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WAITING UPON GOD
MANY of God’s people are at times reduced to great straits, either through the violence of persecution or the force of temptation: and, under such circumstances, what refuge have they, but in God? It is in vain for them to look to the creature: and it sometimes appears to them to no purpose to wait even upon God, because the desired relief is so long delayed. David, under delays of this kind, was sometimes discouraged: but, whatever were the depths into which he had fallen on the present occasion, it is manifest that he cast himself upon the mercy of his God, and determined to “hold fast by God,” and to maintain his confidence in him even to the end. I will,
I. Unfold to you the experience of David—
He declares it to us in few words: “he waited upon God.” And the comparison by which he illustrates the frame of his mind, will serve us as a clew, whereby to find the full import of his words. He may possibly refer to watchmen in general, who, during a long and tedious night, wait for the morning, when they shall be released from their fatigues, and retire to their rest. But I rather think that he refers to the Priests and Levites, whom he had appointed to watch nightly in the Tabernacle [Note: Psa_134:1.], and who, if they were not filled with a spirit of devotion, by which they might enjoy communion with their God, would long earnestly for the morning, when they might terminate their irksome task. But more than they did David long for the return of God to his soul; waiting for him,
1. With earnest desire—
[No temporal distress will bear any comparison with that which is spiritual. The troubles of an awakened or tempted soul are very heavy; and the depths into which it is plunged, by an apprehension of God’s wrath, are very terrible. No wonder that David “panted after the Lord, as the hart after the water-brooks [Note: Psa_42:1-3.]:” no wonder that, when God’s answers to his prayers were delayed, he cried, “How long, O Lord! how long [Note: Psa_6:3; Psa_13:1-2. four times.]?” Nor is such importunity disapproved of God: on the contrary, he would have us “cry day and night to him [Note: Luk_18:7.],” and give him no rest, till he arise, and come to our relief [Note: Isa_62:6-7.].]
2. With patient hope—
[Though earnest in prayer, he was willing to tarry the Lord’s leisure; and would not attempt to use any unbecoming means for his own relief. Repeatedly had he it in his power to slay Saul: but he would neither perpetrate the act himself, nor suffer it to be perpetrated by others. He committed his cause to God, to whom alone vengeance belongeth. So, in reference to the mercies he desired at God’s hands, he was willing to wait. His earnestness appears in that he says repeatedly, “My soul doth wait.” It was not a mere wish that he entertained for relief, but a most eager desire: yet was he as far from impatience as from indifference. He rested on the word of God: “In his word,” saith he, “do I hope.” It was quite sufficient for him that God had promised to succour his tempted people: and, whatever apparent contrarieties there might be between his dispensations and his word, he had no doubt but that they would all be cleared up in due season, and that not a jot or tittle of God’s word would pass away, till all were fulfilled.]
3. With assured expectation—
[A watchman knows that the morning will at last appear; and therefore, instead of abandoning his post, he waits till the destined hour for his relief arrive. Thus David assured himself that God would come to him at last, and reveal himself to him out of the abundance of his grace and love. The verses following my text shew this to have been the real experience of his soul, and afford me occasion to,]
II. Commend it to your imitation—
Not in the context only, but in other places, does David call upon us to imitate his example, and to avail ourselves of his experience for the comfort and direction of our own souls. “I had fainted,” says he, “unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord [Note: Psa_27:13-14.].” Thus would I now entreat you to mark the posture of David’s soul in this season of trial. Consider,
1. How suited it is to every one of you—
[You may not have committed David’s sins, or be subjected to David’s trials: but where is there one of you that is not a sinner before God? Who amongst you does not stand in need of mercy? Who must not find his consolation altogether in the contemplation of God; saying with David, “If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared [Note: ver. 3, 4.]?” Then it is plain that the same waiting spirit becomes you also. Yes, in a spirit of penitence should you be crying to God, “Lord, hear my voice; let thine ear be attentive to the voice of my supplications [Note: ver. 2.]!” And, however long God may defer his answer to your prayers, you should wait with meekness and patience. “If the eyes of a servant are to the hand of his master, and the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, should not your eyes be unto the Lord your God until he have mercy upon you [Note: Psa_123:2.]?” Surely you may well be as observant of God as you expect your fellow-creature to be of you. And think how long God has waited upon you; calling, but ye would not hear; entreating, but ye would not regard him. Shall you then be impatient, if he come not at the first moment that you call; and that too when you are urged by nothing but a fear of his wrath, which you have so richly merited? Know, every one of you, that it becomes you to wait his appointed time; and to be satisfied if the morning never arrive till the very moment of your departure from this world of woe.]
2. What honour it does to God—
[A meek, patient, and submissive spirit honours every perfection of the Deity. It expresses a confidence in his wisdom, as alone discerning the fittest time to appear in your behalf. It shews a persuasion of his goodness, that does not willingly afflict you, but orders every thing for your greatest good, even to humble you the more deeply, and thereby to prepare you for a richer improvement of his mercy whensoever it shall be vouchsafed unto you. It honours also his power, as able to impart relief, whensoever his wisdom and goodness shall judge it expedient to confer the blessing. Above all, it glorifies God’s truth and faithfulness, in that it makes the written word a ground of hope, yea, and of an assured hope, that whatsoever God has promised he will perform.
I ask then, Is it not desirable that you should be found in a posture by which God is so honoured, and with which he cannot but be pleased? Let every one of you, therefore, be able to make that appeal to God, “I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord [Note: Gen_49:18.].”]
3. What benefit it ensures to the waiting soul—
[Justly is it said, “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord [Note: Lam_3:25-26.].” But let us hear the Psalmist’s own experience: “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 into my mouth, even praise unto our God [Note: Psa_40:1-3.].” And who is there, even though he should not have been delivered to the same extent, that must not yet say, “It is good for me to draw near to God [Note: Psa_73:28.]?” I entreat you, then, to adopt the resolution of the Psalmist, “I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints [Note: Psa_52:9.].” If at any time your mind be disquieted by reason of delay, check and chide your soul even as David did: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God [Note: Psa_42:11.].” You must never forget that appeal which God himself makes to the whole universe, “I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain [Note: Isa_45:19.].” Even in this world you may be sure that God will accept and bless you: for he has said, “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; they shall walk and not faint [Note: Isa_40:31.].” But in the world to come, can any one doubt the acceptance of a penitent, contrite, and believing soul? You might as well doubt the existence of God himself: for he has said, that “we shall reap if we faint not [Note: Gal_6:9.]:” and to all his believing Israel he has engaged, that “they shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation, and shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end [Note: Isa_45:17.].”]