WHAT WAIT I FOR
Psalm 39
Psalm 39 is probably a continuation of Psalm 38. David is still in the same dreadful plight of man who has been stricken by God. It was written by David who is suffering under the stoke of God for his flagrant sin with Bathsheba and for his of Uriah, one of the most faithful men David had.
David is fully aware of the fact that he deserved to be punished by the living God for his flagrant sin, his abuse of privilege, position, and power.
Observe David’s promise (verses 1-3)
Observe David’s plea (verses 4-6)
David said he was weary of life and he wished to know the measure of his days, that he might see how long he had to suffer.
Observe David’s plight (7-11)
It is as if David comes to his senses and declares “Why should I where the prospect is so uninviting, and the present so trying?” The psalmist then turns to his God, in disgust of all things else. David now cast himself wholly and unreservedly on the very God under whose hand he was be chastened.
Observe David’s prayer (12,13)
David wants God to make him once again:
Happy
Holy
Healthy
DAVID’S HOPE WAS IN THE LORD. Life with the Lord is an endless hope, but life without the Lord is a hopeless end.
Now many today should ask the question that David asked in verse 7, “What wait I for?” I trust this morning God will grip our hearts with this question?
I. WHAT WAIT I FOR, the DEMAND will never be greater (Matthew 9:36-38)
A. The MISERY Jesus saw (36)
Jesus saw people they way they really were. He looked past their faces and saw their fear. The outward was nothing to Jesus except a clear indication of the inward. Pharisees looked at the multitude and saw a crowd of people, but Jesus looked at the multitude as a flock of sheep.
1. Jesus saw the people as sheep that were hurting
"fainted" __ troubled, battered, bruised, mangled, ripped apart, worn out, burdened, and exhausted. They were hurting!
2. Jesus saw the people as sheep that were helpless
"scattered" _ cast down, to be prostrate and unable to get up because of a mortal wound. If a sheep ever falls over on its back, it will starve to because it cannot right itself and get up. This world is full of people who have fallen down and cannot get up.
3. Jesus saw the people as sheep that were hopeless
"as sheep having no shepherd" _ a person without God is not only lost, he is hopelessly lost. A lost person is like a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that is not there.
Sheep without a shepherd are absolutely hopeless. They are unfed, un-watered, and unguarded. They have no idea of where to go or what to do.
B The MINISTERS Jesus sought (37,38)
1. The problem described (37)
Problem was not with the harvest but with the laborers. The opportunities are great but the workers have diminished. The harvest is always "plenteous," "great," and "white." The problem is not the size of the harvest, but the lack of servants.
2. The prayer demanded (38)
What is Jesus solution to the problem do? He calls us to pray!
Pray for the lost? PRAY FOR THE LABORERS! He does not call us to pray for the harvest but for the harvesters.
Every child of God is called upon to pray this prayer. Every Christian is commanded to pray this prayer! BUT WHY?
Christ sends forth those whom he commanded to pray (10:1). Prayer is a preparation for ministry.
If we prayed more for the harvest, I am confident we would be burden to do more in the fields.
II. WHAT WAIT I FOR, the DIRECTIONS will never be plainer
It is not what I don’t understand in the Bible that bothers me, it is what I understand and do not do. It is not the directions that you and I have problems with. It is our will that we have all the problems with.
A. The charge for the saints is simple
See Matthew 28:18-20. It is time we make His last command our first concern.
1. The decree is plain “Go”
2. The duty is personal “YE”
3. The dynamic is provided
B. The call to the sinner is simple
Jesus was the Master of everything, and this includes speech. Had He so desired, he could have delivered messages that would have dumbfounded the most educated Pharisees. However, he spoke in with a language that all could understand. Isn’t it strange that one of the longest words Jesus used was "whosoever," and the one He seemed to like the best was "Come." Matter of fact, the word "come" seems to be a favorite of the Godhead when addressing sinners. The plea of God in the Bible to sinners is seen in the simple word "Come."
Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
1. Consider its clarity - "COME" COME is not difficult to understand. It simply means to move towards and to draw nigh.
In the word "come" two things are involved:
a. Making a decision
b. Moving in a direction
It is so simple that most men reject it. You cannot do anything to get saved except come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Consider its capacity - "ALL"
John 3:16, II Peter 3:9, I Timothy 2:4
Come without any regards for your color, condition , circumstances, or character. All are invited. None is excluded, and all are included
3. Consider its certainty “I will give your rest”
No do about it. Jesus also said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”No sinner will ever come to Christ and not be received.
III. WHAT WAIT I FOR, the DAY will never be better
Don’t be deceived by thinking that there come better day to be saved or to serve God.
Acts 24:24,25 “Go thy way for this time: when I have a convenient season...”
Felix was troubled; but instead of asking what he should do, he sent the messenger of God away. He was evidently not prepared to break off his sins and turn to God. He sought peace by sending away his reprover; and intended then to banish the subject from his mind. Yet, he did not intend to banish it altogether. He looked forward to a time when he should be more at leisure; when the cares of office should press less heavily on his attention; or when he should be more disposed to attend to it. Thus others, when they are alarmed, and see their guilt and danger, resolve to defer it to a more convenient time. One man is engaged in a career of pleasure, and it is not now a convenient time to attend to his soul’s salvation. Another is pressed with business; with the cares of life; with a plan of gain; with the labours of office, or of a profession, and it is not now a convenient time for him to attend to Christ. Another supposes that his time of life is not the most convenient. His youth he desires to spend in pleasure, and waits for a more convenient time in middle age. His middle life he spends in business, and the toils of the world, and this is not a convenient time. Such a period he expects then to find in old age. But as age advances, he finds an increasing disposition to defer it; he is still indisposed to attend to it; still in love with the world. Even old age is seldom found to be a convenient time to prepare for heaven; and it is deferred from one period of life to another, till closes the scene. It has been commonly supposed and said, that Felix never found that more convenient time to call for Paul. That he did not embrace the Christian faith, and forsake his sins, is almost certain. But it is not true that he did not take an opportunity of hearing Paul further on the subject; for it is said that he sent for him often, and communed with him. But though Felix found this opportunity, yet we have no reason to suppose that the main thing __the salvation of his soul__ ever again occupied his attention. There is no evidence that he was again alarmed or awakened, or that he had any further concern on the subject of his sins. He had passed for ever the favorable time; the golden moments when he might have secured the salvation of his soul.
Others have no right to suppose that their lives will be lengthened out that they may have any further opportunity to attend to the subject of salvation. When a sinner is awakened, and sees his sins, if he rejects the appeal to his conscience then, and defers it to a more convenient opportunity, he has no reason to expect that his attention will ever be again called with deep interest to the subject. He may live; but he may live without the strivings of the Holy Spirit. When a man has once deliberately rejected the offers of mercy; when he has trifled with the influences of the Spirit of God, he has no right or reason to expect that the Spirit will ever strive with him again. Such, we have too much reason to fear was the case with Felix. Though he often saw Paul again, and "communed with him," yet there is no account that he was again alarmed or awakened. And so sinners grace after they have grieved the Holy Spirit, listen to the doctrines of the gospel, hear its appeals and its warnings, but they have no feeling, no interest, and die in their sins.
No day will be more convenient that today. Delay is gambling, very irrationally, with a very uncertain thing, your life and your future opportunities. The day will never be better than TODAY..
One of these days is none of these days. Every day of delay leaves a day more to repent of and a day less to repent in. They great mischief of men is that they procrastinate. It is not that they resolve to be damned, but they resolve to saved tomorrow. It is not that they reject Christ forever, but that they reject Christ today.
IV. WHAT WAIT I FOR, the DECREES will never be surer
The promises, the precepts, the decrees of God will never be surer. Oh. the durability and the dependability of the Word of God. See II Peter 1:16-21. The witness of Scripture is even surer than the voice heard in the mount. The Scriptures, or written word of God, are a more sure word to us than any voice from heaven.
A. Inspiration is the providing of this sure Word of God
We believe in the inspiration of the Word (II Timothy 3:16). Quote Matthew 4:4. Inspiration is not a continuing process. If it were a continuing process, we could have another book tomorrow. Inspiration was the process by which God gave His Word to man. God breathed out His Word over a period of about 1,500 years to approximately forty specially chosen and prepared men of God.
B. Inerrancy is the purity of this sure Word of God
The Scriptures reveals unquestionably that God gave the exact words of Scripture. Inspiration does no consist in mere guidance of the words, but in a divine supplying or divine giving of the very words that constitute Scripture. Because of the verbal inspiration we have the inerrancy of the Word of God. Inerrancy requires that God choose His own words.
C. Preservation is the protecting of this sure Word of God
Preservation is the protection of the truth. Preservation is the providential safekeeping of that which God breathed out so that believers of all generations have the Word of God. Preservation testify to the fact that the precepts of God never change. In my KJV Bible I hold in my hand the preserved Word of God.
Because of the inspiration, inerrancy, and preservation, I have a sure Word. You can count on the eternal Word of God.
WHY WAIT ANY LONGER to be saved, you have the sure word of God that He will save you?
WHY WAIT ANY LONGER to serve God, you have the sure word of God that He will strengthen you?
God will do what He says! See Psalm 111:7,8. All that God decreed shall surely stand. God is no fickle tyrant commanding one thing one day and another, another day, but His commands remain absolutely unaltered, their necessity equally unquestionable, and their excellence permanently proven.
Conclusion:
What wait ye for? YOUR HOPE IS IN HIM! Cast yourself on Him unconditionally and unreservedly today! Put your hope in Him who is never shaken ,who never changeth, and who never faileth.
