Isaiah

[0:00] And prophesy by Isaiah in chapter 30 and verse 18, the 18th verse, the 30th chapter in the prophesy by Isaiah. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you. And therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you. For the Lord is a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for him. That's to everyone the Lord reveals himself to. Matters not where they are, where they abide, and who they are. My friends, they will, one and all, be among the characters in this one verse. There will be waiting ones.

[1:28] Whenever we have to wait literally, we're waiting for something to appear. Or to meet some person that we wish to see, and it all been arranged, we don't go away. We wait and see if they will come to the appointed time. Or we shall receive what we're waiting for. And that requires our patience. And five, in those things and what we're waiting for. How much more so with the Lord.

[2:13] How many, in that blessed position of waiting on the Lord, he'll now know.

[2:23] How many, in that blessed position of waiting on the Lord, he'll now know. And that's what he said. And you thought you was the only prophet. Well, you were singing those two hymns, and God is a very great sovereign. And he'd just go back when he was living, village. He went out at five in the morning to begin his Sabbath day to preach to five thousand. We cannot in our poor finite minds campus such things. And then again to ride on horseback to different parts on the Sabbath and preach this same God as in our text. They were days when the Lord poured out his Spirit upon the people, because he could not go out at such an early time without there was a people to hear him.

[3:52] And there was there many of them. We cannot say how many. God knows the secrets of all things. that they were not a doubt to wait upon him, of the Lord, and to hear what the Lord would have to say through his dear servant. Each one of their peculiar manners. You can't make my friends a filth for the Lord. They're two different natures altogether. And the refined, blessed man of God, filth for the good news, perhaps some of the phrases that deep death use. And yet, they were clouded with power. That's a secret. And power belongeth unto the Lord. And that power is this prayer. So, if you're a praying soul, and that deep need within the path your early gods lead in you, that's a proof, some sweet evidence there's a waiting. I believe the heaviest and longest waiting is when he first reveals his holiness to you. And you'll feel you are sinners.

[5:33] You have been, my friends, washed with the water of regeneration, which, in the words of Scripture, you must be born again. And, oh, what a waiting. And what were you waiting upon, the Lord, who gave you that power to pray? And you never prayed like you did. You had a new birth. You were looking to the same Lord that the Lord that the Lord speaks of. And when you wait, there can be no satisfaction till you receive what you wait for. And in that last few verses, the portis of Isaiah, you'll see the promise that will be given unto, and this have been given unto every waiting soul. They shall not only be strengthened, but they shall mount up. It's on the wings of eagles, and they shall run. Not be weary of walk and not faint.

[7:04] You see, this is the portion, and the very blessed portion it is of a waiting soul. And in good appointment, do not for one moment think there's anything strange to God in your life, whatever it's been.

[7:28] whether you can see it or not. There's been nothing strange to him, any. Ah, my friends, it's all been beautifully appointed. But how much more precious are his thoughts to you, what? When he gives you a waiting on him? Shall that your dependence, your old dependence, is upon him fixed? Now there's many circumstances in life of a dear child of good, and before they're called, yes, before they're called. Some circumstance rises, unexpected. And that is one that can never be forgotten by the one passing through it. God ordered death. And where did they leave that one? Waiting.

[8:56] Waiting. Waiting. And what are you waiting for? In the past evidence of his work for your sins to be pardoned.

[9:10] And there is. There is forgiveness with God, that he may be feared. Oh, how many have watched.

[9:24] Sometimes in the gospel of his grace. Sometimes in the world. Sometimes in the world. Sometimes when they've been bowed at the footstool of mercy.

[9:39] Sometimes when their eyes have been up to the heavens for help. And now they've waited. Perhaps many times have been disappointed.

[9:51] Many times they've had to come away as they went. And yet he waits. He waits. He waits. There's a time when you should know that he asks, that he waits. What for? To be gracious to you. And you know, my friends, when we speak of Greece, we speak of a throne. We don't speak of thou here mortal. We speak of a throne. And it's a throne of grace.

[10:37] And it is the will and the favour of that one, the Lord, that it's upon that throne to cause you to wait for them.

[10:55] The inner command. Bring my sons and my daughters from Paris. Bring them. Let them come.

[11:11] And oh, my friends, there is a great favour when he causes you to wait. Let us go. Let us go. Let us go. Just a moment.

[11:26] As the scriptures are for our edification and for our strength. Those three days and three nights that Esther fasted, she waited on the Lord with her married mates, as well as the Jews.

[11:56] It was real waiting. And amidst her waiting, there was only one path of salvation.

[12:09] There was only one that was only God if that king would bring forth the scepter.

[12:20] She had no other approach to him but that. That was God's way as well. Oh, what a watching.

[12:33] When she came. When she came. I will go in on to the king. And if I perish, I perish.

[12:48] Think of that, my friend. When she reached that part of the palace where that scepter must come for, you see.

[13:06] Was it the king's scepter? Yes. And it was the Lord's. It was the Lord's scepter. It was the fruit of her fasting and the fasting of the Jews.

[13:23] It was the fruit of prayer. It was the cast in all our confidence and in our trembling in herself with all the circumstances round a weak woman.

[13:42] And yet she was strong. Oh, what a sight. She could approach him. And then the Lord did the rest for her.

[13:55] You wait for him. He'll do the rest for you. And my friends, unto our kingdom, and you're well acquainted with it, you and people as well, that her people were saved and the enemy had to die.

[14:17] That, you see, there was the waiting and there was the need. Now, in the chapter we read to you, the nations are better to drop in a bucket and do his men before him just like a split of dust.

[14:41] to a waiting soul, that man or that person or that company might be to you a great, every trial, but to God it's just a spark of dust.

[15:02] If you behold the one side and he behold just from the beginning, he never alters. and he goes forth and he made you to wait on him.

[15:16] Now, the prophet had to speak to them because as a nation and a covenant of works which he gives them, they've been trusted to eat it.

[15:33] instead of trusting to God. And he said, a thousand shall flee of the rebuke of one till he'll be left as a beacon on the top of a mountain because they trusted in Egypt.

[15:59] there was no waiting on the Lord and he just put his hand and he put that, placed them too right into the enemy's power.

[16:13] So, five could make them feel they were defeated because they trusted in Egypt.

[16:31] We can easily trust. We do want something very clear and it's well you do, but there is not anything, my imprint, as well, that can direct your way and your steps than he that has a way prepared for you and all that concerns you.

[16:58] It's a very great matter. And so, my friend, he had showed them what they were to do before he caused an appearance.

[17:15] And it's a wonderful grace given to those that are tried. In returning and rest, and coming back to him, he shall be saved in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

[17:38] There's a wonderful counsel, but he said, no, we'll play upon horses. therefore shall ye flee, and we'll ride upon the swift.

[17:54] Therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. And then, as I read, one thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one.

[18:09] is the Lord waiting while they've turned their backs on him. The children have approved his goodness and his mercy, and I come among them, my friends, I come among them.

[18:31] word of the psalmist is trusting him at all time, pour out your heart before him.

[18:43] And if you've gone aside, gone down to eat, you've let that be in quiet, wonderful thing to sit quiet, and let the Lord do what he wants you to do, you'd want him to do, and you can sit quiet, and your prayers will be the most powerful you ever used.

[19:15] Well, with all that, he has a therefore, and no one could move that, my friend, though they are to see that one could make a thousand of them a pray, and drive them away, that it looked at sometimes as if he'd ever answer any of their prayers again.

[19:41] Now he says, therefore, and that has his will. That was his time. Oh, he never takes away what he gives you.

[19:57] if he'd give you his grace, you'll have his grace. You'll receive it. It flows through Jesus Christ, and it flows from the throne, only just in sense of death which do not cause us to wait upon him.

[20:22] because that's a very blessed sight when you wait only upon God. I tell you why.

[20:33] The apostle, the psalmist say, my soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.

[20:48] then you get something to wait for. There'll be much missed in the sight of it, but yet you're waiting.

[21:02] Some of the God saints in the word, I had to wait, and some a long time, and some short, according to this.

[21:18] the sooner they're left waiting on other things beside God, then he comes. He says, therefore, he'll be gracious to you.

[21:34] He'll be gracious. You'll have all that a gracious God can give. Well, what is that? All things in heaven.

[21:48] all things on the earth. And without the heaven in its creation, and without the earth, where should we be?

[22:04] The earth is so blessed of God, he knows he can dry up that which is fertile for our sins, that he's given a promise as long as the earth remains, see, time and harvest, and summer and winter, and day and night should not fail.

[22:32] What should we be without the heavens? If he held the clouds, no rain, well, we should see everything parched up. yet, we go about, I'm as bad as the rest, and we look on these things, and don't realize always that he could take it all away.

[22:56] Well, if he took it all away, there's a therefore, he can restore it again. Yes.

[23:07] Yes. I remember me going and I was able to walk dear old John Andrew when he was out at Marham Way.

[23:24] And one day he looked up in my face and he said, my friend, is restored unto me the joy of his salvation.

[23:49] Now, it went home. He said, he didn't say I take away the salvation. He did not give me to know. He'd never save me.

[24:00] Then he said, I restored you the joy of it. Now, that's a bear for that was his grace. And you know, he only came here as a listener.

[24:17] Some man brought him in and taught him in as a listener in this chapel just to find out what sort of people. He said, been to a good many, so he's an army and a lot of other places in this little plain.

[24:32] he said, the Lord told him all that he did. He said, this place is mine.

[24:43] And dear old John, he got that and I ended his religion. I ended his God. But that I just bring forth.

[24:56] You see, there was a therefore and he brought him right into the joy of it. Now that's what we all want, isn't it, that bear his name and you wait for his bearing that it is in providence or in grace.

[25:17] And it says he shall be gracious of you. And why? Well, it's one of the most blessed gifts of Christ's love is grace.

[25:36] You cry unto him in your distress and he eard you. And he delivered you. And he comforted you.

[25:47] What grace, wasn't it? You know, he's ever the same, though we're changeable. He never changes. He never changes.

[26:00] Therefore, he said, be gracious to them. Is there anything he cannot do for you seeking well?

[26:14] Oh, to Noah seeking well. They shall find. That's grace, isn't it? Those that seek shall find.

[26:27] and those that knock, it shall be open to them. Oh, when we think of that grace, that flowed through his sacred lips, from his sacred bosom, to his doubts that he reveals himself to, as a savior, as a guide, as a counselor, as there all and in all.

[26:52] but why, as he repeats to you, oh, when he happens, no time, can't be too young, you know.

[27:07] Oh, now, God will put something in your way, you will bear to many, and then he comes in you, he brings you, call upon me in the day of trouble and I will enter it.

[27:28] I remember among the past desires that 63 years ago, I said to George Keeble of Peterborough many days, I never knew then what he announced I said, I've had these words, call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.

[28:07] He looked at me, ah, he says, you have something to go through. you see, it's to cause, when the word of his grace comes, it causes an expectation and there's a hope springs up with that and that hope rises and down above all your fears.

[28:38] yes. And there's many different ways and means God's use to make his people wait for him because we should not wait for him if he never waited for us.

[28:57] There was a time he waits to be gracious. Some have gone almost the end of the journey before he revealed himself to them as their savior and their God and others he got off in the midst of life and caused them to follow him and to observe his ways.

[29:20] He's a soldier. But why that he might be exalted? What is that me he must take the throne of all your desires, of your prayers and of all that concern you.

[29:51] Whatever it is he must be exalted. Lord your God. Nothing reveals this mark and when he gave Abraham his son and then tried this faith and then he was exhorted.

[30:16] Christ God was Jehovah he was the same Christ the word you know he was the word before it became flesh and when he left all in his hands God's hands God did the rest.

[30:41] Yes God did the rest. And oh my friends let us go to one I read the other evening. The woman the great woman that found a little place in her home a bed a candle stick I perceive that he is appropriate cannot we find a place for him when he pass it by and they did you now he said what can we do to give his eye for this woman she's been very mindful of it and so he said shall I speak to the king for you now I dwell among my own people oh no yes

[31:43] I said he'd love a son he gave her a son God did he used a prophet prophet couldn't give her a son oh no and my friends give him power that this about this season the year thou shalt bear a son that's when he was gracious to the prophet as well as gracious to the woman oh it is nice when he gives the minister a little grace that they can speak with a gracious confidence and then they watch and wait for the Lord as well yes now why did it give her an expectation that they can child was born it grew in years went out into the field all ordered by

[32:46] God oh don't you think for a moment that your saddest moments is unknown to the God of heaven and he can give consolation and he cried out that his head was red and they said carry him to his mother and you know there's no word and it's not to read it and to feel it too I lied this child on the mother's knee and it died it died and you say was that a therefore that he might be exotic yes because he must she must have mercy as mercy in all that does Jesus for his people and so my friend she took that babe that child as it was whoever old and laid it on the prophet's beat not any other bit on the prophet's beat and there was nothing to stay her to go to that prophet he was a man of

[34:14] God not that a man can do any good that he was in God that used him and God had more to give him with and my friends he never let any rest till she see him and died old of him her husband couldn't understand it now sometimes that do happen for the darkest path you have to tread alone but so with me my darkest path and some of a bliss one God had not revealed it to me to go yes my friends and they said this the

[35:23] Lord hid it from me she wouldn't let him go that was the waiting to an urgent case that was the waiting of one that God blessed now in heaven my friends oh there was no risk he reached the room gave thy thirst laid his staff on the child he called God didst thou not say I should have a child yes that's all well God give you one of his blessings one of his promises one upon which he's called to expect there is children to you my friends oh yes and sometimes that seemed to die right out and everything around seemed to go against the fulfillment of it what do do what do do he went in that chamber same one shut the door walked up and down after he laid himself on the child walked up and down that room in prayer wrestling and a holy waiting on

[36:54] God there's a lot in that my friends and then he went back and the child sneezed seven times perfect number God's works very perfect and my friends all that he had to do then what is God had done through him because he said the Lord did it from him all this happened he hides the purpose of his case why that I may be exhorted to the mercy to the prophet as well as to the woman to fulfill what they had to prophesy advise one sometimes when they have been used as a prophet do the devil says there's only a few words you uttered that it are to prove not from me that the working of

[38:06] God that it was the God that uttered it and not me oh you see they come and he handed yes they handed the child to the mother now I know thou art appropriate now I know it who is exhorted if you could have crept into that place and I could have crept that into their heart every blessing God blessing God oh therefore when have got therefore of a painful father very blessed he did not say it out of the father oh no it was to her mother to the mother she had been one who had waited upon him and what did she receive mercy and said a lesson to learn wherever having to learn lessons because all that he shows himself to all his people shall be taught of the

[39:32] Lord and great shall be the peace of them too whenever there's some have waited for nations when dangers were around Gideon waited and God never let Gideon wait upon nothing at all he gave him the place wet and dry and he waited on the Lord and all that the Lord commanded which would be called foolishness today in the eyes of the wise men of the earth not foolishness to Gideon nor to his God the

[40:34] Lord was meant to be gracious he was to see all my friends dispersed and some fighting among themselves oh you see you waiting left between God and your soul between God and your soul I can't interfere it's a very blessed place where he's brought you the you are my friend because he makes no mistake he wisely orders it and it's very often just opposite to our reason that's what makes it hard if you look this way and that way that he comes just contrary to it all and yet he'll be gracious he'll got something that there's an expectation and I speak very reverently he doesn't come down to ask that child what he should do oh no now but he'll show you what you have to do and you know my friends he is wise and a god of evil judgment never makes a mistake never make a mistake with you and then my friends it says they're blessed they're blessed blessed of god by that grace to wait on and last a praying soul can never be lost oh you see he has said they're blessed that wait for it and then he says where they dwell they dwell in siren that's where they dwell and its walls are salvation and the gates of siren are praise and my friends he and his people dwell together and what does he say thou shalt weep no more thou shalt weep no more he will be very gracious unto thee hearth the voice and when he shall hear it when he shall hear it he says he will answer thee and that's a sweet prayer what encouragement isn't it what should we do without his prayers you know

[43:56] I look on the world I look on the numbers as we were in London the other night I looked at the multitudes everywhere you seem to go seem wrong with people oh I thought and yet how many heroes knows are waiting on God are waiting on something that is not God and what a mercy to be a praying and a waiting son he says he'll answer you and then my friends not only but he finds the way the Lord will give it you and though the Lord give you the bread of adversity the water of affliction you is that a way that he's going to have your weight on him something that you feel weakens you in the way yes that's the way my friends yet shall not the teachers be removed in a corner anymore but thine eye shall see them you see why this disappointment or that cloud or that fire can and you see that which seemed so contrary to your poor mind you see why it was that you might wait only on

[45:45] God you will enact your heart they pull and you see it you see that teacher you bless God for it sanctified by his speed and then he said when you see what teachers your ears will hear a word behind them they have to walk in front they direct you from the hand all he's a rail guard as well as you in the front to be your shepherd to go before you and call you by your name they say they'll be moved into a corner anymore but thine eyes shall see thy teacher and thine ears shall hear a word say this is the way this is the way beautiful way to have

[46:53] Jesus with you my friend walk in it walk in the confidence he gives you walk in the power of his grace and then it's when we turn to the right hand or to the left now the Lord bless his word and forgive all of his sake God one has one one one two best home and it was