087. PSA 37:34. WAITING UPON GOD, &C

Psa_37:34. Waiting Upon God, &c

"Wait on the Lord, and keep his ways."’97Psa_37:34.

This Psa. is full of consolation to the pious mind, and contains a rich variety of precious declarations. There is the promise of necessary food, and permanent residence in the land, ver. 3; the fulfilment of all lawful desires, ver. 4; providential direction, ver. 5; the possession of the earth, ver. 9; support and preservation, ver. 17; establishment in the law and ways of God, ver. 31. Then follows the reasonable direction of the text, "Wait," &c.

We shall, I. Illustrate, and then, II. Urge the Duties specified in the text.

I. Illustrate the Duties specified in the Text.

"Wait upon the Lord, and keep his way."

1. "Wait upon the Lord."

We are to do this,

(1) In the exercise of public worship. Serve him in his temple with all his saints Hear his word; celebrate his praises; join in the offering up of prayer; worship before him in the beauty of holiness.

(2) In the religious services of the family. Erect an altar in our families to his glory; command and instruct our children, lead them to his throne; bear them up in prayerful remembrance, &c.

(3) In the retirements of the closet. "Enter into thy closet," &c. Here we may hold more close and intimate communion with God, greater facilities for meditation, &c., enlargedness and fervency in prayer.

In waiting upon God, we should do is

(1) With reverence and humility. Not forgetting the majesty and holiness of his character. How the hosts of heaven worship before him; Isa_6:1, &c. And also remembering our own littleness, unworthiness, &c. We should wait upon aim,

(2) In the exercise of grateful recollections for all his goodness and mercy towards us; in giving us being, and in preserving as; especially for his love as manifested in the gift of his only-begotten Son, gospel, Spirit, privileges, &c.

(3) With feelings of affection and delight. Souls burning with love to him, as our heavenly Father, unchangeable Friend, our soul’s only portion, and exceeding great reward.

(4) With hope and confidence. Trusting in his word’97resting on his covenant’97and expecting the enjoyment of all his promises.

The other duty specified in the text is,

2. To keep his way.

The way he has marked out for us’97into which he guides us’97and wherein he keeps and protects us.

(1) The way of his providence. "Steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." How he directed Abraham, Jacob, the Israelites in the desert, &c.; David from the sheepfold to the throne, &c.

(2) The way of his ordinances. Like Zacharias and Elizabeth, walking in them blameless. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, &c.

(3) The way of his precepts. Way of duty’97way of practical obedience. To follow him as dear children’97to have respect to all his commandments’97and to walk in his counsels to do them. "Ye are my friends," &c. "Blessed are they that do his commandments," &c.

To keep his way includes,

(1) A right and scriptural knowledge of it. To be clear as to what is our duty’97what the Lord would have us to do; and, therefore, an intimate acquaintance with his blessed word, wherein his will is revealed.

(2) A hearty approval of it. A preference to do it, above our own way, or the way of man. Rejoicing in it, as being the wisest, happiest, and safest; as being right in itself, and glorious in its termination. Psa_119:35, Psa_119:40, Psa_119:46, Psa_119:93, Psa_119:127, &c.

(3) A diligent employment of those means he has appointed. Meditation reading the word, watchfulness, prayer, Christian fellowship, &c.

Let us, by assigning some reasons why we should "wait upon the Lord, and keep his way,"

II. Urge these Duties upon the Attention of God’s People.

We should "wait upon the Lord, and keep his way,"

1. Because it is our duty.

We are his children; his will ought to be our rule. His subjects; and his laws, therefore, are imperatively binding upon us. Besides, as a Father, he is infinitely wise and benevolent; and as a Sovereign all his arrangements are founded in equity and truth. We should do so,

2. Because of the peace and comfort it produces.

"Great peace have they who love thy law," &c. "Ways are ways of pleasantness," &c.

3. Because of the safety it secures. They shall walk safely. "Fear not, for I am with thee," &c.

4. Because of the reward revealed.

They shall enter through the gates into the celestial city’97have access to the tree of life, &c.’97receive the crown of life &c.

Application

1. Let the subject induce us to wait upon God and keep his way more cheerfully and constantly, until we come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon our heads, &c.

2. Invite the poor sinner to wait upon God with penitence and faith, for pardon happiness, and eternal salvation.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS