Sternly and sorrowfully the old prophet pronounced the sentence of Saul's deposition, and suggested that already God had sought and found another prince for his people. In Jesse's home was found the stripling who in after-years would say: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," Psalms 27:14.
Wait thou thy Lord's leisure! Bid thy heart stay its feverish beating, and thy pulse subside! To act prematurely and in self-will would mar the divine purpose, and set in motion stones that could not be slopped. "Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand." Never say, "Circumstances compelled me; I had to do it: my hand was forced"! No, child of God, thou art greater than circumstances and superior to the crowd of base spirits around thee. Wait thou on God, for He shall yet interpose in thy behalf. Allow no circumstances to provoke or excuse the doing of evil. In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength; in returning and rest shall thou be saved. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 13
1Saul's select band 3He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines 5The Philistines' great army 6The distress of the Israelites 8Saul, weary of staying for Samuel, sacrifices 11Samuel reproves him 17The three raiding parties of the Philistines 19The policy of the Philistines, to allow no blacksmith in Israel
What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 13:23 mean?
And went outthe garrisonof the Philistinestothe passof Michmash-
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִכְמָס
Sense: a city in Benjamin lying near Ramah and approximately 0 miles (6 km) north of Jerusalem; probably modern ‘Mukhmas’.