"WHAT WAIT I FOR?"

PSALMS 39:7

A. "AND NOW, LORD, WHAT WAIT I FOR? MY HOPE IS IN THEE"
  1. When we study the writings of David, we discover that he was a deeply religious person:
    1. He seemed to live altogether in the very atmosphere of prayer.
    2. To him, a living connection with God was the very essence of life itself.
  2. Much of his prayer is prefaced by meditation and communion with self:
    1. This is indicated in our text this morning.
    2. It is the key to his deep understanding of the nature of the spiritual life.
B. "WHAT WAIT I FOR?" IS THE BURDEN OF THIS MESSAGE
  1. With this question the Psalmist turns to the Lord to help him to discover his own need:
    1. That is a wise thing to do - Jas. 1:5
    2. Said Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
    3. However, so many professed Christians do the very opposite!
  2. David's course for guidance is the only reasonable plan to follow:
    1. God alone knows the end from the beginning, and therefore knows what is best for us.
    2. That is true, particularly, of our salvation - Acts 16:30
    3. One of His great names is "Wonderful, Counsellor" - Isa. 9:6
  3. What wait I for?
    1. This is the language of one who hesitates and cannot give a good reason for his hesitation - 1 Ki. 18:21
    2. He seems unable to decide what is best for him. In this case he should follow the decision of Saul of Tarsus - Gal. 1:15
    3. Why do people hesitate to take a firm stand for Christ? Some have one excuse and others have other excuses.
    4. But none of the excuses solve the problem of salvation.
C. HERE ARE SOME OF THE INEXCUSABLE EXCUSES
  1. "I want to be a Christian, for I know that is the proper thing for me to do; but I am waiting until I feel that I am strong enough to be a good Christian":
    1. Experience shows that they who wait until they are good enough will perish in their sins.
    2. Because all our goodness is like the morning cloud -- Hos. 6:4 -- It is like filthy rags - Isa. 64:6
    3. Said Jesus, "Without me, ye can do nothing" - John 15:5
    4. "All we like sheep have gone astray" - Isa. 53:6
  2. "I am waiting to make sure that I want to be a Christian; also, that I want to be a member of the church":
    1. I have heard this excuse on different occasions, but that excuse is inexcusable.
    2. It is true that God does not want any forced service - Rev. 22:17
    3. But, dear soul, your own lost condition should be convincing to you that you need to come to Christ - Rom. 7:14-26
  3. "I am waiting for God to speak to me. When I am sure that he has spoken to me, I will give my heart to Christ":
    1. This excuse seems very plausible. We do want to make sure that the Lord has spoken to us.
    2. God has many channels to speak to us -
      1. He speaks to us through the sixty-six books of the Bible - John 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
      2. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit - Heb. 3:7-9; Rev. 22:17
      3. He speaks to us through the church of God - Rev. 22:17; Matt. 28:18-20
      4. He speaks to us through nature; Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:20
      5. He speaks to us through experiences - Dan. 4:30-37
      6. He speaks to us in prayer - Matt. 6:5-11. Yes, God does speak to us, but do we respond to His voice?


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