Haste, Part 3

We return today to the subject of haste. Let’s read again the verse we have been considering.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Again, the particular kind of haste that this verse addresses is “such quickness of action as excludes due consideration or reflection.” We have already seen that we are commanded in Scripture to ponder the path of our feet and to consider our ways (Proverbs 4:26; Haggai 1:7). When we make haste, we fail to obey this commandment. Instead, we are rushing about so quickly that we are not taking time to consider our ways. In conjunction with this, consider this admonition from the writings of the apostle Paul.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

To walk circumspectly is to walk in a circumspect manner. Note the definition of the word circumspect.

Circumspect – Showing caution, well-considered, cautious.

If we are walking circumspectly, we are not running headlong into things without giving them due consideration. We are cautious about the path we are taking. In other words, walking circumspectly is the opposite of making haste. In the light of the commandments of Scripture, we can say that to make haste is to sin, which is exactly what the following verse says.

Proverbs 19:2 ¶Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Notice also that when we walk circumspectly, we redeem the time. We waste a lot of time when we make haste. We think we are saving time by rushing about. In actuality, we often lose time having to rectify the mistakes we made when we were in a hurry. And if we would just slow down long enough to consider what we are doing, we might find we are doing a lot of things we do not need to do and which are needlessly consuming our time.

Now just who do you think has a vested interest in our making haste and not considering our ways? It is none other than our adversary the devil. And you can see why Satan wants us acting without due consideration because one of the key means whereby we resist Satan is by being vigilant.

1 Peter 5:8 ¶Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Now consider that word vigilant.

Vigilant – Wakeful and watchful; keeping steadily on the alert; attentively or closely observant.

If we are rushing about not giving due consideration to what we are doing, we are not being very watchful or observant. And there is where Satan will get us. If we develop the habit of always making haste, we will rush into situations where Satan can exploit our weakness and we will sin simply because we did not think before we acted or reacted. Has this ever happened to you?

The great Chinese military scholar, Sun Tzu, said that there are two qualities which are dangerous in the character of a general and lead to calamities on the battlefield. These two qualities are being reckless and being quick-tempered. Both of these are examples of haste. A reckless man lacks caution. He does not give due consideration to his actions. And a quick-tempered man will act in the passion of the moment without thinking through his actions. Now tie this back to the need to be vigilant, if we would be successful in our battle with the devil.

God willing, in our next meditation we shall consider how the resolution to the problem of making haste is found in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. For today, just be aware that you sin when you make haste, when you act quickly without reflecting upon what you are doing. And also be aware that Satan will come up with every kind of scheme to keep you dashing madly about. He does not want you to stop and consider your ways. If you do that, you just might become wise to his devices and resist him.