Waiting on the Lord by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1905

Waiting on the Lord

By G. B. THOMPSON

G. B. THOMPSON

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Ps. 27:14.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, but is long-suffering in order that men may turn from sin, and not perish. But this long-suffering is often misunderstood. It sometimes is hard to understand why the Lord waits, permitting evil influences to go on so long. David, it seems, was tried once over this; in fact, we are told that his feet "well-nigh slipped" when he saw how those continued to prosper who profaned the name of Jesus and rejected his counsel. Troubled?—Not much; but rather they seemed to have less trouble than those who followed the counsel of the Lord. David could not understand this, and about concluded that he had cleansed his heart in vain, and that there was no profit in forsaking sin, and living a holy life. But when the Lord took him into the sanctuary, and he saw the end of rebellion, then he understood how ephemeral is the seeming triumph of sinners, and that the everlasting overthrow of those who persist in rebellion is only a question of time.

When, on the plains of Shinar, men began the heaven-daring scheme of erecting the tower of Babel as a monument of their rebellion, the Lord understood fully their purposes and evil designs. But he waited, and waited long, too. He allowed them to go on with their work unmolested. They had determined to colonize around the temple of their folly, and make for themselves a name in the earth. Why did not the Lord interfere when they began laying the foundation of their structure, and suddenly expose their folly? Day by day the tower grew, and it really seemed that the top would actually reach above the clouds, and that their scheme, rooted though it was in rebellion against Jehovah, was destined to succeed. And God's long-suffering only confirmed them more and more in their rebellion and iniquity. But alas for human calculation! Just at the time when success seemed about to crown their efforts, Jehovah suddenly ceased his waiting, and sent confusion into the camp of the evil-doers. He could have done this at the beginning, but he chose to wait. He let their impious work fully develop.

What an example is left for us in God's dealings with Lucifer! It is an object-lesson to the whole universe. Once there was harmony and peace in heaven. But Lucifer, not content with his high position, and coveting the homage due his Creator, brought discord into the heavenly home. Working with mysterious secrecy, and under the garb of great reverence for God, he spread among the angels the spirit of discontent. Concealing his real purpose, he whispered among the loyal and holy angels his insinuations against the government of heaven.

But why did the Creator permit this evil work to go on? Why God waited so long before bringing the crisis must have been hard for the loyal angels to understand. "In great mercy, according to his divine character, God bore long with Lucifer." — Patriarchs and Prophets, page 39. The loyal angels saw this terrible thing spreading, and thousands, yea, millions, of the holy and pure angels joining the ranks of the disaffected. God knew all this; and why did he not speak once for all, bring on the crisis, and have the matter settled? But he did not. He "bore long" with the arch-rebel. No doubt his long-suffering was misinterpreted, and many a loyal angel had burning of heart because the Creator waited while the apostasy spread. The angels impatiently waited, hoping the Lord would expose the iniquity of the covering cherub. That this was a trial to the angelic host there can be no question.

But the evil thing was not understood. It was disguised. While fomenting rebellion with consummated craft, Lucifer appeared to be working for harmony. He sought to carry his schemes by flattery and deceit. "By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. All his acts were so clothed with mystery that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work." It was a mysterious, subtle devilry which could not be defined. It was hard to put one's finger on the exact thing. The shroud of mystery was upon it, and the most subtle arguments were used in its defense. It was indeed a new element, strange and unaccountable. While professing to believe the Creator, his plain word was misconstrued and distorted. The Lord must carry the whole universe with him when he moves, so he must wait until the thing was developed far enough so that all created intelligences could see and fully understand the deformity of sin, and the terrible consequences of the dissension.

The Lord is still the long-suffering, compassionate Being as of old. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Eccl. 8:11. The hand of the Lord is stretched out in loving entreaty to evil-doers the same as ever in the past. His voice is yet heard in numerous warnings to his people, pointing out the way they should go, and the result which will inevitably follow if they continue to walk in wrong paths. But often his counsel is disregarded, and sinners continue to walk in their own evil ways. Instead of being thankful for his long-suffering, it only confirms them the more in their rebellious course. While going contrary to the plain instruction of the Lord, they point to the prosperity with which they are surrounded, as evidence that their course is not wrong. The Lord is still long-suffering, and patiently waits for the closing scenes in the closing struggle to ripen into open revolt. Then he purposes to put an end to the contest, and usher in that period of righteousness which will fill the earth and endure forever.

Washington, D. C.