xxx. 18. _Blessed are all they that wait for Him._
+I. What is meant by waiting upon the Lord?+ Not that sitting still
and biding our time, like a man waiting for a coach. Not that we are
to sit in quiet, idle supineness, expecting the Lord to come and fill
our souls with joy and peace, as He used to fill the tabernacle with
His glory. Yet, because they cannot convert their own souls, and
sanctify their own hearts, thousands rashly conclude that they must
quietly wait until the Lord work a miracle for them and save them.
The Bible declares our helplessness in order _that we may be stirred
up to seek help from God_ (Eph. v. 14; Phil. ii. 12, 13; 2 Pet.
ii. 10). What do we mean when we engage a servant to wait upon us?
Not that he is to compose himself to sleep until we signify that we
want him; but that he should attend upon us, hold himself in
readiness to do our bidding, make himself acquainted with our rules
and conform to them, and with our wishes, and do his best to obey
them with all readiness, cheerfulness, and faithfulness. So when the
Lord bids us "wait for Him," He means that we should diligently seek
His face, inquire into His laws, keep His statutes, and walk in His
ordinances, expecting to receive, in His own good time, the blessings
which He has promised to those who "wait upon Him."
+II. How are we to wait for the Lord?+ 1. We must wait upon God _with
the heart:_ we must be in earnest. _We_ have no respect for the
attentions and fair speeches of our fellow-men when we have reason to
believe them mere idle compliments: will God accept from us what we
have scorn to receive from one another? (Jer. xiii. 13). 2. We must
wait _entirely_ upon God, whether we are in search of peace, strength
or happiness (Ps. lxii. 1-5). 3. We must wait upon the Lord
_patiently_ and _perseveringly._ He is the rewarder of all them "that
_diligently_ seek Him;" but He has never pledged Himself either to
the time when, or the mode in which, He will answer our prayers. He
may put our sincerity to the test by keeping us waiting for some
time; but we shall never wait in vain (Ps. xl. 1). Remember how long
Abraham had to wait for the fulfilment of the promise of a seed; but
in the end, through faith and _patience,_ he inherited the promise
(Gal. vi. 9).--_E. Crow, M.A.: Plain Sermons,_ pp. 120-136.
Change and uncertainty mark all things here. The wisest plans often
baffled, the fairest prospects blighted. But the truths and blessings
of the Gospel are not subject to this law or uncertainty. God's
schemes are never frustrated; His promises never broken.
I. THAT DEVOUT EXERCISE OF MIND HERE COMMENDED. "Waiting for God."
1. His people wait _in the exercise of earnest and believing prayer._
They seek Him in the means of His own appointment; by that sort of
diligent seeking which is opposed to that of the slothful (Prov.
xiii. 4). 2. His people wait _in holy expectation of blessings in
providence and grace._ It is the patient waiting for the performance
of the promise in the exercise of faith. It implies a knowledge of
God,--a confidence in Him,--a rest in His promises, as of a child in
a father; a servant in a master (Ps. cxxii. 1, 2). 3. _They wait for
the clearing up of perplexities in the Divine Government._ Oftentimes
in their own history and in the history of others, God's providence
bears a mysterious and perplexing aspect. But the believing soul
says, "All will come right at last. What we know not now we shall
know hereafter." (H. E. I., 4043-4048).
II. THE BLESSEDNESS OF SUCH WAITING FOR GOD. 1. The very exercise of
prayer, faith, and patience is _a culture of the soul._ In such
culture there lies "Blessedness." 2. Theirs shall be the _blessedness
of satisfaction._ Disappointment meets man in every walk of life, but
those who trust in the Lord's Justice, Wisdom, and Goodness shall
never "be ashamed."--_Samuel Thodey._
I. God's appearances on account of His people are sometimes delayed.
1. In answering prayer. 2. In relieving them in their afflictions.
3. In explaining Himself in regard to their afflictions. 4. In
affording the joys of His salvation and the comfort of the Holy
Ghost. II. Your duty in the meantime: it is to wait for Him calmly,
patiently, expectantly. III. The blessedness that will attend the
exercise of waiting for Him.--_William Jay: Sunday Evening Sermons,_
pp. 319-324.