WAITING ON GOD
Psalm 37: 34-40
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
As we consider the final section of Psalm Thirty-Seven today, I am reminded of a proverbial prayer for character that goes like this: Lord, give me patience right this moment! I think that example of impatience has infected very much of Christianity in our time. Of course the intent of our theme of waiting in this psalm portion covers more than mere impatience. If I may, I would like to open up the teaching of these few verses wider than many of you may care to allow your emotions to be challenged. I think it is safe to say that stress is very common in our daily lives. Of course not all of it is related to impatience. However, we do live in a secular culture where all of our problems are considered out of the context of God's grace and providence. Or as one school of management would put it, God has been left out of the problem solving loop.
This cultural depravity on our part creates an unnatural mental, spiritual and even physical environment in which men created in the image and likeness of God sense that their common life is being distorted. This distortion grows as our society moves further and further away from a biblical foundation. Is there any wonder then that many in our time feel an underlying tension in some sense that they can't quite comprehend. I believe that this misunderstood tension will continue to increase as our society continues on the broad path that leads to destruction. However, in the midst of that lemming like pilgrimage, some of us are being called out of the common crowd by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord's salvation we suddenly have a different perspective of seeing the world. It is within this perspective that we can appreciate the teaching of this psalm portion. "Wait on the Lord and keep his way." No longer do we have to scurry along with the rest of our culture.
A minute ago I used a Scandinavian image that some of you may not understand. That image was a lemming like pilgrimage. Let me explain. A lemming is a small mouse like rodent that lives in the arctic regions. These lemmings regularly proliferate beyond the capacity of the available food supply. As a result of the stressful competition for food and living space they have been reported to gather in enormous numbers. These hordes of lemmings then migrate to the nearest sea where most of them drown. The fact of our calling into Christ's spiritual kingdom and the fact that we are being spiritually taught to center our lives in Jesus Christ brings us to the point where we ought to sense that we belong to a different kingdom. This very fact of our spiritual calling causes tension with the worldly creatures around us. If we stop driving in the fast lane to destruction, we are likely to be honked at, yelled at and perhaps even arrested for clogging up the traffic patterns that lead to Hell!
And yet, this is our calling. "Wait for the Lord, and keep his way." His way is narrow, the path is steep, but it leads to heaven. See the promise in the second stroph of this verse: "He will exalt you to inherit the land;" That means he will lift us up and in the New Testament sense of the inheritance there, bring us to heaven. We may also note the psalmists vision that "when the wicked are cut off, you will see it." On the last day, when the worldly are called to judgment and we are confirmed in heavens glory, everyone will at long last see the righteous judgment of our Lord and King. To a certain extent, there are ongoing hints of God's providence in the very midst of every culture. Even in David's time, God allowed His saints to see samples of His just decrees. Look at David's report in verses thirty-five and thirty-six: "I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more, though I looked for him, he could not be found." Worldly figures of great power and wealth wilt away? Every week or so I check out the obituaries in the weekly news magazines to see what rich and famous people have passed on. World magazine recently noted that wether or not he is really guilty, the final judgment that O.J. faces will not allow the use of any dream team of defense lawyers. This eternal judgment is hinted at in a later verse.
Consider the future of God's people instead, David pleads with us. This consideration can go very far in lessening the impact of stress in our daily lives. See the bright promise of verses the next verse: "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. An older translation frames the words differently. "The end of that man is peace." This translation implies an ongoing life process in the school of grace. Now, what kind of peace are we talking about here? One of my commentators has collected six types of peace for our consideration. First, there is peace of mind. This peace is related to settling our doubts in the calling of our faith. Once we have confessed our sins and given our hearts to Jesus, there is a calm comfort that comes over our troubled souls. Our burdens a lightened and we look forward to our new life in Jesus Christ. Second, there is the peace of security. This peace which is given by the Holy Spirit is ours when we grow spiritually to the point of assurance. That is when we know that we are indeed saved. Third, there is a peace of conscience. This peace replaces our worldly despair. Remember the troubles that once so violently irritated you? Remember the struggles of dealing with depression? Remember when you were lost and without a hope in the world? Fourth, there is the peace of God. This is the one which passes all understanding. This one may cover our apprehensions, our worries about the future. Perhaps we may worry what will become of our children or other loved ones. Remember, to leave them in God's hands even while you petition for them in prayer. Fifth, there is peace with our neighbors. In the midst of our conversion process our friends family, and neighbors will be affected. Sometimes for good, other times for ill. Once the new life begins to affect us seriously and people get a chance to see the new improved Christian model, then they can begin to accept you and adapt to the new circumstance. However, this process of conversion sometimes takes a little while and the more we wrestle with it and its implications the more confused are the people around us. Sometimes good friends and family will put up with our putting on Christ's righteousness for long periods of time. Sixth, there is peace with ourselves. If we are currently stressed out for any reason, this is the one we may hope for. This is the peace that replaces our anxiety. This is the peace that replaces the distractions that so often plague us.
This is the promised end that God has in mind for us. We have a future and we have a hope! However, our psalmist reminds us that the worldly whom we may at times envy do not have the same hope. Their present stress is but a shadow of despair that will be theirs in the age to come. We see this fact revealed in the next verse: "But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off." If we will "Wait for the Lord and keep his way", we will be able to put this despairing thought far behind us. His way leads us to salvation. This salvation is a gift as we see in verse thirty-nine. "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;" But, this is not all David gives us the hope of three promises of the marvelous grace that is ours. First, God promises to be our stronghold in time of trouble. In colonial times, each little community built a strong block house. In case of Indian troubles the families all moved in together and maintained a constant guard. The key, however for security was to run to the block house quickly at the first sign of trouble. How many of us prefer to live in the worldly way today and believe that we can handle most problems that come our way? And what happens when we take that attitude? We make a mess, and in the end become depressed. If you are prone to making this mistake, perhaps you should carry a copy of Psalm 46 and Luther's hymn based on that hymn with you. Remember's Luther's injunction, "Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing." Instead we must consider the teaching of that psalm "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." All we need to learn to do is turn to Him.
Second, God promises to help and deliver us. If we have an accident or severe health trauma we know that if we call 911, then help will be on the way immediately. So it is with our Lord and King. He earnestly wants us to call on Him for help. If we do, He will come and give us spiritual deliverance. There is no need to live in despair without hope. God Himself is with us.
Third, God promises to deliver us from the wicked and to save us. Now, let us realize that we are going to have to put up with the wicked while we are in this life. Even within the various churches there are tares amidst the wheat. Given, the fallen state of this old world I cannot guarantee that we will not have troubles with the wicked. However, even if they would take our very lives, God will deliver us and save us. Why, the answer is in the last line of verse forty. "because they take refuge in him." Do you want the peace and promises of the conclusion of Psalm Thirty-seven? Then, it is very simple, take refuge in God. Not once at the beginning of being saved. But constantly while your are being saved! May God grant you the peace and refuge revealed to us in this Psalm. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Kidner, Derek. |
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms. | |
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Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
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IBS: The Holy Bible, New International Version (1984) | ||
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Psm 037i |
15 July 90 & 22 October 95 | |