A TIME TO DO NOTHING

Isaiah 30:7

 

There are times when we must do nothing, when we must sit still and wait upon the Lord to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Isaiah 30:7, speaks of such a time. The Assyrians were about to invade Judah. The people of Judah decided, contrary to the explicit command of God, to go down to Egypt for help. God sent Isaiah to them with this message - "The Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose: Therefore have I cried concerning this," (not in all things, but concerning this), "Their strength is to sit still." There is time to do nothing, but to simply sit still, confidently trusting the Lord God, looking to him to intervene on our behalf.

 

For Deliverance

 

We must sit still, not in indolence, irresponsibility, and negligence, but in patient faith, waiting on God. When we can do nothing to help ourselves, we must wait on the Lord. When the destroying angel passed through Egypt, the children of Israel were to sit still in their homes, behind the blood sprinkled door, and wait on God to deliver them. On that night of awesome judgment, their strength was to sit still. At the Red Sea, with the sea before them, the mountains beside them, Pharaoh behind them and fear within them, having no weapons to defend themselves, they were commanded to "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." Their strength was to sit still.

 

In the matter of salvation, with regard to the salvation of our souls, our strength is to sit still. Hear the Word of the Lord. "Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15). We must return to the Lord. But, returning to him, we must rest ourselves in him. We must sit still. Salvation comes to those who sit still at the throne of grace and cease from their own works.

 

For the Glory of God

 

We are to sit still when no means can be used that will not dishonor our God. We are sometimes tempted to deliver ourselves from trouble, or secure some promise of God by means that are contrary to faith and dishonoring to God. We must not do so. That is how Abraham got Ishmael, Jacob got Leah, and Judah lost everything! Daniel and his companions could have easily escaped the lion's den and the fiery furnace. But their only means of doing so involved compromise, unbelief and the dishonoring of God. So they sat still. What happened? Christ revealed himself to them in the furnace and in the lion's den. The Lord was with them. And the Lord delivered them. He will do the same for us! When we can do nothing that would not dishonor our God, our strength is to sit still. "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, upon the LORD" (Ps. 27:14).

 

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #889

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net