Opening Prayer: I will be still before You, O Lord, and wait patiently for You to speak to me. I will not be jealous or agonize when others’ deception brings success or when they carry out their wicked schemes without remorse. I will resist anger and turn from the wrath. I will not be disobedient to You. I believe Your Word when it says evil men will be cut off. I trust and hope in the Lord who is my inheritance (Adapted from Psalm 37:7-9). In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Associated Scriptures:
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28).
So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 2:3-4).
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD (Micah 7:7).
Correlative Quotes:
It is the Holy Spirit, ever patient under our provocations, who calls us to be “patient.” It is Jesus, the unmurmuring sacrifice, who charges us to, “be patient.” It is the longsuffering Father who bids us “be patient.” O you who are soon to be in heaven, be patient for yet a little while, and your reward shall be revealed![1] – Charles Spurgeon
Better, Hush! Be still! (See Margin: Hebrew – Be silent to the LORD). The good man, seeing merit unrewarded and wickedness, on the other hand, constantly successful, is tempted to repine (express discontent). For a later echo of the poet's thought, irradiated by Christian hope, we may recur .to Coleridge's well known " Complaint " and its "reproof (rebuke)."[2] – Charles John Ellicott
For the foregoing reasons, taken from the approaching ruin of the wicked notwithstanding their prosperity, and the real happiness of the righteous notwithstanding their troubles, are here much enlarged upon and the same things repeated in a pleasing variety of expression. We were cautioned (v. 7) not to envy the wicked either worldly prosperity or the success of their plots against the righteous, and the reasons here given respect these two temptations severally:—1. Good people have no reason to envy the worldly prosperity of wicked people, nor to grieve or be uneasy at it, (1.) Because the prosperity of the wicked will soon be at an end.[3] – Matthew Henry
Author’s Notes:
INTRODUCTION
A bad prayer would be, “Lord give me patience and give it to me now.”
I was in a grocery store some time ago and watched as a small child grabbed a bag of cookies from the shelf. The mother quietly and gently took the cookies from the child and placed them back on the shelf. Almost immediately, the child fell to the floor and began crying and screaming.
The woman continued down the short aisle and turned the corner. The child was still yelling at the top of his lungs. I moved over an aisle and watched as the mom, unfrazzled by the child’s action, continued to shop. Eventually, the child quit screaming and began quietly calling for its mother. As the mother took the little one by the hand and moved on, I said to her, “Good mom!” She looked at me and said, “Thanks, it’s never easy.”
THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON
In Luke 2:25-35 we see the account of Simeon: At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
It would be thirty years until Mary began to see Simeon’s prophecy come to fruition. It would be another three years until she would stand at the cross with a few others and watch the spear being thrust into His side (John 19:34). The blood of Christ mixed with the water of life would have been the final indicator of His death. This moment would have pierced Mary’s “very soul.”
Sometimes we have to wait years until we see the promises of God fulfilled.
THE FORMULA FOR PATIENCE
Keep your mouth from slander (shut up). Don’t cry out for retribution. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord (Romans 12:19). Charles Spurgeon says this about silence, “A silent tongue in many cases not only shows a wise head, but a holy heart.”[4]
When Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu placed unauthorized fire in their metal censors, God called fire down from Heaven and burned the two men. Moses told Aaron that he was not to mourn the death of his sons or Aaron would die. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent (Leviticus 10:3).
When God tells us to be quiet, we must listen.
Habakkuk 2:1 confirms the concept of waiting on God when Habakkuk says: I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. In Habakkuk 1:2 (NLT), the prophet calls out to God: How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save You people. Israel was living in sin due to their surrender to idols and their exclusion of God. Habakkuk, not understanding why God had not punished them for their trespasses, called on God for an answer.
God finally speaks to Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:5-11) and explains that He is preparing the evil nation of the Chaldeans to punish Israel for it”s disobedience. In response to God’s answer (Habakkuk 1-12-17), Habakkuk curses the Chaldeans. Then he responds in Habakkuk 2:1 saying he will take up residence on the wall and wait for instructions from God.
Wait and watch. See how evil punishes itself.
God will not be mocked. He will reward obedience and punish evil. Even when it seems that the unfair actions of others give them an advantage, we must realize the prize comes in God’s timing, not in ours. God will not fail us! Not one of all the LORD's good promises to Israel failed; every word was fulfilled (Joshua 21:45).
Anger never solved any problem. However, a cool and collected attitude at all times places the target of your anger at a disadvantage.
Eventually, evil will be exposed and righteous behavior will be rewarded. Patience is the key to overcoming evil. Proverbs 15:1 explains: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Spiritual Application:
In James 5:10 we read: “Take my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience.” Are we exhorted to patience? Is it not clear that we have even now much need of it? We are most of us deficient in this excellent grace and because of it we have missed most privileges, and have wasted many opportunities in which we might have honored God, might have commended religion, and might have been exceedingly profited in our souls. Affliction has been the fire that would have removed our dross, but impatience has robbed the mental metal of the flux of submission which would have secured its proper purification. It is unprofitable, dishonorable, weakening. It has never brought us any gain and never will.[5] – Charles Spurgeon
Even though patience is a necessary element in our relationship with God, it is not a gift. Waiting on God must be learned.
Lessons within the Lesson:
Give an example of a time when you patiently waited on God.
What were the results of that patience?
Have you ever thought God was not being fair?
How did you resolve those feelings?
[1] Charles Spurgeon, The Pearl of Patience, Public Domain, spurgeongems.org/.pdf, P. 2
[2] Charles John Ellicott, An Old Testament Commentary for English Readers, Psalm 37:7-9, Vol. 4, Public Domain, Cassell and Company, London, Paris, New York, P. 140.
[3] Matthew Henry, Psalm 37:7-9, Exposition of the Old and New Testament, VOL. III., Public Domain, Philadelphia : Ed. Harrington & Geo. D. Haswell, Market Street, P. 302.
[4] Charles Spurgeon, Psalm 37:7-9, Treasury of David, Vol. II, Ibid., P. 172.
[5] Charles Spurgeon, The Pearl of Patience, Public Domain, spurgeongems.org/ sermon/chs3255.pdf, P. 2.