They shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” Such is the veritable record of the living God—a record made good in the experience of all those who have been enabled, through grace, to exercise a living faith. We must remember how much is involved in these three words— “wait for me.” The waiting must be a real thing. It will not do to say we are waiting on God, when in reality, our eye is askance upon some human prop. We must absolutely be “shut up” to God. We must be brought to the end of self and to the bottom of circumstance, in order fully to prove what God’s resources are. “My soul, wait thou only upon God” (Psalm 62:5 KJV).

Thus it was with Jehoshaphat, in that scene recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. He was wholly wrecked upon God; it was either God or nothing. “We have no power” (v. 12). But what then? “Our eyes are on you” (ibid.). This was enough. Jehoshaphat was in the very best attitude and condition to prove what God was. To have been possessed of creature strength or creature wisdom would only have proved a hindrance to him in leaning exclusively upon the arm and the counsel of the Almighty God.

THINGS NEW AND OLD

When you feel at the end of your tether, remember God is at the other end!

An Israeli named Uzzah lost his life because he “reached out and took hold of the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:6). He placed his hands on it with the best of intentions—to steady it, “because the oxen stumbled” (2 Samuel 6:6)—but nevertheless, he had overstepped his bounds by touching the Lord’s work, and “therefore God struck him down” (2 Samuel 6:7). Living a life of faith often requires us to leave things alone.

If we have completely entrusted something to God, we must keep our hands off it. He can guard it better than we can, and He does not need our help. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7).

Things in our lives may seem to be going all wrong, but God knows our circumstances better than we do. And He will work at the perfect moment, if we will completely trust Him to work in His own way and in His own time. Often there is nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will. A. B. Simpson

Being perplexed, I say, “Lord, make it right! Night is as day to You, Darkness as light. I am afraid to touch Things that involve so much; My trembling hand may shake, My skilless hand may break; Yours can make no mistake.”

Being in doubt I say, “Lord, make it plain; Which is the true, safe way? Which would be gain? I am not wise to know, Nor sure of foot to go; What is so clear to Thee, Lord, make it clear to me!”

It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God’s hands and leave them there.

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Blessed are the meek.

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill.—A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.—Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.