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Rest - Wait - Fret Not
There are two words that we, as a fast paced
society, know nothing about.
These words are "rest" and "wait."
We are generally too busy to rest and have too
many things to accomplish throughout the day in order to wait.
Restaurants, grocery lines, and retail stores even use the advertisement
of quick service and short checkout lines to draw the customers.
Believe it or not! Even some churches
advertise "In at nine and out on time" to draw people into their
congregations.
Psalm 37:7 admonishes us to - "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."
No one seems to have the time to slow down and "rest."
Certainly, no one wants to "wait."
This is the way it is in our society.
However, this is not the way it is in the Kingdom of God.
In Psalm 37, King David listed a few commands for the people
of God to follow -
There are three commands in verse 7 that I
purposely left out as they are the subject of this message -
"Rest in the LORD...Wait patiently for
Him...Fret not thyself..."
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"Rest in the LORD" - Have you ever
heard anyone say - "I'm resting in the Lord"? What does that mean
exactly?
This can be very difficult at times because
naturally we are a people who like to have answers for everything. When we
face situations of bewilderment in our lives, we immediately try to figure
things out and search for solutions to the problem.
Our conversation may sound like this - "Well, maybe this happened
because...Perhaps God is doing this in my life...Do you suppose this
happened because of this...?"
This Scripture admonishes us to "Rest in the LORD." In other words,
stop trying to figure things out. Stop searching for answers in yourself.
Know that answers come from God.
Proverbs 2:6 says - "For the LORD
giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
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Hence, Be still and know that He is God.
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Hold your peace, and let the Lord fight your
battles.
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Quiet down so that you may hear Him speak.
Listen to Him in silence, not having any
preconceived ideas or answers in mind. This is what it means to "Rest
in the LORD" - Being still, knowing that all is left with Him, and
that He has everything under control.
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"Wait patiently for Him" -
Waiting on the Lord involves several things.
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It is -
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...patiently leaning ourselves upon Him
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...waiting in silence, not quarreling with Him
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...abstaining from all complaining
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...having hope and great expectation that He
will bring salvation.
We may ask ourselves - Why does God oftentimes
cause us to wait until the very last minute before showing up with the
answer? Why does He allow cruel injustices to happen to His saints without
speedily rescuing them? Doesn't the Scripture say that He is mindful of
us?
Read Barnes' Notes for a very insightful commentary on this verse -
" 'And wait patiently for Him' - For His bringing the matter to a
proper issue. He may seem to delay long; it may appear strange that He
does not interpose; you may wonder that He should suffer an innocent man
to be thus accused and calumniated; but you are not to be anxious and
troubled. God does not always interpose in behalf of the innocent at once;
and there may be valuable ends to accomplish in reference to yourself - in
the discipline of your own spirit; in bringing out in your case the graces
of gentleness, patience, and forgiveness; and in leading you to examine
yourself and to understand your own character - which may make it proper
that He should not interpose immediately. It may be added that, however
important it seems to us, it is of no consequence to God ...and more
important results may be secured by delay than would be gained by an
immediate interposition in correcting the evil and redressing the wrong.
All that the promise implies is that justice will be done, but whether
sooner or later must be left to Him; and that our character will be
finally safe in His hands."
(End of excerpt from Barnes' Notes)
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"Fret not thyself" - What is our
natural reaction when we see a wicked man prospering, advancing,
succeeding, and making progress in his evil course of action and nothing
seems to be done to stop him?
He's allowed to accomplish his evil purposes.
Instead of judgment, he enjoys prosperity while the righteous man suffers.
He's not at once dealt with as he deserves.
Our natural reaction would automatically be anger and the cry for
vengeance.
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Yet, in Psalm 37:7, David's final
command to us is - "...fret not thyself because of him who prospereth
in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
That word "Fret" means to be hot,
become angry, be kindled, incensed, and displeased.
Can this be right? Why would this Scripture admonish us not to become
angry over the evil schemes of the wicked?
Fretting or becoming totally incensed over a
matter only tends to evildoing on our part. It causes us to take things
into our own hands, react in the flesh, and do more harm than good.
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Proverbs 20:22 says - "Say
not thou, I will recompense evil..." In other words, don't think of
revenge, wish it, or design it.
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Proverbs 20:22 - Instead, "...wait
on the LORD, and He shall save thee."
As we look eagerly and expectantly unto the
Lord, He will deliver us, set us free, and give us the Victory.
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Psalm 37:9 - As for the evildoer,
unless he repents of his wicked devices, he "shall be cut off..." He
shall be destroyed.
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Psalm 37:9 - On the other hand, those
who "Wait upon the LORD," "Rest in the LORD," and "Fret not" shall
inherit the earth. They shall be given every blessing and become a
partaker of God's goodness.
These are three commands for us to obey today.
If we will obey, we will "inherit the earth" - enjoy God's richest
blessings.
The choice is yours.
Will you obey God and leave all matters in His hands?
If you do, you will reap His wonderful blessings.
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
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