Wait on the Lord

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Psalm 27:7-14

I. Impatience

A. Americans and waiting

B. In the early 1800’s, a courier dispatch from the capitol in Washington to New Orleans took about 22 days.

C. Some officials were excited when they figured and alternative route that would allow mail delivery much faster—fourteen days. Now we expect information from around the world in a matter of minutes. We have mobile phones, email, next day delivery, fast food, pay at the pump, dry cleaning drop-off at the gas station, home shopping, etc. Americans rarely have to wait for anything.

D. The greatest way to make a child suffer is not to take away his toys or make him eat his vegetables, but to tell him to wait 5 minutes.

E. Which of us, as a child, did not agonize for what seemed like hours for our parents to finish some task so they could take us to some special place? It seemed as if our birthday, Christmas, or summer vacation would never come—and then seemed to pass by too quickly.

F. As adults, impatience seems to grow because we can affect so many things.

G. When we lose that sense of control and feel that our time is at the mercy of others we may become anxious and agitated. Eventually, we see how much is out of our control and in God’s hands.

H. There are many times when we must wait on the Lord

I. Isaiah 55:8-9 – The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways Romans 11:33-35 – God’s ways are past finding out William Scroggie said, “The Almighty is working on a great scale and will not be hustled by our peevish impetuosity.” Since God accomplishes His will in His time, we must learn to wait on Him.

II. Wait on the Lord for justice (Psalm 37)

A. The Psalmist mourns at the injustice that surrounds him

B. The righteous are oppressed and suffer discomfort in the world The wicked are prosperous, powerful, and arrogant.

C. The psalmist despairs until He considers the fate of the wicked

D. Psalm 37:9-10 – Eventually, the wicked will be cut off and the righteous will be exaltedV.18-20 – The wicked have pleasure for a season; the righteous enjoy unspeakable bliss for an eternity

E. Until God brings forth justice, the righteous must wait on the Lord

F. We should not despair over the apparent injustice in the ease of the wicked and the work of the righteous but wait for God’s deliverance. Psalm 73:21-26 – We may grieve our situation before that time but we can find comfort in God

G. Waiting for God helps to develop faith and trust in Him.

H. It is easy to trust in God when it seems like the world is going the way you think it should. Faith allows us to see the eternal penalty of the injustice around us.

III. Psalm 27:13-14 – Wait on the Lord when you feel like giving up

A. The psalmist was surrounded by enemies who lied about him and sought to destroy him.

B. It would have been easy for him to feel abandoned and give up in the face of oppression. However, he did not give up because he trusted in God’s deliverance.

C. Wait without losing heart

D. When it seems that our destruction is imminent; it is easy to lose heart.

E. Miner analogy

F. I remember reading about a miner who was trapped when a shaft collapsed around him. He was ready to give up until he felt a faint breeze of fresh air and realized that an exit was near. The psalmist saw a sliver of goodness in the world which reassured him and gave him the courage to endure. Perhaps this is why Jesus encourages “just a cup of cold water in His name” for that small act indicates a greater love and grace in the world. We must let the good we see encourage us to trust in God’s deliverance

G. Wait on the Lord with courage

H. Seneca said, “’Tis nothing for a man to hold up his head in a calm; but to maintain his post when all others have quitted their ground and there to stand upright when other men are beaten down is divine.” We must wait on the Lord with courage when voices from without and within tell us to “curse God and die.”

IV. Wait on the Lord during trial, suffering, and grief

V. Background of Lamentations

A. In this very sad book, the prophet Jeremiah sorrowed over the destruction of the holy city of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army.

B. Though Jeremiah was a faithful servant, he had to suffer with his people as God punished Israel.

C. 3:1-5 – surrounded by bitterness and woe3:11 – Jeremiah felt broken down

D. 3:22-28

E. Through the dark cloud of pain and despair, Jeremiah saw God’s goodness Through God’s mercy, Jeremiah suffered but was not consumed. Jeremiah looked beyond his present grief and sorrow to see new compassions welcome him with the rising sun. We have endured many fearful nights with torrential rain, howling winds, tornado sirens crying in the darkness, and thunder exploding about only to be met in the morning by a beautifully bright sun in a clear blue sky.

F. Jeremiah urged his readers to endure the yoke of trials with patience, without complaining.

G. We must bear our yoke patiently for it is from the Lord1 Corinthians 10:13 - The Lord will not make our burden unbearable

H. Galatians 6:2 - The Lord has given us good brethren who will help us bear it

I. Sometimes, in our pride, we neglect this wonderful God given help. To allow others to bear our burden is not to unload our responsibilities on others but to allow them to offer a hand to lighten the weight as we journey over a difficult path—we still bear the heavier part of the burden.

VI. Those who wait on the Lord will not be disappointed

A. Do not think that God has given up on you or that He will not answer—we know our God will answer.

B. There is no one like our God—powerful, majestic, and holy—and He will not disappoint us though He may let us suffer for a while to strengthen our faith.

C. It is a great challenge for us who seek to control so much to wait on the Lord and let Him fulfill His will in His good time.

D. Isaiah 40:27-31