"Am I Looking to God?"

+ "Looking unto Jesus," because (+ Acts.4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."). + "Looking unto Jesus;" not merely as an example, but also as the author and finisher of Faith and of all which was needed for perseverance in duty, even to eternal life. + We are to look to our Savior's holy life; to His patience and perseverance in trials; to what He endured in order to obtain the crown, and to His final success, joy and triumph. + This passage presents the Lord, not as He who bestows Faith, but as He who has Himself run the whole career of Faith. He is the first and the last as an example of Faith, or of confidence in God. (+ Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, (the First and the Last), says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.").

+ We must not only "Look unto the Lord," but also "Wait for Him."
+ The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in Him, and to be examples to those around us. (+ Isaiah 40:28-31: "28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.").

+ This is one of His titles of honor, "He is a God that hears prayer"; and it is as truly ascribed to Him as mercy or justice. He hears all prayer, therefore, "unto thee shall all flesh come". He never rejects any that deserves the name of prayer, how weak, how unworthy soever the petitioner be. "All flesh!" And will He (may faith say) reject mine only? (+ John 6:37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away."; + Romans 10:12: "the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him;"; + Psalm 86:5: "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You;"; + Hebrews 11:6: "and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."). + This must be believed as certainly as we believe that God is. As sure as God is the true God, so sure is it that none who sought Him diligently departed from Him without a reward. He rewards all seekers. And if all, why not me? You may as well doubt that He is God, as doubt that He will not reward, not hear prayer; so (+ James 1:5-6: "5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting,"). (David Clarkson).

+ Ps.65:2: "O You who hear prayer" - What a delightful title for the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Every right and sincere prayer is as surely heard as it is offered. This shall encourage men of all nations to become suppliants to the One and only God, who proves His Deity by answering those who seek His face. Flesh they are, and therefore weak; frail and sinful, they need to pray. To come to God is the life of true religion; we come weeping in conversion, hoping in supplication, rejoicing in praise, and delighting in service.

+ The supernatural instinct of praying that is found in all that are born of God, (+ Galatians 4:6: "And because you are children, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"). It is as natural for them to fall a praying when the grace of God has touched their hearts, as for children when they are born into the world to cry, or to desire mother's milk.

+ The intercession of Christ, (+ Romans.8:34: "Jesus is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."). It is a great part of the work of the Spirit of Christ’s intercession to present the prayers of His people before His Father, (+ Hebrews 7:25: "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them."; + Romans 8:26-27: "26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."; + Revelation.8:4: "The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand."); to take their causes in hand, contained in their supplications. (+ 1John 2:1: "I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.").

+ The promises of the covenant, whereby God’s faithfulness is impawned for the hearing of prayer, as (+ Isaiah 65:24: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."; + Matthew 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.")

+ The many encouragements given in the Word to the people of God, to come with their cases unto the Lord by prayer. He invites them to His throne of grace with their petitions for supply of their needs:
(++ Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."; + Philippians 4:6-7: "6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."; + Isaiah 55:1,6-7: "1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."; + Revelation 3:20: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. if you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with Me."; + Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.")

(Spurgeon - Treasure of David)

+ If we take Christ’s word, and rely on His power and faithfulness, we shall see the glory of God, and be happy in the sight. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, by His own example, to call God Father, in prayer, and to draw nigh to Him as children to a father, with humble reverence, yet with holy boldness. He openly made this address to God, with uplifted eyes and loud voice, that they might be convinced the Father had sent Him as His beloved Son into the world. (MHCC - Matthew Henry CC)

+ The self-condemned sinner need not perplex himself how this righteousness may be found. When we speak of looking upon Christ, and receiving, and feeding upon Him, Christ is in the promise, Christ offered in the Word. + Justification by faith in Christ is a plain doctrine. It is brought before the mind and heart of every one, thus leaving him without excuse for unbelief. + If a man confessed faith in Jesus, as the Lord and Saviour of lost sinners, and really believed in his heart that God had raised Him from the dead, thus showing that he had accepted the atonement, he should be saved by the righteousness of Christ, imputed to him through faith. + But no faith is justifying which is not powerful in sanctifying the heart, and regulating all its affections by the love of Christ. + We must devote and give up to God our souls and our bodies: our souls in believing with the heart, and our bodies in confessing with the mouth. The believer shall never have cause to repent his confident trust in the Lord Jesus. Of such faith no sinner shall be ashamed before God; and He ought to glory in it before men. (MHCC)

Patience -- In Waiting for God

+ Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us (+ Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."). Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. + God provides plentifully and well, not only for His working servants, but for His waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have (+ John 16:33; 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."). + God knows the believer’s days. Not one day’s work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever (+ Isaiah 25:9: In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."). This will be a real support to believers in evil times. (MHCC)

+ We must see all our help in God; from Him we must expect it, in His own way and time. This psalm teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest. It is almighty wisdom that contrives, and almighty power that works the safety of those that put themselves under God’s protection.

+ He is a wakeful, watchful Keeper; He is never weary; He not only does not sleep, but He does not so much as slumber. Under this shade they may sit with delight and assurance. He is always near His people for their protection and refreshment. The right hand is the working hand; let them but turn to their duty, and they shall find God ready to give them success.

+ He will take care that His people shall not fall. It is a protection for life. The Spirit, who is their Preserver and Comforter, shall abide with them for ever. (+ John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."). Let us be found in our work, assured that the blessings promised in this psalm are ours. (MHCC)

-- Psalms 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

-- John 14:26-27
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
+ 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

-- Jude 1:20-21
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.