What were Saul's fears? These are expressed in his string of excuses to Samuel who came upon the scene as the offering was concluded. First, “I saw that the people were scattered from me.” He dreaded being left alone. But what was the value of men who had no faith? The Tachmonite lifted up his spear with success against eight hundred (2 Sam. 23:8), and Jonathan and his armor-bearer assaulted the whole host of the Philistines. Do we fear to be left alone, forsaken, it may be, in our service and testimony for God? Second, Saul said, “I saw... that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.” His eye was thus upon the might of the foe. Third, “I saw... that thou camest not within the days appointed.” He thus had confidence in Samuel, but alas! the human prop was not there. But GOD was there. The poor king thus saw the defection of the people, the power of the enemy, and the absence of the man upon whom he leaned, but he did not see God. By way of contrast, listen to Paul in 2 Timothy 4:16-18 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” The brave old veteran could moreover face the possibilities of the future thus, “and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” What a contrast between these two men of the same nation, of the same tribe, and bearing the same name.
Paul felt increasingly that the greatest and most important of all lessons for the soul to learn is patience. “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience” (2 Cor. 12:12). “Signs and wonders, and mighty deeds” follow in the verse, but “patience” holds the foremost place. “In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience” (2 Cor. 6:4). “Let patience have her perfect work,” says another apostle, “that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4).
Saul found himself after all, in spite of desertions, surrounded by six hundred men (1 Sam. 13:15). Gideon had half that number when he ventured forth to attack the camp of Midian (Judges 7:7). David's band of heroes numbered but four hundred (1 Sam. 22:2), but see what they accomplished.