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BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD

Text: Isaiah 30
21 February 2010

(I) ALTERNATIVES TO WAITING ON THE LORD

1. Any alternative would be an act of rebellion

a) Rebellion against the Lord

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;” Isaiah 30:1

b) They will choose not to hear the law ( Isaiah 30:9 )

2. Placing faith in man as an alternative rather than God

a) Trusting in strength of man (Egypt) ( Isaiah 30:2 )

b) Trust in man’s ways ( Isaiah 30:12 )

3. Rejection of anything that is of the Lord

a) They choose to hear what they want to hear ( Isaiah 30:10 )

b) They reject the Lord’s leading ( Isaiah 30:11 )

4. Consequences of their actions

a) Put to shame

“Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation.” Isaiah 30:3

b) The help of man will come to nothing ( Isaiah 30:6, 7 )

c) Our iniquity will break us ( Isaiah 30:14 )

5. The depth of the problem

a) The Lord called for their return

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ” In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

b) But there was continued refusal       

“But you would not, and you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”— therefore you shall flee! and, “We will ride on swift horses” Isaiah 30:16, 17

(II) APPRECIATING THE BLESSING OF WAITING ON THE LORD

“Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 30:18

1. The ability to see how blessed we are

2. Appreciating the Lord in the giving of His blessings

a) All that God is backs up His blessings

“Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice;” Isaiah 30:18

b) The special blessings of the Lord

i) The blessing of God hearing and answering our cries ( Isaiah 30:19 )

ii) The blessing of teachers ( Isaiah 30:20 )

iii) The blessing of learning the right way ( Isaiah 30:21 )

iv) The blessing of physical things ( Isaiah 30:23-26 )

(III) THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS TO WAIT

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ” In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

1. Cease from looking at alternatives

2. Choose to wait on the Lord

a) Returning

b) Rest

c) Quietness

d) Confidence

3. Continue waiting for the Lord’s blessings

“Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 30:18