The word "wait" is the one word which the Divine wisdom often seems to utter, in rebuke of human impatience. God is never in haste. In Holy Scripture men are often counselled to wait; to wait upon God, to wait for God; language which supposes delay and the need of patience.
I. (1) The history of the earth is illustrative of the principle now suggested. (2) There is something in the movement of the seasons tending to remind us of this great law. (3) There is something in the history of all life adapted to convey the same lesson.
II. Revealed religion contains much in harmony with these facts in nature and providence. (1) We see a fact of this nature in the long interval which was to pass between the promise of a Saviour and His advent. (2) When the Saviour did come, the manner of His coming was not such as the thoughts of men would have anticipated. (3) Nor is it without mystery to many minds that the history of revealed religion since the advent should have been such as it has been. (4) The law of waiting is seen in the spiritual history of the individual believer. (5) So is it with the events which make up the story of a life. We have to wait it may be to wait long before we see the Divine purpose in the things which befall us. Experience should check impatience, should teach us how to wait.
R. Vaughan, Pulpit Analyst,vol. iii., p. 1.
References: Zechariah 2:3. M. Dix, Sermons Doctrinal and Practical,p. 14; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 266.