Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 31
We Have Waited for Him
Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this isour God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this isthe LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Waiting tries the heart of the impatient. For the children of God, we are taught to patiently wait upon our God. In Him alone is salvation. Our text tells us through the prophet Isaiah that the patient seeker will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Our God never fails. He is never late. We are taught to place our trust in Him and to expect His salvation. An assured hope we have, in the Lord.
The people of Israel were often commanded of God – fret not in the time of their trial.
Psalm 37:1 A Psalmof David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
The word “fret” means “to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy, be angry, burn, be displeased”. It means to be provoked to sin against God by an ungodly response in the time of our trial. We are taught to “forsake wrath”. It is the opposite of waiting and resting in the Lord.
(1) Our God, the LORD
… Lo, this is our God … this is the LORD;The exclamation “Lo” gives a heart confirmation and a verbal affirmation. The Apostle Paul, a top-notched Pharisee persecuting Christians, was gloriously saved on the road to Damascus when he met Jesus, the Messiah of Israel by a bright light from heaven. He gave this confession to his countrymen in Romans 10:1-4, 9-10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. … 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The Apostle Paul was quoting Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah alluded to Israel’s Messiah, who is the sure foundation, a tried stone upon Whom the nation is founded. By Him, the nation will be protected and cared for. Israel, by waiting upon their God, will jolt the nations of the world to embrace their Messiah, the living and true God. The phrase to “make haste” is to flee as a man does who puts his trust in that which fails him in the day of trial. [Barnes] Israel is to put their trust in their God, alluding to His Almighty power and their LORD, alluding to their covenantal relationship. The LORD will never forsake His people but will undertake by oath to defend them.
(2) No Other Anchor
… we have waited for Him, and He will save us:
There is an emphatic assurance given here that deliverance will come for His people in every trial – 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. The people of God are exhorted to wait upon their faithful God to reveal the escape route in every trial. The hymn “We have an Anchor” by Priscilla J. Owens (1882), articulates well this truth in the chorus:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock that cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Psalm 20:7 Some trustin chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
God’s people are exhorted seek the LORD their God and not trust in the arms of flesh – 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare arenot carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) God’s people are exhorted to be casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). God’s appointed means of waiting are in unceasing prayer (Luke 18:1) and in the searching His Word (2 Timothy 3:16). We are exhorted to cast our burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain us. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22). We have an anchor that is steadfast and sure in the Lord. May we constantly appropriate it.
(3) No Disappointment in the Lord
… we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Because God is faithful, therefore, we can patiently rest in Him for our deliverance through every trial and temptation. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. God answers prayer – Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
We shall not be disappointed but be happy that we have waited upon the Lord, our God. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee