Let's open our Bibles to the
book of Psalms. Psalm 39. I'm going to be bringing a message
from Psalm 39 on the subject, Now, Lord, what wait I for? You'll see that text as we read
it. Now, Lord, what wait I for? And I'm going to read Psalm 39
and then Brother John Chapman will offer prayer for us and
read Psalm 40. These are two great, great Psalms. Psalm 39 and 40. Alright, Psalm
39. I say it. I will take heed to
my ways that I sin not with my tongue, I will keep my mouth
with a bridle, I'll muzzle my mouth, especially while the wicked,
the unbeliever is before me. I was domed with silence. I held
my peace even from good, not just complaining, but I didn't
even say anything good. And my sorrow was stirred, troubled. My heart was hot within me. While
I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spake with my tongue.
But he didn't speak to me, and he spoke to the Lord. Then I
spake with my tongue. Lord, make me to know mine end
and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail
I am. Behold, thou hast made my days
as a hand-breath, and mine age is nothing before thee. Verily,
every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every
man walketh in a vain show. Surely they are disquieted, disturbed
in vain. He heapeth up riches, and knoweth
not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what weight I
part?" That's our subject. Lord, what weight I part? He
replies, my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not the reproach of the
foolish. I was dumb. I opened not my mouth
because you did it. What happened? is because of
your purpose. So I didn't say anything because
you did it. Remove thy strength, thy stroke,
away from me. I am consumed by the blow of
thy hand. When thou with rebuke doth correct
man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like
a moth. Every man is vanity. I hear my
prayer, O Lord. Give ear unto my cry. Hold not
thy peace at my tears. For I am a stranger with thee
and a sojourner as all my fathers were. O spare me that I may recover
strength before I go hence and be no more. Seventeen years ago,
I preached a message from Psalm
39. It was a TV message, November
1986. And my opening remarks from that
sermon were written out. My messages from the church is
usually from an outline, but the television message usually
is written pretty fully. And these are the notes that
I use, my opening remarks concerning this message, Psalm 39. I want
to share them with you this evening. And I quote, for the next some
time I'll be quoting what I preached 17 years ago. I quote, a few
days ago, I celebrated a special event, my 60th birthday. One of my dear friends commented
to me regarding this milestone, that I tell you, when you reach
60 years, you'll be aware of it even if it happens in the
middle of the night. And during these 60 years, I
have learned some nuts and things. I've learned some things that
I already knew, but I had to learn them by experience. I thought
I knew them. We used to talk about learning
it by heart. You heard that, learn it by heart.
Well, during these 60 years I've learned some things that I already
knew, but I learned them by heart. One is this, life indeed is a
vapor. that appeareth for a little time
and then it vanisheth away. It's like a shadow that fleeth,
a flower that bloometh and is dead. The second thing that I
knew, and then I learned, salvation's of the Lord, and it's of him
only. I've known that since I was 24
years of age, but I know it a lot better at 60, and I believe I
know it a lot better at 77. Thirdly, redemption and eternal
life is not a doctrine only, while it is, but not only. Redemption and eternal life is
an experience. It is in, it is by, it is through,
it is because of one person. the God-man, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who loved us and gave himself for us. And fourthly, I have
learned a whole lot better that the Lord does indeed provide. David said, I have been old,
I've been young, I'm now old, and I've never I've never seen
the seed of the Lord begging bread. The Lord will provide. And then I've learned that tribulation
does work patience. And patience, maturity, and maturity,
hope. And there's no other way to learn
it. I do not mind, now that I'm 60
years of age, I do not mind getting older. I'm thankful the Lord
has been pleased to leave me here to enjoy the blessings of
growing old. He could have called me away
a long time ago. But I've been allowed to live
a long time and enjoy my family. enjoy my friends, enjoy my children,
and enjoy my grandchildren. And I wrote here, Carrie, and
perhaps he'll let me see my great-grandchildren. I said that 17 years ago. And
now we got another one on the way. A little boy. Did you know that? And God has permitted me to be
your pastor 35 years. I never thought he'd let me be
your pastor 52 years, but he did. And I don't mind growing
older, I'm still talking back yonder, because getting old enables
us to mature in faith. It enables us to mature in understanding
and in love for Christ and love for one another. And we're able to live long enough.
This is something I picked up from someone else. This is quite
good. And God has let us live long enough to see no fault in
others that we haven't already seen in ourselves. God enables us to live long enough
to see no fault in others that we haven't already seen in ourselves
and experienced either in word, thought, or deed. Also, I covet, as I grow older,
to become wise, wise in the grace of God. I covet to be a man of wisdom,
that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mysteries of
the gospel. I can tell you, not only has
the Lord given us an understanding that we may know him that is
true, and that we're in him that is true, even in his son Jesus
Christ, but he has allowed us to continue to know him, and
by his grace to know him better. And then I found this out in
growing older. God's children, God's true children,
do not waver, they do not draw back, but all of them who believe,
continue to believe to the saving of the soul. Like Abraham of
old, who looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder
is God. Or with David, as I Quoted a
moment ago, I have been young, now I'm old, but I've never seen
God's seed begging bread or the righteous forsaken. And Job,
write this in a book and put it, write it on the rock forever,
I know my Redeemer lives. And Paul said, the time of my
departure is at hand, I fought a good fight. I've finished my
course, I've kept the faith. Henceforth there's laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give to me
in that day, and not to me only, but to all of them who love his
appearing." And then last, John said, even so come, God Jesus. Well, that was my introduction
to that message. And Ronnie will remember it,
reflections of 60 years. All right, let's look at Psalm
39. Let me give you a few things about this text here. Now, Lord, what wait I for? Let's
go verse by verse for just a few moments. Verse 1, David said,
I say it, I say it, I will take heed to my ways. that I sin not
with my tongue, I keep my mouth with a bridle, I muzzle my mouth,
especially when the wicked is before me." David said this to
himself. That's who he's talking to here.
David is talking to himself. I said, I will take heed to my ways,
that I sin not with my mouth. Wise is the person who spends
time talking to himself. That's right. What's he doing?
He's meditating. He's meditating in communion
with his own heart before God. That's what David's talking about.
I say it! That's what it is. And look at
Psalm 4, verse 4. Psalm 4, verse 4. In Psalm 4, verse 4, David says,
Stand in awe and sin not, Commune with your own heart upon your
bed and be still. That's exactly what he's talking
about here. David right here during this
writing of this psalm was under some heavy burdens. The reason
I know that I'll show you, look down at these next verses just
briefly. Verse 2, the last line, my sorrow
was stirred, my sorrow was troubled. Look with you there down at verse
4, the last line, that I may know how frail I am. Look down
at verse 5, the last line, every man at his best state is altogether
vanity. The first line, Lord, remove
thy stroke away from me, I'm consumed by the blow of your
hand. I'm consumed by the blow of your
hand. I'm consumed by this conflict. You know, some of the providence,
when David's talking here, some of the providence of the Lord,
David understood. But most of it, he did not. So
he takes this way of wisdom. I will take heed to my ways,
that I sin not with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth with a
bridle, especially when the unbelievers are before me. Don't talk too
much, don't talk too much about these things. Samuel Page said this about verse
1. I said I'll take heed to my ways,
that I'll sin not with my tongue, keep my mouth muzzled with a
bridle, especially when the wicked people are before me." Samuel
Page says, to really learn this one verse will make one a wise
man, endued with knowledge among men. Be still. Hold your peace. Let thy words
be few. All right, look at verse 2. He
said, I was done with silence. I kept silence. I was done with
silence. I held my peace, even from good. David was determined not to speak
during this time of sorrow and distress when his heart was so
stirred. He chose not to speak in complaining
or instructing or talking to everybody else about it, lest
he should say things he shouldn't say. You know, our religion today,
we're living in a world of talkers. Everyone has an opinion about
everything, and they're not ashamed to expose it or declare it. Just
talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. But Job learned a lesson about
this. Turn to Job, if you will, chapter
40. Job learned a lesson about this, and Job, a severe lesson. about this thing in Job 40, verse
4. Listen. Job 40. Job had done a lot of talking.
He was in distress, and his heart was stirred, and he was under
a heavy burden, and he kept talking. But David said he kept silence. He kept silence and wouldn't
speak, either complaining or instructing, and Job didn't follow
that example. Listen to him in verse 4, Job
40. Behold, I am vile. What shall
I answer thee? I put my hand on my mouth. Once
have I spoken, again and again and again, but I'm not going
to talk any more. I've spoken twice, but I won't
proceed any further. Job 43, verse 3, and God rebukes
Job about this. In Job 42, verse 3, "'Who is
he that hideth counsel without knowledge?' This is what God
said to Job. "'Who is this that hideth counsel
without knowledge?' Therefore have I uttered that I didn't
understand, I understood not. I uttered things I didn't understand. It's just as bad to complain
as it is to say things you don't know what you're talking about.
I uttered things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Here I beseech thee, and I will
speak. I will demand of thee, and declare
that to me. I have heard of thee by the hearing
of the ear, but now, man, I seeth thee. Therefore, I abhor myself,
and I repent in dust and ashes. That's what Dave is talking about
here. I'm going to take heed to my
ways, and I'll sin not with my tongue. Keep my mouth with a
muzzle, especially while people are before me that don't understand.
You know, believers can exchange things, but when you start exchanging
things with folks that don't know what you're talking about,
you get them in trouble and you too. It's just so. So David said, just put my hand
on my mouth. While my sorrow was stirring,
while God was dealing with me in such... And verse 3, but my
heart was hot within me, was stirred within me. All these
meditations and thoughts in this communion with God in the still
of the night, he said my heart was just burning within me. While
I was musing, the fire burned. What is this fire? It's zeal,
zeal for God, a desire to know his will, a desire to know his
way, a desire to know his purpose, and too often with impatience
in this time of affliction. But this, he hit the right word
here, verse 3, verse 1, my heart was hot within me, my heart burned
within me while I mused, my heart And that's where the work of
grace is done, not with a mouth, in the heart. Not comparing those,
crying to God. This is where God moves, this
is where God convicts, this is where God reveals, this is where
God teaches us, keep thy heart, keep your heart out of the issues
of life. My son, give me your heart. with
a heart man believes. But by our passion and anger
and resentment, he's burning and he's troubled. My sorrow was stirred. My heart
was burning within me. You know, Paul went through this.
You don't need to turn to it because you've read it so many
times. Second Corinthians 4, Paul said, we have this treasure
in earthen vessels. And we're troubled, troubled,
troubled, troubled, but we're not distressed. We're perplexed
and don't understand, but we're not in despair. We're persecuted,
but we're not forsaken. We're cast down like a vessel
is cast down in the dust, but not destroyed. Now all of this was in his heart,
but he didn't say anything. But finally, he did speak. Verse
4, David speaks. And you know what his first word?
Lord! I need help. We go to the wrong place. Too
often to the wrong place. David went to the right place.
All of this, it was within him. Lord. Lord. Then I spake with my tongue,"
see that verse 3, the last, then I spake with my tongue, Lord,
not to men, but to God. I have a threefold request. Lord, make me to know mine end. That's the first one. Make me
to know my end. Now he's not talking about the
day of his death. That's not what he's talking
about. make me to know mine end. Someone said all things are judged
by their end. The ultimate goal. What is it? And to believers, I'll tell you
what that is. It's in Psalm 17. Here is the
end he's talking about. Here is the goal he's talking
about. Here is his aim, ultimate aim. Here it is right here. Psalm
17, 15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I'll be satisfied when I awake
with your likeness." That's my end. Make me to know my end.
Enable me to die the death of the righteous and let my latter
end be like his. Make me to know my end. All things are judged by the
way they end up. Not how we start, not how fast
we run. The one who wears the victor's
crown is the one who finishes the race. That's it. Make me to know my end. Second
request, chapter 39. And the measure of my days. Help me to know the measure of
my days. Why? Turn to Psalm 90. Psalm 90. And here we find the
answer right here. Psalm 90, verse 12. Help me to
measure the measure of my days. How many are there? Verse 12,
Psalm 90. So teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom, to know in Christ loving Christ,
believing Christ, resting in Christ, make me to measure my
days. They're not long, are they? A few more days, Job said, I'll
go the way from which I won't return. Well, help me to apply
my heart to wisdom, my whole being. And the third request,
he says, that I may know how frail I am. Well, we know that,
but I'll tell you the results of knowing that. Lord, make me
to know how frail I really am, how really fragile I am. And there's an effect that's
produced by that knowledge, knowing how frail I am. Number one, my
frailty will make me more humble. What do you have you didn't receive?
My frailty in knowing it'll make me more humble. Just do away
with all this pride business. Got nothing to be proud of. Thirdly, my frailty will help
me to be patient with those who fail and those who have lack-like-like
infirmities. It'll make me patient. And thirdly, My frailty will
make me more diligent about divine things, and not so much about
foolishness. Knowing my frailty will make
me more diligent, steady to show thyself approved unto God, aware
of it, and need it not be ashamed about divine things. And then
fourthly, my frailty will make me more dependent. on my Lord,
resting in Him. Now, verse 5 and 6, I want to
read almost word for word what Mr. Spurgeon said about these
two verses. He said, Behold, thou hast made
my days as a handbreath. That's one of the shortest measures,
isn't it? Isn't that the handbreath? Between
the palms, the handbreath. That's a pretty short measure.
And you know I carry it around with me all the time. I ought
to hold it up every once in a while and look at it, and be reminded
that God has made my days as a handbrand. And secondly, and my age is as
nothing before him. Now my age before Methuselah
969 years. Well, that's pretty nothing,
but it is something. But then my age, not only before
Methuselah, but before the earth, is even still greater than nothing.
And my age before the angels is still greater than nothing,
but my age before God is like one little snowflake
in a desert, nothing. One drop of water in a mighty
ocean is nothing. My age is as nothing before thee." Somebody said, Mr. Nothing from
nowhere. And barely every man, every natural
man, we're not talking about a believer here, we're talking
about every natural man, but the believer too. The believer
is a child of God. He's a son of God. Glorious things of him is spoken,
and glorious things of his church is spoken. But every natural
man, at his best state, is altogether vanity. Spurgeon said this is the surest
truth, that man at his best state is altogether vanity. That's
the surest truth. because natural men are neither
sure nor true. Man is but mere breath, unsettled,
unsubstantial as the wind. He said men by nature are consistent
only where they are inconsistent. Men by nature are only good at
that which is bad. Men by nature are wise only in
their foolishness. And men by nature are secure
in their insecurity. Barely, barely, every man at
his best state, that's not his worst state, that's the best
he can produce, is altogether vanity. Then he says in verse
6, listen, Surely every natural man walketh in a vain show. What does that say? Every natural man walketh in
a vain show. It's like a play in which everybody
is an actor. They dress up and they act out
their borrowed parts. They're borrowed roles. One plays
a king, one plays a lawyer, one plays a doctor, one plays a clown,
one plays a carpenter, one plays a plumber, one plays a farmer.
They just play different roles, different parts. And they act
out their part, and then they lie down and die, and somebody
else takes their part. Got a new king, a new lawyer,
a new doctor, a new carpenter. And then they die, and then he
got another one, just one right after the other. So every man
just walks in a vain show, playing a part, a borrowed part at that,
till he's dead and somebody takes his place. And they are disquieted
in vain. They get upset. One fellow said,
men fret, and they fume, and they worry, and they're troubled,
all for nothing. Because they're just shadows,
pursuing shadows, until death pursues them all. So they fret
and worry and fume over nothing. Because it's all going to be
washed away. And then he heapeth up riches.
I see all these fellows making all this millions, millions.
One baseball player signed for, what, $125 million. They keep up these treasures.
Keep up these riches and treasures. And they don't know who's going
to use them or gather them up. And our Lord said, Lay not up
for yourselves treasures on this earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and thieves break through and steal. Lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is. That's where
your heart will be. And then here's the end of this
message. Got to stop soon. And now, Lord, what wait I for? What's my aim? What's my goal?
What's my direction? I've thought on all these things,
life and death, joy and sorrow, riches and poverty. Long life
or short life, earth's fame or neglect, what is there? What
wait I for? What is there to attract me? What is there to seduce and hold
me? What is there to give me peace
and pleasure? Well, on this earth, nothing.
But Lord, here's my answer, my hopes and dreams. what way life are. My hope's
in Jesus. My hope's in my Redeemer. My
hope is in the one he talks about here in verse 8, who delivered
me from all my transgressions. All of them, not one of them.
To be delivered from a few of your transgressions won't help
you too much. But to be delivered from all
your transgressions. My hope's within the veil. My
hope is where my forerunner has already entered in. That's my
hope. What wait I for? One thing. The return of our
Lord. My hope's within the veil. And
he will live when all else dies. And he will be full when everything
else is empty. And he will stand. when everybody
else falls, and he will deliver us from all our transgressions. What weight I fall. Years ago I read a poem entitled
Sir Fool, Sir Fool. It's been a long time since I've
even thought about it or since I read it. But years ago there
was a great king who lived in a great country. And in his court was a young
man about his age, they were about the same age. And this
young man was a gifted, gifted young man, talented. He was a
singer, he was a writer, he was an entertainer. He made people
happy. He made people happy with his
skits and with his ballads he sang. And the king was impressed
with him, and he had him entertain him quite a bit. And the king
finally made this young man a knight. One day the king assembled the
court together, and he bragged about this young man. And he
made him a knight, and he dubbed him right there before all the
people. Because he was so skillful and so clever and so powerful
and entertaining, the king dubbed him and called him, I dubbed
thee so fool. And then the king gave to the
jester, that's what they called him back then, a jester, gave
him a valuable gold-headed walking stick, king,
a gold-headed king. And he said to him, said, fool,
if you ever meet a man that's a bigger fool than you are, give
him the king. But he never did. Years passed,
and the king and the jester both grew old. And once the jester
noticed that the king was not present at all the different
occasions. Then he didn't see him at all
for a long time. And the king sent for him. He
was an old, old man and dying. And he sent for the jester and
he walked in and the king said, Sir fool, I must bid you farewell. And the jester holding his walking
cane that the king had given him when he dubbed him Sir Fool
said, if you ever meet a man bigger fool than you are, give
him the cane. He held it in his hand and the
jester said to the king, he said, your majesty, are you going away?
He said, yes. Where are you going? The king
said, I don't know. Well, he said, how long will
you be gone? The king said, I probably will never come back. And the
young man, the jester said, well, your majesty, what preparation
have you made for this journey? And there was a long silence. And he paused. And the king said,
I've made no preparation at all. And the jester said, your majesty,
you're going on a long trip. You don't know the destination.
You'll never be back, and you've made no preparation for the journey.
Your Majesty, the cane is yours. You said, if I met a man a bigger
fool than myself to give him the cane, I've met him, sire. You're that man. That's an old story, it's an
old poem, but it's got a powerful truth. The fool has said in his
heart, no God for me. No God for me. All right, let's
sing, saved by grace. Someday the silver cord will
break and I no more shall sing, but oh, the joy. What wait I
for? I'm waiting on the presence of
the King. Presence of the King. You are
too. We're waiting together, aren't we? Expecting Him. We're not waiting especially
for the return of Christ. We're waiting for the Christ
who will return. That's a lot of difference. They're
waiting on someone. They're waiting for something.
I'm not waiting for something. I'm waiting on someone. He's
coming.