1 Chronicles 12:12,13, 32
At that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God…[and they] came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD…And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES (1785-1869): The Israelites who were of the tribe of Issachar, in the time of David, received a high praise for understanding the times, and knowing the best course for the inhabitants of the kingdom to do. They were thoughtful, intelligent men, who studied and who understood the signs of the times, and were well versed in public affairs; they knew the character of the age that was passing over them, and what was best to be done for the exigencies of their nation.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): It appears that in their wisdom, experience, and skill, their brethren had the fullest confidence; and nothing was done but by their direction and advice.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): They understood public affairs, the temper of the nation, and the tendencies of the present events. It is the periphrasis of statesmen that they “know the times,” Esther 1:13.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): These were men that knew the fit time for doing anything.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): It is the character of the wise, that he discerneth the time; and the want of this discernment is the cause of much human misery. For, “to every purpose there is time and judgment,” the proper season and manner when it should be put in execution; the ignorance, improvidence, and neglect of men in this behalf, occasion most of their distresses. They trifle with the opportunity, and it slips irrecoverably by; “therefore the misery of man is great upon him,” and he has usually only his own negligence to blame for the sufferings that he undergoes; which prudent foresight, and careful diligence, might probably have prevented. “For he knoweth not that which shall be,” or whether ever again he shall have the opportunity that he has lost, and none know what tomorrow will bring forth:” for who can tell him when it shall be, or how it shall be?” Future events are secrets concealed from human foresight; the present moment only is our own, and time is to be redeemed by us, Ecclesiastes 8:16,17.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): Political prudence to discern and embrace the fit seasons for all actions—this is so considerable a circumstance especially in public affairs, that the success or disappointment of them depends very much upon the right or wrong timing of them.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): Solomon tells us, that “there is to every thing a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven,” Ecclesaiastes 3:1. To discern all these occasions, and to improve them aright, is the grand line of distinction between the thoughtless and considerate, the fool and the wise, Ecclesiastes 2:14, Proverbs 22:3.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: Thoughtful men fix their eyes on the currents of events, to see which way they are flowing; who not only make themselves acquainted with the surface of things—but who look beneath it, and endeavour to trace events backward to their causes, and forward to their consequences; who not only exercise their curiosity in knowing what is taking place—but their reason in judging of its tendencies and influences; who read the histories of past times, as well as the chronicles of the present age, to form opinions founded upon examination, comparison, and legitimate deduction. They endeavour to discern the connection of events, and their influence upon the great interests of social happiness, liberty and true religion.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): The men of Issachar were such as “knew the times,” and what was best to be done in them. This skill they had gotten by much reading of politics and histories, and long observation.
CHARLES SIMEON: Knowing how to judge of the various occurrences that arise, and how to improve them to the good of the state—that constitutes the great science of politics: and it is to this knowledge, that the expression “understanding of the times” primarily refers. A statesman cannot determine what will be fit to be done a year hence, because circumstances may arise which would render all his plans abortive. He may indeed display much wisdom in the exercise of foresight, and in providing for contingencies; but still he must of necessity follow events which he cannot control, and be himself controlled by existing circumstances: and he is the greatest benefactor to the state, who is enabled to judge of them most correctly, and to adapt his measures to them most wisely.
WILLIAM KELLY (1821-1906): Above all, we should remember that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
JOHN GILL: This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): We have many examples of this in scripture; and it would be our wisdom to consider them, and to weigh the great practical truth they illustrate.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): David found himself the possessor of a tottering throne, troubled with the double evil of faction at home, and invasion from abroad. He traced at once the evil to its true source, and began at the fountainhead. His were the politics of piety, which after all are the wisest and most profound. He knew that the displeasure of the Lord had brought calamity upon the nation, and to the removal of that displeasure he set himself by earnest prayer. “O God, Thou hast cast us off,” Psalm 60:1. David clearly sees the fruits of the divine anger, he traces the flight of Israel’s warriors, the breaking of her power, the division in her body politic, to the hand of God. Whoever might be the secondary agent of these disasters, he beholds the Lord’s hand as the prime moving cause, and pleads with the Lord concerning the matter.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: Recognize, in the current of human affairs, the scheme and operations of an all-wise, all-controlling Providence.
CHARLES SIMEON: We may, however, lay down one general rule, which will be of service in determining most of the cases that can occur. The consideration of times and circumstances is never to affect our principles, but only the application of them. Our principles must be fixed by the unerring standard of God’s word. The love of God, and the love of our fellow-creatures, a regard for truth, and honour, and integrity, with all other Christian graces, must be as fixed principles in our minds, from which we are never to swerve on any account. We must not regard life itself in comparison of these. But then the peculiar mode in which these principles are to operate, must be a matter of discretion, arising from the circumstances of the case.
CHARLES BRIDGES (1794-1869): Very important is it to maintain an independence of mind, quite distinct from pride, which elevates the mind far above doing or conniving at evil, for the sake of pleasing a patron. Many have been forced to great entanglement of conscience, perhaps to vote contrary to their conscience, rather than lose the great man’s smile.
THOMAS COKE: Some make it a duty blindly to comply with every whim of their superiors, without ever allowing themselves the liberty to examine whether they are right or wrong; but the wise man always makes use of his discernment.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: He is the best reformer who begins with the reformation of himself; no systems will be effectual for public improvement which leave out of consideration the necessity of individual regeneration and Christian virtue. A deep sense of personal responsibility should lie on every man’s conscience. Every man is a part of the existing generation, and does something by his own character and conduct to form the character of the age. Each ought therefore to resolve—What I would have the age to be, that I will endeavour to be.
