WAIT ON THE LORD (II)

Texts: Psalm 130:5-6 plus selected texts

The Basis for Waiting

The Christian’s waiting is not a blind or desperate wait but is based on the true knowledge of
who God is, as taught in the precious Scriptures.

Firstly, God is perfectly faithful to all His Words. “For all the promises of God in him are
yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Cor. 1:20) This is in contrast with
men who is described in Psalm 12 as having lying lips. Thankfully, God is not like man, and
thus we have the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13) This is the idea behind the use of the name “LORD” in Psalm
130:5-6. This name (Jehovah) denotes the covenant-keeping nature of God. We have every
reason to wait on the Lord because we know that He will keep His Word.

Secondly, not only is God faithful to His promises, but He is also able to keep them. He is
the Almighty. Nothing is impossible with Him. A man may have the intention to keep his
word, but sometimes circumstances and his limitations may prevent him from doing so. That
is not the case with God, who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His power. Thus, Paul
assures the Corinthian Christians that, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you;
that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2
Cor. 9:8)

If we trust our earthly family and friends who can so often fail, should we not all the more
wait upon our Lord in faith?

The Benefits of Waiting

Firstly, waiting on the Lord grants us grace for our walk before the Lord. “But they that wait
upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31) Some
illustrations are vividly used in this verse to communicate the benefits of waiting upon the
Lord to us. Firstly, we have the imagery of the eagle soaring in the skies. All the eagle needs
to do is to spread its wings, and the winds will lift it high into the skies, just like how the
Lord would lift us if we wait upon Him. Secondly, we have the illustration of running and
walking. Man often grow weary and faint after prolonged walking or running. However, the
promise here is that the Lord will grant strength so that we may continue to walk. Indeed, the
Lord will grant grace to the man who rests upon Him in glad expectation.

Secondly, waiting grants peace and stability to the believer. Thus, the Psalmist encourages
the waiting Christian in Psalm 37:7 – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret
not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth
wicked devices to pass.” God will grant the mind of one who stays upon Him perfect peace.
There is no need to fret because he knows that the Lord knows and will vindicate in His
perfect timing.

Lastly, we see that waiting on the Lord encourages fellow saints in their walk with faith.
David testifies in Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me,
and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in
my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the
LORD.” (Ps. 40:1-3) See also Psalm 119:74 – “They that fear thee will be glad when
they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.” On the other hand, a man who is
impatient stumbles others in the way. See how the congregation of Israel can so easily
influence one another in their impatience as they journey through the wilderness! We
must strive to be a blessing rather than a hindrance. Thus, let us wait upon the Lord for
the sake of our brethren too.

Conclusion

Waiting on the Lord is not natural to man. We would rather take matters in our own
hands. However, to act in impatience is to claim that the Lord is unfaithful and unable. If
we are to prosper in our work for Christ, we must confess that we can do nothing and rest
fully upon Him. “Wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Ps. 27:14)

Love of the World is Enmity with God
(Extracted from Religion, all or Nothing by C. H. Spurgeon)

It is an impossibility for a man to be both dead and alive. When the ocean shall cradle
fire, and waves shall be fuel to the flame, when the devouring element shall kiss the
liquid water, then – nay, not even then shall the world cease to be a foe to grace, nor shall
sin and holiness meet peacefully in one breast. The love of this world is enmity against
God. In any of its million shapes it is still the same monster, and must not for a moment
gain a lodging with us. If men professing religion did but keep this constantly in view,
we should not so often have to complain of lukewarmness and inconsistency. Those who
now find it almost impossible to attend prayer-meetings and week-night services would
soon say, “Business must not drive religion to the wall, but we must make business
weaker than religion, and let the shop be deserted rather than the closet or the
meeting-house.” Many men who cannot see their way clear for performing acts of charity
and piety would see much better if they had only one eye, or if they were not cross-eyed
to their own disfigurement. If God were sole Monarch of every professor’s heart, there
would soon be a change in the earth, and the Eternal would have entire dominion over
the universe. These half-men are the greatest clogs that ever Christ’s Church had put on
the wheels of their chariot.

O brethren, let us be whole-hearted, for Jesus is, and our heavenly Father is, and the
Spirit is! Did not Jesus spend His whole life in His Father’s business, which is ours, too?
Yea, is he not still living to secure his great object, our salvation? Did not the Father give
up all of us, and does he not steadily keep to one purpose? Has the Holy Spirit divided
aims and ends? Does he not still remain the great Author of good, only good, and that
continually? Brethren, be imitators of God as dear children, and especially in constant
oneness of aim. Be thorough Christians, through God’s grace. Amen.

Yours affectionately,
Pastor Clement Chew