live. I don’t think it right to go to Sunday parties or to play games on Sundays, but I was invited by this or that great person to do it, and I could not refuse him. I ought not to adulterate my goods, and I ought not to give false statements of their value, but every one in my business does it, and I cannot be singular. What do these vindications amount to, but just a confession that from motives of expediency God’s commandment may be set aside? (W. O. Blaikie, D. D.)
Waiting the Lord’s time
Unbelief is always in a hurry, cannot wait the appointed time, will snatch at unripe fruit, and in deed, if not in words, proclaim itself wiser than God, and better able to determine times and seasons. Faith is a lovely, quiet, waiting grace; and taking its rest on infinite wisdom, and boundless love, whether the Lord gives or denies, cheerfully exclaims, “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.” If this be faith, you will readily perceive the need of that prayer, “Increase our faith.” It is easy for us to blame Saul, but are we sure we should not have made haste under such circumstances? He had waited till the seventh day; Samuel was not come, and “the people were scattered from him.” Sometimes we think, if I could just see a glimpse of hope--a prospect of an opening--the least sound of a distant moving for my help; but seeing is not believing--believing is hoping for that which we see not; yea, “against hope believing in hope.” The furnace for faith must be heated to this point, or it is not sufficient to prove that it is real faith. Sense might have waited till the seventh day; but to wait till the close of the seventh day without an appearance of help, yea, with all appearances against it, this required a faith to which poor Saul was a stranger. He would fain have had Samuel come within the time appointed. Samuel would not come until the time, but at the set time he came. The seventh day was not expired, for as soon as ever Saul’s unholy sacrifice had been offered, behold, Samuel appeared. The Lord grant us more of this patient waiting upon Him! this assurance that He will come and will not tarry. He who made haste to be everything, shall now be nothing. (Helen Plumptre.)
Awaiting God’s time
Good old Spurstow says that “some of the promises are like the almond tree--they blossom hastily in the very earliest spring; but,” saith he, “there are others which resemble the mulberry tree--they are very slow in putting forth their leaves.” Then what is a man to do, if he has a mulberry tree promise, which is late in blossoming? Why, he is to wait till it does blossom; since it is not in his power to hasten it. If the vision tarry, exercise the precious grace called patience, and the appointed time shall surely bring you a rich reward. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
