a) General or common problems in life have to be faced
b) Special problems from the wicked may make life more difficult
3. There are important spiritual disciplines that will help the Upright live significantly
a) To trust in the Lord
b) To wait on the LORD
REFERENCES TO WAITING UPON THE LORD
1. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. (Psalm 37:7)
2. For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD,
They shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9)
3. Wait on the LORD,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. (Psalm 37:34)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WAIT ON THE LORD?
1. What Waiting on the LORD does not mean
a) It does not mean “doing nothing”
b) It does not mean “switching off”
2. What Waiting on the LORD means
a) It means that we do not choose to “react”
b) It also means that we exercise Trust in the Lord
c) It further means to wait for God to deal with the problems we face
A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS TO NOTE
1. There are many elements to note about Waiting on the Lord
2. Several are highlighted in Psalm 37
WAITING ON GOD WITH PATIENCE
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” Psalm 37:7
1. Do not fret
a) Because the wicked seems to prosper
b) Because his wicked schemes come to pass
2. Rest in the LORD
a) To have peace of heart and mind
b) To be still in heart and mind even if the wicked seems to have success
3. Wait patiently for Him
a) God has His own Plans
b) We are to patiently wait for God’s Plan to be fulfilled
i) David was anointed to be the next King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13)
ii) But it would be years before he was installed as king (2 Samuel 2:1-4)
INHERITING THE EARTH
“For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:9-11
1. Inheritance of the earth
a) The wicked uses force to possess the earth
b) He may use cunning and deceit too
2. It is God who determines who inherits the earth
“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;” Jeremiah 18:5-9
a) The wicked will not inherit the earth
b) The obedient will
KEEPING THE WAYS OF THE LORD
“Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.” Psalm 37:34-36