The King's Business
The King's business often requires slowness. That may be the opposite of what you have been taught by the tradition of men, but that is what the Word of God teaches. If you rub your eyes at this statement and say that your memory surely serves you well that "the king's business requires haste" is a Bible quotation, you are in error.
True, the phrase about haste and the business of the king is in the Bible, but the words were spoken under such circumstances that a study of the context reveals that it was a lie. Saul was furious against David to the point of hurling a javelin against his own son, Jonathan, who interceded in David's behalf. David was forced to flee, and arrived at the house of Abimelech without his weapons. He lied to Abimelech, saying that he was on a secret mission for Saul. He needed arms and said to his host, "Is there not here under thine hand spear or sword, for I have neither brought sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste" (1 Sam. 21:8). It was a lie on top of a lie.
This lie has been quoted numerous times by people who wanted to do God's business with speed, but the teaching of the Word of God is that we should wait on the Lord. There are more than a dozen Hebrew words translated by the one English word "wait." They include waiting in silence, waiting in hope, waiting while standing still, waiting with expectation, waiting attentively, and waiting in observance. There are half a dozen more Greek words translated "wait." They include the ideas of waiting patiently, waiting perseveringly, and waiting for a long time.
In addition to all the verses which tell the Christian to wait, there are others which tell us to sit still, stand still, or be still. Then there are the definite statements against haste: "He that hasteth with his feet sinneth" (Prov. 19:2); and "He that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa. 28:16).
In our way of living we often put everything into high gear, but it is time that we slow down to God's pace for Christian living. Too many people are too occupied with many things, and not enough occupied with Him. The beginning of the business of the King requires that we spend time with the King. Then we shall carry on His business as He desires and not in the fleshly speed of our own willfulness.
1. Can you think of a time where you rushed through a lesson the Lord was trying to teach you? What were the consequences of your rushing?
2. What does it look like to wait on the Lord and be an example of Christ-like patience?
