Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion

Stand Still This Will Take a While

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-03-05

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver preaches from 1 Samuel 9:27, urging believers to 'stand still' in order to consider the wonder of God in salvation, the works of God in creation, and the Word of God in exposition. He emphasizes that spiritual understanding requires time, stillness, and meditation, not a hurried life. The message challenges the busyness of modern life and calls for deliberate, unhurried devotion to God.

[John Weaver] Well, let's open our Bible's day, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 9. 1 Samuel chapter 9. And I'm thankful that you're here today. I'm going to be preaching a message entitled, Stand Still. This will take a while. I mean to preach it too. 1 Samuel chapter 9. Lord willing, next week I want to bring a message which I have entitled, Shall We Listen to the Old Men or the Young Men? And the subtitle is, Shall We Listen to Our Founding Fathers or the Modern Day Politicians? And I think you'll understand when I bring the message. So today, stand still. This will take a while. Look in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But stand thou still a while.

[John Weaver] that I may show thee the Word of God." Anyone who has ever had children have repeated the words, stand still, many times. It seems as if children were born with running shoes on, and it's impossible to get a child to stand still for any length of time. There have been many instances in which we've used those words to our children, from trying to tie their shoes to dressing them to cutting their hair, to even picking out splinters. Standing still seems almost an impossible task for any child.

[John Weaver] I remember when our twins were younger, that occasionally they would go to sleep with chewing gum in their mouths. And naturally, as they slept, their mouths would open, the gum would fall out, it would always end up in their hair. And then Alice then would say to them, as she tried to either get it out or cut it out, stand still, this is going to take a while. And certainly it did.

[John Weaver] Our parents can probably testify the same thing concerning us, that we too also were impossible children. But the question that has to be asked is very simple. Has anything really changed since they and we have matured into adults. We're busy, busy people. In fact, as I said yesterday, most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live. One of my favorite stories is that of the old man who called his son the week before Thanksgiving and told his son that he and his wife of 50 years the boy's mother, were getting a divorce. And the old man told his son, there's nothing you can do about it.

[John Weaver] Our minds are made up. Your mother and I are going through with this divorce. And the son just begged and pleaded with his father not to do anything rash until he and his sister could get there over the Thanksgiving holidays and speak to them concerning this issue. So finally, the old man consented and gave in, said, all right, we'll wait until y'all come for Thanksgiving and then we'll discuss it. When the old man finally hung up the phone, he looked at his wife, he said, well, that settles it. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving, I don't know what we're going to do for Christmas.

[John Weaver] Now, we smile and laugh at that, but the truth is that most adult children hardly ever make time for their elderly parents. They too are too busy living their lives, raising their children, and they forget in reality the debt that we owe to our parents. Have you ever noticed that we really do not have time to do certain things? We always make time for essentials. But we don't have time for what we consider the non-essentials. And the non-essentials fall by the wayside. And it never really dawns on us that we're the ones that really determine what is essential and what is non-essential in our lives.

[John Weaver] We set our own priorities. We have expressions like, wake up and smell the coffee. Or take time to smell the roses. Or take time to be holy. Yet the most frequently quoted saying is something like this, don't let the grass grow under your feet. In other words, we want to be busy and we want to stay busy. We don't have time for coffee, roses, or holiness. We have to make hay while the sun shines.

[John Weaver] Now, I understand that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. And I also understand that slothfulness and laziness are condemned in the Word of God. But I want you to do something. I want you to hold 1 Samuel 9. We will come back there. But I want you to look in Luke chapter 14. In fact, there will be several passages before we ever get back to 1 Samuel 9. But look at Luke 14, and let's begin reading there at verse 16.

[John Weaver] And let me show you the mentality of the average individual. Luke 14, beginning there with verse 16. Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper and bade many. And he sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it.

[John Weaver] I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come.

[John Weaver] Now the point is not simply that these people were making excuses, although they were most certainly offering excuses, You've got to stop and you think through this. No one buys property unseen. If he does, he's an absolute fool. Neither does anyone buy oxen without previously proving them. Who wants to buy a bunch of unruly, untrained, and worthless oxen? No one. Someone has pointed out that really and truly the last one only had a legitimate excuse, his wife wouldn't let him come. Well, I want you to think about the situation just for a moment. Is there anything wicked and wrong with purchasing property?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about buying oxen? The answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about being married? And the answer is absolutely not. The point of this story is that these individuals were too involved and too concerned and too busy with their everyday lives that they did not have time for the Lord. They were caught up in everyday activity, living and doing what they thought they needed to do.

[John Weaver] Now, it may be that they really did not want to come to the supper, and that may be true. But it also may be equally true that they did not think that they had time to come to the supper. They were too busy making a living and they believed that they had more important things to do. I believe this is one of the problems that we have, both for the saved and the unsaved, is that we do not really think that we have time to consider the things of God. We either do not think that we have the time or we do not wish to take the time. to enjoy the things of God.

[John Weaver] You know, Alice and I have commented on this innumerable times, but since the Lord has allowed us to travel in many states, we have seen some of the most stunning and some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. And Alice and I will look in absolute awe at the mountains, at the oceans, at the deserts, at the sunset, and yet the people who live there are so busy running up and down the road, they never even look at the scenery. But you know, we do the same things here.

[John Weaver] We will run up to North Carolina and Tennessee to see all the leaves change. And do you realize we have the same kind of trees here? And we have the same colors here. Now we may not have as much, but we would drive 200, 250 miles to see leaves change up there and all that beautiful scenery, and we totally ignore it right where we live. We do exactly the same thing.

[John Weaver] We need to heed the counsel and the advice of Samuel, because Samuel said, and I will explain this later, he said to Saul, stand still. This is going to take a while. I want you to learn to look and listen. You know what God has commanded us? Let me just quote some verses. He said in Psalm 46 and verse 10, Be still, and know that I am God.

[John Weaver] I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Listen to what he said, Be still, and know that I am God.

[John Weaver] Now Habakkuk said something similar, a little differently, but the same principle. He said in Habakkuk 2 and verse 20, But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." The point of these two passages is very simple. In order to hear God and observe His works and His Word, there must be stillness and there must be silence. And we miss a lot of things by our rushing hither and yon, especially as we do our daily tasks.

[John Weaver] Before I go back to first Samuel chapter nine and develop the thought, I'm going to give you two other thoughts. First, number one, we need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. We need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. I know that each of us are thankful to be saved, we're thankful for the salvation that is given to us, and that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible tells us, and asks this question in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3, How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Now I want you to note what the question is asked. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? In other words, this salvation is extremely great. Now, the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ is far superior and far greater than the salvation that God gave to Israel when He delivered them out of Egypt. However, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians, not Ephesians, but Exodus, the book of Exodus.

[John Weaver] Notice chapter 14. Exodus chapter 14. You have to remember now that The salvation that God gave to Israel as He delivered them out of Egypt is emblematical. It is typical. It is a shadow. It is pictorial. It just pictures the salvation that God is going to give us in Jesus Christ. So I want you to notice now, look in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13, as God is about to deliver Israel, as He is going to take them through the Red Sea, as He is going to slay the Egyptians. Moses says this in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13. And Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever. Now note what Moses said. He said, Fear you not, stand still, and see, the salvation of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now, let's do just a little arguing from the lesser to the greater. If Israel had to stand still to see the picture, the type, and the emblem, how much stiller should we need to stand when we consider the wonder of God in the reality that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord? How much more should we stand still and gaze at God's so great salvation? You know, we tend to take salvation for granted. In fact, there are some people that even tend to think that God owes them salvation. How seldom do we ever really comprehend the thought that the only thing that God owes us is judgment.

[John Weaver] And I got news for you folks, I don't want that. I don't want what God owes me. You know, when we talk about grace, grace has been defined as unmerited favor. If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 11, let me show you what the Bible says in Romans 11. And let's look at verses five and six, Romans 11 verses five and six. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Romans 11 verse 5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Now notice his argument. And if by grace, then it is no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work. Now notice if you would, he said, There is a remnant according to the election of grace. So Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.

[John Weaver] It must be one or the other. That is which Paul is arguing. And therefore he says, no one has ever been chosen or saved based upon their works. election and salvation or by grace. Why? Because you cannot earn it, you cannot merit it, you cannot work for it. There is no way that you can claim it by your own deeds in any stretch of the imagination. So the Apostle Paul is saying, it's absolutely true that we cannot earn or merit election or salvation, therefore it is by grace which is indeed unmerited favor.

[John Weaver] Now let me point out something. Although we talk about grace being unmerited favor, unearned, unworked for, grace is far more than that. Let's suppose I was a multi-millionaire, and Joe just came in, and I said, Joe, come here, I want to give you something. And I just handed him a million bucks. And someone says, wow, that's grace. Joe didn't work for it. Joe didn't earn it. That's true. But let's go a little bit further. Let's suppose that Joe had just murdered my only son. And I still gave him a million bucks. I want you to understand something. Grace is not just unmerited favor. It is that.

[John Weaver] But it's more than that. Because grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving. You follow that? Look in your Bibles. Romans chapter 5, you're close there. Look in Romans chapter 5 and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Romans 5 verse 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. I want you to know that we were not only ungodly, we were sinners, we We were ungodly, we were wicked, we were disobedient, we were rebellious. And in spite of our sins, in spite of our rebellion, God chose us and God saved us. Now I want you to look in Romans 8.

[John Weaver] Notice if you would please, verses 7 and 8. Look what the scripture says. Romans 8 verse 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then, They that are in the flesh cannot please God. So when God chose us and when God saved us, we were not only hell deserving, we were not only sinners and rebels and wicked, we hated God. We didn't want Him. We didn't please Him. We didn't do anything for Him. In fact, look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, because here is a description of what we were by nature. Notice Ephesians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 1. Ephesians 2 verse 1, And you have equipped them who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past, that's what we used to be like, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh

[John Weaver] in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." So when God came to us, we were lost, hopeless, helpless, undone, impotent, condemned, under the curse and judgment of the law and the only thing that you and I earned and merited was God's wrath and God's anger and God's judgment. So grace is more than unmerited favor.

[John Weaver] It's not that we just don't earn it. It's that God was merciful and He gave to us an unspeakable gift He gave us His only begotten Son to be our surety, our sacrifice, and our substitute. You know, that's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, here in His love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Here in His love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us. Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone. It is not synergistic. That word just simply means, some people say, well, you know how it is. You have to do your part and God has to do His part. They say that salvation is a combination of the work of God and man. No, it is not synergistic to working together. It is monergistic, that is, God working alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, the Bible says, salvation is of the Lord.

[John Weaver] So from the beginning to the end and everything in between, salvation is of God, not of man. Now, if you really want to be humbled, if you really, genuinely want to know where you stand, you have to honestly ask yourself this question. Who am I that God would choose me and save me? Why did God choose us? You know what our Lord said in John 15 and verse 16? Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] He said this, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you. that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And that whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it unto you." Listen to what he said. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And then again, in John 15 and verse 19, our Lord said this, If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But because you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world. Therefore the world hateth you.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians. chapter 2 and look at verse 13. Our Lord has made it very plain that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us. And if you'll look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13, the Apostle Paul expresses his gratitude and the gratitude that should be in our hearts when he says this, But we're bound to give thanks all the way to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Why? Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.

[John Weaver] So let's ask some questions. Why did God choose you? Why would God choose you? Many of us can testify that we are saved only by the grace of God and many of our family members are still lost. Many of our closest friends are still lost. So why would God choose us? Why would God save us? Why would God give His only begotten Son for me." Why would Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, come to be my surety, my substitute, and my sacrifice?

[John Weaver] Now, if you really want to understand the answer to those questions, Stand still, it will take a while. Because it will take a while for you to comprehend the matchless, marvelous grace of our Father and of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's going to take a while for you to consider everything that Jesus Christ has done for you in salvation. He drew you. He called you. He regenerated you. He convicted you. He converted you. Salvation from beginning to end and everything in between is the work of God. So if you want to really understand, you might as well stand still. It will take a while. I want you to stand still and consider the works of God in creation. Not just the wonder of God in salvation, but the works of God in creation.

[John Weaver] If you'll look in Job 37, right before the book of Psalms, Job 37, I want you to see what Elihu said to Job. And we will come back to Job 37 momentarily. We'll look in verse 14. Job 37 verse 14. Elihu said, hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you realize that God has worked wonderfully in creation and redemption and in providence? But have you ever really considered the work of God and creation? Have you stood still long enough to behold His works?

[John Weaver] Have you studied them or sought them out? If you haven't, why not? Is it because you have no pleasure in them? Hold. Job 37, we're coming right back. But look in your Bibles to Psalm 111 and verse 2. Psalm 111 and verse 2. Look at it. Look what the Bible says concerning the works of the Lord. Now Elihu said to Job, Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God, Now in Psalm 111 verse 2, David writes, the works of the Lord are great. Now look, sought out of all of them that have pleasure therein. So if you're not seeking out the works of God, is it because you don't really have any pleasure therein?

[John Weaver] They mean nothing to you. Now, I want you to go back to Job 37. And I want to take time just to read a few of these verses. I wish I had time to read Job 37, Job 38, Job 39. But look in just Job 37 verse 1. At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice. Listen. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. Is God speaking? Well, how does God speak?

[John Weaver] We know that He's spoken through His Word, but watch this. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the ends of the earth." So He's talking about thunder. He's talking about storms. After a voice roareth, He thundereth with His voice of His excellency, and He will not stay then when His voice is heard. God thundereth marvelously with His voice. Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend. Now watch. For He said to the snow, Be thou on the earth, Likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of its strength." What he's saying is this, God speaks to us through the rain, through the snow. Verse 7, He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work.

[John Weaver] Then the beasts go into the dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind, and the cold out of the north. By the breath of God, frost is given, and the breath of the waters is straightened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud, he scattered this bright cloud, and in his turn round about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commanded them upon the face of the world in the earth.

[John Weaver] He causes it to come. Now watch, he's talking about storms, he's talking about rain, he's talking about sleet, snow. He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of His cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous work of Him which is perfect in knowledge?

[John Weaver] how thy garments are warm when he quieted the earth by the south wind. Hast thou with him spread out the sky which is strong and is a molten looking glass?" You can continue reading when you get home, Job 38 and Job 39. And what he's saying is this, it is God in all of His marvelous works that even teaches not just man but animals as well. The beasts go into their dens. The animals know when to get out. of the way. They know when to go into their den, when a storm is coming. God teaches them. I'm just simply saying, here are the wonderful works of God. And He says concerning the storms, that God causes those things to come, whether for correction, that is in judgment, or for His land, or for mercy. If you will look in your Bible to Psalm 19, I'm just pointing out The wondrous works of God in creation. Look in Psalm 19. The heavens declare the glory of God. What? Have you ever noticed the immensity of the sky?

[John Weaver] Have you ever noticed the stars, the sun and the moon? The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech. A night and a night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom, coming out of his chamber from east to west, and rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit into the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." Notice what God is talking about. The heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day, every day, He says, uttereth speech. And every night shows knowledge. You know, the sun, the moon, the stars, all of God's creation reveals the majesty and the greatness and the glory of God.

[John Weaver] I love Genesis 1.16. Listen to this. I tell you what, before I read it or quote it, I want you to turn to Psalm 147. Just get ready. 147. Just turn to Psalm 147 and hold it. And I want to quote for you Genesis 1 and verse 16. And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night.

[John Weaver] Now you don't have to turn there, you know he's talking about the sun and the moon. Now listen to this, and God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, the lesser to rule the night, and the last part of that verse says this, He made the stars also. Is there any way that you can number the stars? We don't even know how many galaxies we have. They're still discovering galaxies and stars that are unknown.

[John Weaver] But I want you to see something. God not only knows how many stars there are, If you look in Psalm 147 and verse 4, He telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by their names. Out of all the multi-trillions of stars, God has them all named. And He calls each one by their names. Can you conceive of that in your mind? We have never really stopped to consider how vast God's creation really is. We've never really stopped or paused to see how great God's creation really is. We need to consider the works of God in creation from the mountains, to the seas, from the swamps, to the plains, from the hills, to the deserts. God made them all. And if you're going to behold the wondrous works of God in creation, stand still, because it's going to take you a while. You just try numbering the stars and you'll understand. It will take you a little while. And you don't even have to try to number the ones you can't see.

[John Weaver] You just try to number the ones you can see. Stand still. It'll take a while.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 9. I told you I was coming back to that passage. This is the verse that got me thinking. and prompted me to consider the other two thoughts. But in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27, let's read it again. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But Samuel said to Saul, but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God. Without going back and reading all of the content and context. Saul and his servant had been sent on a mission, and that mission was to find the lost asses of his father. If you'll look back just very quickly in verse 5, And when they were come to the land of Zeus, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave caring for the asses and take thought for us.

[John Weaver] They had been gone about three days, and they had not found them, And so Saul suggests to his servant, look, let's go back home, because my father's going to be more concerned about us now than he is those lost asses. And if you read the context, you will find that the servant said, well, wait a minute. You know, there's a man of God in this city. Let's go see him. And he will tell us about those lost asses, where they are, what's going on. Saul says, well, that's fine, but I have nothing to give the man of God. Well, he said, I've got a little shekel or two here. I'll give him this. Well, fine, we'll go. And of course, the whole thing was in the providence of God because Saul was chosen to be king. And when Samuel sees Saul, he tells him to cease worrying about the lost asses. He says, well, they've been found. And he says, but we've been holding a sacrifice. everybody was waiting for you to come up and so they ate together and then Samuel was walking out with Saul to the end of the city and he says you bid your servant pass on this is not for him this is for you but for you Saul stand thou still a while while

[John Weaver] I show thee the word of God now I have some very important information for you. Here it is. It takes time to learn the Word of God. You may not learn it on the run. You will not learn it in the fast lane. And you will not learn it in Bible school or at the seminary. You may learn about the Bible at Bible school or you may learn about the Bible in seminary. But the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment, illumination and understanding. And I'm going to tell you up front, You might as well stand still because it's going to take a while. Because the only way you can learn that Bible is going over and over and over and over. I've heard people say to me, well, I've read the Bible all the way through. Well, you know, George Bush's father said George Bush had read it through twice. I don't think it did him any good, but at least he said he read it through twice.

[John Weaver] I've got news for you folks. Reading the Bible through twice is nothing. It's not. You can't comprehend everything on one page. How in the world do you think you can comprehend the whole Bible just reading it through twice? for nearly 46 years. I have no idea how many times I've read the Bible. I've never kept count. Multitude of times. I still don't know it. And I've got news for you. If God lets me live another 45 years, I probably still will not know it. No one can conquer it. It is unconquerable. But I do know this. If you're going to conquer any part of it, it's going to take time.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you a principle. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 4. Mark chapter 4, and look if you would please, beginning there at verse 23. Mark 4, verse 23. Look what he says. Mark 4, verse 23.

[John Weaver] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And He said unto them, Take heed what you hear, with what measure you need it shall be measured to you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath to him shall be given, and he that hath not from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

[John Weaver] Now here's a principle, and the principle is very simple. God says, to the same degree that we give In learning the Word of God, God is going to measure truth back to us in that same degree. Listen to what He said, Take heed what you hear, with what measure you measure, it shall be measured unto you. So God says, I'm going to measure truth to you to the same degree that you give in learning truth. One does not get a week's worth of truth from a 30-minute Bible study. One does not get a year's worth of truth from a month-long Bible study. No. God is going to measure truth to us to the same degree that we give in seeking to understand it and studying it and meditating upon it. You know what the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7? Paul told Timothy this. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] He said, consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. But what did he tell Timothy? Consider what I say. The Lord is not going to give us understanding without consideration. He's not going to give us understanding without meditation, without study. It is true that God must give us understanding, but He normally uses means, and that means is as we study the Word of God.

[John Weaver] If you'll look back in your Bibles, to the book of Numbers, chapter 9, when Moses was asked a question that he did not know the answer to. I want you to note what Moses said. Look at Numbers 9 and verse 8. Numbers 9, verse 8. Moses was asked a question And he didn't know the answer, and he says this, and Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. I don't know the answer, but you wait a while. You just stand still. Now, let me ask you a question. How many times have we had questions And we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer. And how many times have we really wanted to know something, but we were not willing to put the time and the effort into study and find out. We were unwilling to stand still. You know, David says this just a little differently, but I want you to think about it. And Psalm four and verse four, and I'll quote it.

[John Weaver] David said, stand in all and sin not commune with your own heart upon your bed. Be still. So here's what David is saying. If you won't stand still in the daytime, stand still at night while you're lying on your bed. Commune with the Lord. Think. Meditate. It doesn't matter if it's daytime. It doesn't matter if it's nighttime. But here's our problem. Every one of us have used this expression, and we know it, but we never apply it to truth. You've heard the expression, easy come, easy go.

[John Weaver] When you simply ask a question and you get a quick answer, you normally forget the answer. You know why? It never cost you anything. And your attitude is this, well, if I forget it, I can always ask the question again. But have you ever noticed, When you have a question, and you sit down, and you take the Bible, and you take a commentary, and you start praying, and you start searching, and finally you find the answer, isn't it strange that you don't forget the answer when you put something in it? You only forget it when you put nothing in it. And the reason you don't forget it when you put something in it is because it costs you something. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 23 and verse 23?

[John Weaver] Buy the truth and sell it not. Buy the truth. In other words, it's going to cost something. I'm going to tell you what that something is a little bit later, but it will cost something. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 12. I want you to see what Samuel told the people. We're talking about time right now. Standing still requires time. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 12.

[John Weaver] And notice if you would please verse 7. 1 Samuel 12 verse 7. Samuel is speaking to the people and he says, Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers. Now wait a minute. Now therefore stand still. Stand still, he said, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and to your fathers. So Samuel then tried to reason with the people. And he wanted to reason with them of all the righteous acts that God had done for them and for their fathers. So if he's reasoning of all the righteous acts, He's also reasoning then of all the benefits that God had bestowed upon them, of all the promises that He had fulfilled upon them. He's probably also reasoning of all the chastisements and judgments that fell upon them because of their sins. So actually what He's saying is, stand still, this is going to take just a little while.

[John Weaver] I'm going to reason with you. The question is this, will we stand still long enough to be reasoned with. In Isaiah 1 in verse 18, God says, Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. How long do you think it would take God to reason with you? How long do you think it would take you to reason with God?

[John Weaver] Now let me show you something. If you're going to reason with God, you better be prepared to argue.

[John Weaver] Now when I use the word argue, I'm not talking about fussing, bickering, belly aching, fighting. No, no, no. I'm using the word the way Job did in Job 23 and verse 4. Job said this, I would order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. Now when he said, I will order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments, what Job is saying, I'm going to reason with Him scripturally, I don't understand this and I'm going to bring these verses up, I'm going to bring this truth up and see what God is going to say. So if I'm going to argue with God, if I'm going to reason with God, what I'm going to do is this, I'm going to have His Word say, now Lord, you said this right here, and Lord, you said this right over here, and Lord, I don't understand this. How can this be happening, Lord, if this and this is true and I'm going to apply the, in other words, I'm going to fill my mouth with arguments, I'm going to fill my mouth with the Word of God and reason based upon the Word of God.

[John Weaver] So if you're going to reason with God, even in prayer, you better learn to stand still because it'll take a while. You can instruct God, but you can't fill your mouth with biblical arguments and say, Lord, you'll have to give me illumination. You'll have to give me understanding. I don't see how all this comes together. I just, I don't understand. Well, that's why Paul told Timothy. Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." So if you're going to consider the wonders of God in salvation, or the works of God in creation, or if you're going to consider the Word of God in exposition, you better stand still, because it's going to take a while.

[John Weaver] Now let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. Listen please. There are no shortcuts nor any quick ways to stand still and wait upon God. Brother McCurry always said that God is the slowest individual you'll ever get hooked up with. because He's eternal. Time is nothing to God because God is above and beyond time. It simply takes time if you and I really and truly want to learn and to praise Him and worship Him alone and magnify Him. And if we're going to do that, we might as well stand still. It's going to take a while. Has it ever really entered your mind? Think down. Has it ever really entered your mind that the only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time? He owns everything else. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the hills are His and everything else. God has ordained the day of our birth, and God has ordained the day of our death, and the only thing that we have in between is time.

[John Weaver] Ever stop to think about that? Really and truly, the only thing that we can give Him is our time. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him, which is our reasonable service. So we need to learn to stand still, sit still, be still, and hear from God and worship Him. The second application is this. We need to learn to slow down, take time to live and enjoy all that God has given unto us.

[John Weaver] You say, I don't have much money. That doesn't matter. God's given you family. God's given you friends. God's given you health. God's given you creation. 1 Timothy 6 verse 17, let me just quote it. God says, Charge them that are rich in the world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly. all things to enjoy.

[John Weaver] You know, Stonewall Jackson said that he never took a sip of water without at the same time thanking God and praising God for the water of life which is in Christ Jesus. That's how you enjoy a glass of water. We may not be rich in this world. But there are so many other things that God has given us. Our children, our grandchildren. We need to learn to enjoy them. We need to learn to stand still. before it's time for us to lie still. And everything will be gone at that time.

[John Weaver] You know, I rejoice in the fact that I have so many memories concerning my mother. And when I was home, at least three days a week I had her. I would take her out to dinner. I would bring her to the house. I'd fix coffee and cake for her. And my mother would always say to me, don't you have other things to do? And I would always say, no ma'am, not today. Today I'm with you. And today you can be with your husband, your wife, your child, your father, your mother, your friend.

[John Weaver] We need to learn to stand still before we lie still. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we praise Thee today. We praise Thee for everything that we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord. You're so wonderful. You're so gracious. You're so merciful. Lord, help us to Consider the greatness of Your grace in salvation, and the greatness of Your majesty and glory in Your creation. And certainly, Lord, the greatness of the truth of Thy Word enable us to stand still, and be still, and love Thee, and worship Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. Hey.

Stand Still This Will Take a While

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	QzbSNaD2XKQ
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-03-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	68

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Command to Stand Still

Weaver introduces the message from 1 Samuel 9:27, where Samuel tells Saul to stand still to hear the word of God, and relates it to the difficulty of getting children to stand still.

Well, let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 9. 1 Samuel chapter 9. And I'm thankful that you're here today. I'm going to be preaching a message entitled, "Stand Still. This Will Take a While." I mean to preach it too. 1 Samuel chapter 9. Lord willing, next week I want to bring a message which I have entitled, "Shall We Listen to the Old Men or the Young Men?" And the subtitle is, "Shall We Listen to Our Founding Fathers or the Modern Day Politicians?" And I think you'll understand when I bring the message. So today, stand still. This will take a while. Look in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 9:27

"And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God."

Anyone who has ever had children has repeated the words, "stand still," many times. It seems as if children were born with running shoes on, and it's impossible to get a child to stand still for any length of time. There have been many instances in which we've used those words to our children, from trying to tie their shoes to dressing them to cutting their hair, to even picking out splinters. Standing still seems almost an impossible task for any child. I remember when our twins were younger, that occasionally they would go to sleep with chewing gum in their mouths. And naturally, as they slept, their mouths would open, the gum would fall out, it would always end up in their hair. And then Alice then would say to them, as she tried to either get it out or cut it out, "Stand still, this is going to take a while." And certainly it did.

The Busyness of Adult Life

Adults are just as busy as children, often too busy making a living to actually live, and they prioritize non-essentials over time with God and family.

Our parents can probably testify the same thing concerning us, that we too also were impossible children. But the question that has to be asked is very simple. Has anything really changed since they and we have matured into adults? We're busy, busy people. In fact, as I said yesterday, most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live. One of my favorite stories is that of the old man who called his son the week before Thanksgiving and told his son that he and his wife of 50 years, the boy's mother, were getting a divorce. And the old man told his son, "There's nothing you can do about it.

Our minds are made up. Your mother and I are going through with this divorce." And the son just begged and pleaded with his father not to do anything rash until he and his sister could get there over the Thanksgiving holidays and speak to them concerning this issue. So finally, the old man consented and gave in, said, "All right, we'll wait until y'all come for Thanksgiving and then we'll discuss it." When the old man finally hung up the phone, he looked at his wife, he said, "Well, that settles it. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving. I don't know what we're going to do for Christmas."

Now, we smile and laugh at that, but the truth is that most adult children hardly ever make time for their elderly parents. They too are too busy living their lives, raising their children, and they forget in reality the debt that we owe to our parents. Have you ever noticed that we really do not have time to do certain things? We always make time for essentials. But we don't have time for what we consider the non-essentials. And the non-essentials fall by the wayside. And it never really dawns on us that we're the ones that really determine what is essential and what is non-essential in our lives.

We set our own priorities. We have expressions like, "Wake up and smell the coffee." Or "Take time to smell the roses." Or "Take time to be holy." Yet the most frequently quoted saying is something like this, "Don't let the grass grow under your feet." In other words, we want to be busy and we want to stay busy. We don't have time for coffee, roses, or holiness. We have to make hay while the sun shines.

The Parable of the Great Supper

Using Luke 14:16-20, Weaver illustrates how people make excuses because they are too involved in everyday life to have time for the Lord.

Now, I understand that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. And I also understand that slothfulness and laziness are condemned in the Word of God. But I want you to do something. I want you to hold 1 Samuel 9. We will come back there. But I want you to look in Luke chapter 14. In fact, there will be several passages before we ever get back to 1 Samuel 9. But look at Luke 14, and let's begin reading there at verse 16.

And let me show you the mentality of the average individual. Luke 14, beginning there with verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Luke 14:16-20

"Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper and bade many. And he sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come."

Now the point is not simply that these people were making excuses, although they were most certainly offering excuses. You've got to stop and you think through this. No one buys property unseen. If he does, he's an absolute fool. Neither does anyone buy oxen without previously proving them. Who wants to buy a bunch of unruly, untrained, and worthless oxen? No one. Someone has pointed out that really and truly the last one only had a legitimate excuse, his wife wouldn't let him come. Well, I want you to think about the situation just for a moment. Is there anything wicked and wrong with purchasing property?

And the answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about buying oxen? The answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about being married? And the answer is absolutely not. The point of this story is that these individuals were too involved and too concerned and too busy with their everyday lives that they did not have time for the Lord. They were caught up in everyday activity, living and doing what they thought they needed to do.

Now, it may be that they really did not want to come to the supper, and that may be true. But it also may be equally true that they did not think that they had time to come to the supper. They were too busy making a living and they believed that they had more important things to do. I believe this is one of the problems that we have, both for the saved and the unsaved, is that we do not really think that we have time to consider the things of God. We either do not think that we have the time or we do not wish to take the time to enjoy the things of God.

Stand Still and Consider the Wonder of God in Salvation

Weaver calls believers to stand still and contemplate the greatness of salvation, which is entirely by grace, not works, and given to those who were undeserving and hell-deserving.

Before I go back to 1 Samuel chapter 9 and develop the thought, I'm going to give you two other thoughts. First, number one, we need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. We need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. I know that each of us are thankful to be saved, we're thankful for the salvation that is given to us, and that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible tells us, and asks this question in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:3

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

Now I want you to note what the question is asked.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:3

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

In other words, this salvation is extremely great. Now, the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ is far superior and far greater than the salvation that God gave to Israel when He delivered them out of Egypt. However, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, not Ephesians, but Exodus, the book of Exodus.

Notice chapter 14. Exodus chapter 14. You have to remember now that the salvation that God gave to Israel as He delivered them out of Egypt is emblematic. It is typical. It is a shadow. It is pictorial. It just pictures the salvation that God is going to give us in Jesus Christ. So I want you to notice now, look in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13, as God is about to deliver Israel, as He is going to take them through the Red Sea, as He is going to slay the Egyptians. Moses says this in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:13

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever."

Now note what Moses said. He said,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:13

"Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

Now, let's do just a little arguing from the lesser to the greater. If Israel had to stand still to see the picture, the type, and the emblem, how much stiller should we need to stand when we consider the wonder of God in the reality that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord? How much more should we stand still and gaze at God's so great salvation? You know, we tend to take salvation for granted. In fact, there are some people that even tend to think that God owes them salvation. How seldom do we ever really comprehend the thought that the only thing that God owes us is judgment. And I got news for you folks, I don't want that. I don't want what God owes me. You know, when we talk about grace, grace has been defined as unmerited favor. If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 11, let me show you what the Bible says in Romans 11. And let's look at verses 5 and 6, Romans 11 verses 5 and 6. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Romans 11 verse 5.

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Now notice his argument.

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"And if by grace, then it is no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work."

Now notice if you would, he said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"There is a remnant according to the election of grace."

So Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.

It must be one or the other. That is what Paul is arguing. And therefore he says, no one has ever been chosen or saved based upon their works. Election and salvation are by grace. Why? Because you cannot earn it, you cannot merit it, you cannot work for it. There is no way that you can claim it by your own deeds in any stretch of the imagination. So the Apostle Paul is saying, it's absolutely true that we cannot earn or merit election or salvation, therefore it is by grace which is indeed unmerited favor.

Now let me point out something. Although we talk about grace being unmerited favor, unearned, unworked for, grace is far more than that. Let's suppose I was a multi-millionaire, and Joe just came in, and I said, "Joe, come here, I want to give you something." And I just handed him a million bucks. And someone says, "Wow, that's grace. Joe didn't work for it. Joe didn't earn it." That's true. But let's go a little bit further. Let's suppose that Joe had just murdered my only son. And I still gave him a million bucks. I want you to understand something. Grace is not just unmerited favor. It is that.

But it's more than that. Because grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving. You follow that? Look in your Bibles. Romans chapter 5, you're close there. Look in Romans chapter 5 and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Romans 5 verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-8

"For when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I want you to know that we were not only ungodly, we were sinners. We were ungodly, we were wicked, we were disobedient, we were rebellious. And in spite of our sins, in spite of our rebellion, God chose us and God saved us. Now I want you to look in Romans 8.

Notice if you would please, verses 7 and 8. Look what the scripture says. Romans 8 verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:7-8

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

So when God chose us and when God saved us, we were not only hell deserving, we were not only sinners and rebels and wicked, we hated God. We didn't want Him. We didn't please Him. We didn't do anything for Him. In fact, look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, because here is a description of what we were by nature. Notice Ephesians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 1. Ephesians 2 verse 1, "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past," that's what we used to be like, "wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." So when God came to us, we were lost, hopeless, helpless, undone, impotent, condemned, under the curse and judgment of the law, and the only thing that you and I earned and merited was God's wrath and God's anger and God's judgment. So grace is more than unmerited favor. It's not that we just don't earn it. It's that God was merciful and He gave to us an unspeakable gift. He gave us His only begotten Son to be our surety, our sacrifice, and our substitute. You know, that's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:10

" Herein is love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us. Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone. It is not synergistic. That word just simply means, some people say, "

Well, you know how it is. You have to do your part and God has to do His part." They say that salvation is a combination of the work of God and man. No, it is not synergistic, two working together. It is monergistic, that is, God working alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, the Bible says, "Salvation is of the Lord."

So from the beginning to the end and everything in between, salvation is of God, not of man. Now, if you really want to be humbled, if you really, genuinely want to know where you stand, you have to honestly ask yourself this question. Who am I that God would choose me and save me? Why did God choose us? You know what our Lord said in John 15 and verse 16? Listen carefully. He said this, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And that whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it unto you." Listen to what he said. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." And then again, in John 15 and verse 19, our Lord said this, "If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But because you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world. Therefore the world hateth you."

I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and look at verse 13. Our Lord has made it very plain that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us. And if you'll look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13, the Apostle Paul expresses his gratitude and the gratitude that should be in our hearts when he says this, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Why? Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.

So let's ask some questions. Why did God choose you? Why would God choose you? Many of us can testify that we are saved only by the grace of God and many of our family members are still lost. Many of our closest friends are still lost. So why would God choose us? Why would God save us? Why would God give His only begotten Son for me? Why would Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, come to be my surety, my substitute, and my sacrifice?

Now, if you really want to understand the answer to those questions, stand still, it will take a while. Because it will take a while for you to comprehend the matchless, marvelous grace of our Father and of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's going to take a while for you to consider everything that Jesus Christ has done for you in salvation. He drew you. He called you. He regenerated you. He convicted you. He converted you. Salvation from beginning to end and everything in between is the work of God. So if you want to really understand, you might as well stand still. It will take a while. I want you to stand still and consider the works of God in creation. Not just the wonder of God in salvation, but the works of God in creation.

Stand Still and Consider the Works of God in Creation

From Job 37 and Psalm 19, Weaver urges standing still to behold God's wondrous works in creation, from storms to stars, which declare His glory.

If you'll look in Job 37, right before the book of Psalms, Job 37, I want you to see what Elihu said to Job. And we will come back to Job 37 momentarily. We'll look in verse 14. Job 37 verse 14. Elihu said, "Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." Do you realize that God has worked wonderfully in creation and redemption and in providence? But have you ever really considered the work of God in creation? Have you stood still long enough to behold His works?

Have you studied them or sought them out? If you haven't, why not? Is it because you have no pleasure in them? Hold Job 37, we're coming right back. But look in your Bibles to Psalm 111 and verse 2. Psalm 111 and verse 2. Look at it. Look what the Bible says concerning the works of the Lord. Now Elihu said to Job,

Scripture Reading — Job 37:14

"Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."

Now in Psalm 111 verse 2, David writes, "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." So if you're not seeking out the works of God, is it because you don't really have any pleasure therein?

They mean nothing to you. Now, I want you to go back to Job 37. And I want to take time just to read a few of these verses. I wish I had time to read Job 37, Job 38, Job 39. But look in just Job 37 verse 1. "At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice." Listen. "Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth." Is God speaking? Well, how does God speak?

We know that He's spoken through His Word, but watch this. "He directeth it under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the ends of the earth." So He's talking about thunder. He's talking about storms. "After a voice roareth, He thundereth with His voice of His excellency, and He will not stay then when His voice is heard. God thundereth marvelously with His voice. Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend." Now watch. "For He said to the snow, Be thou on the earth, likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of its strength." What he's saying is this, God speaks to us through the rain, through the snow. Verse 7, "He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into the dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind, and the cold out of the north. By the breath of God, frost is given, and the breath of the waters is straightened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud, he scattereth his bright cloud, and it is turned round about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commanded them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causes it to come. Now watch, he's talking about storms, he's talking about rain, he's talking about sleet, snow. "He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of His cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous work of Him which is perfect in knowledge?

How thy garments are warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind. Hast thou with him spread out the sky which is strong and is a molten looking glass?" You can continue reading when you get home, Job 38 and Job 39. And what he's saying is this, it is God in all of His marvelous works that even teaches not just man but animals as well. The beasts go into their dens. The animals know when to get out of the way. They know when to go into their den, when a storm is coming. God teaches them. I'm just simply saying, here are the wonderful works of God. And He says concerning the storms, that God causes those things to come, whether for correction, that is in judgment, or for His land, or for mercy. If you will look in your Bible to Psalm 19, I'm just pointing out the wondrous works of God in creation. Look in Psalm 19. "The heavens declare the glory of God." What? Have you ever noticed the immensity of the sky?

Have you ever noticed the stars, the sun and the moon? "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech. Night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber from east to west, and rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit into the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." Notice what God is talking about. The heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day, every day, He says, uttereth speech. And every night shows knowledge. You know, the sun, the moon, the stars, all of God's creation reveals the majesty and the greatness and the glory of God.

I love Genesis 1:16. Listen to this. I tell you what, before I read it or quote it, I want you to turn to Psalm 147. Just get ready. 147. Just turn to Psalm 147 and hold it. And I want to quote for you Genesis 1 and verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 1:16

"And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night.

Now you don't have to turn there, you know he's talking about the sun and the moon. Now listen to this, "And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, the lesser to rule the night," and the last part of that verse says this, "He made the stars also." Is there any way that you can number the stars? We don't even know how many galaxies we have. They're still discovering galaxies and stars that are unknown.

But I want you to see something. God not only knows how many stars there are. If you look in Psalm 147 and verse 4,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 147:4

"He telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by their names."

Out of all the multi-trillions of stars, God has them all named. And He calls each one by their names. Can you conceive of that in your mind? We have never really stopped to consider how vast God's creation really is. We've never really stopped or paused to see how great God's creation really is. We need to consider the works of God in creation from the mountains, to the seas, from the swamps, to the plains, from the hills, to the deserts. God made them all. And if you're going to behold the wondrous works of God in creation, stand still, because it's going to take you a while. You just try numbering the stars and you'll understand. It will take you a little while. And you don't even have to try to number the ones you can't see.

You just try to number the ones you can see. Stand still. It'll take a while.

Stand Still and Consider the Word of God in Exposition

Returning to 1 Samuel 9:27, Weaver stresses that learning the Bible takes time, study, and meditation; God measures truth to us according to the measure we give.

Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 9. I told you I was coming back to that passage. This is the verse that got me thinking and prompted me to consider the other two thoughts. But in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27, let's read it again. "And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But Samuel said to Saul, But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God." Without going back and reading all of the content and context, Saul and his servant had been sent on a mission, and that mission was to find the lost asses of his father. If you'll look back just very quickly in verse 5, "And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave caring for the asses and take thought for us."

They had been gone about three days, and they had not found them. And so Saul suggests to his servant, "Look, let's go back home, because my father's going to be more concerned about us now than he is those lost asses." And if you read the context, you will find that the servant said, "Well, wait a minute. You know, there's a man of God in this city. Let's go see him. And he will tell us about those lost asses, where they are, what's going on." Saul says, "Well, that's fine, but I have nothing to give the man of God." Well, he said, "I've got a little shekel or two here. I'll give him this." "Well, fine, we'll go." And of course, the whole thing was in the providence of God because Saul was chosen to be king. And when Samuel sees Saul, he tells him to cease worrying about the lost asses. He says, "Well, they've been found." And he says, "But we've been holding a sacrifice. Everybody was waiting for you to come up." And so they ate together and then Samuel was walking out with Saul to the end of the city and he says, "You bid your servant pass on. This is not for him. This is for you. But for you, Saul, stand thou still a while, while

I show thee the word of God." Now I have some very important information for you. Here it is. It takes time to learn the Word of God. You may not learn it on the run. You will not learn it in the fast lane. And you will not learn it in Bible school or at the seminary. You may learn about the Bible at Bible school or you may learn about the Bible in seminary. But the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment, illumination and understanding. And I'm going to tell you up front, you might as well stand still because it's going to take a while. Because the only way you can learn that Bible is going over and over and over and over. I've heard people say to me, "Well, I've read the Bible all the way through." Well, you know, George Bush's father said George Bush had read it through twice. I don't think it did him any good, but at least he said he read it through twice.

I've got news for you folks. Reading the Bible through twice is nothing. It's not. You can't comprehend everything on one page. How in the world do you think you can comprehend the whole Bible just reading it through twice? I've been studying the Bible for nearly 46 years. I have no idea how many times I've read the Bible. I've never kept count. Multitude of times. I still don't know it. And I've got news for you. If God lets me live another 45 years, I probably still will not know it. No one can conquer it. It is unconquerable. But I do know this. If you're going to conquer any part of it, it's going to take time.

Now let me show you a principle. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 4. Mark chapter 4, and look if you would please, beginning there at verse 23. Mark 4, verse 23. Look what he says. Mark 4, verse 23.

"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And He said unto them, Take heed what you hear, with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath to him shall be given, and he that hath not from him shall be taken even that which he hath." Now here's a principle, and the principle is very simple. God says, to the same degree that we give in learning the Word of God, God is going to measure truth back to us in that same degree. Listen to what He said, "Take heed what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you." So God says, I'm going to measure truth to you to the same degree that you give in learning truth. One does not get a week's worth of truth from a 30-minute Bible study. One does not get a year's worth of truth from a month-long Bible study. No. God is going to measure truth to us to the same degree that we give in seeking to understand it and studying it and meditating upon it. You know what the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7? Paul told Timothy this. Listen carefully.

He said, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." But what did he tell Timothy? "Consider what I say." The Lord is not going to give us understanding without consideration. He's not going to give us understanding without meditation, without study. It is true that God must give us understanding, but He normally uses means, and that means is as we study the Word of God. If you'll look back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 9, when Moses was asked a question that he did not know the answer to. I want you to note what Moses said. Look at Numbers 9 and verse 8. Numbers 9, verse 8. Moses was asked a question and he didn't know the answer, and he says this, "And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you." I don't know the answer, but you wait a while. You just stand still. Now, let me ask you a question. How many times have we had questions and we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer? And how many times have we really wanted to know something, but we were not willing to put the time and the effort into study and find out? We were unwilling to stand still. You know, David says this just a little differently, but I want you to think about it. In Psalm 4 and verse 4, and I'll quote it.

David said, "Stand in awe and sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed. Be still." So here's what David is saying. If you won't stand still in the daytime, stand still at night while you're lying on your bed. Commune with the Lord. Think. Meditate. It doesn't matter if it's daytime. It doesn't matter if it's nighttime. But here's our problem. Every one of us have used this expression, and we know it, but we never apply it to truth. You've heard the expression, "Easy come, easy go."

When you simply ask a question and you get a quick answer, you normally forget the answer. You know why? It never cost you anything. And your attitude is this, "Well, if I forget it, I can always ask the question again." But have you ever noticed, when you have a question, and you sit down, and you take the Bible, and you take a commentary, and you start praying, and you start searching, and finally you find the answer, isn't it strange that you don't forget the answer when you put something in it? You only forget it when you put nothing in it. And the reason you don't forget it when you put something in it is because it costs you something. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 23 and verse 23?

"Buy the truth and sell it not." Buy the truth. In other words, it's going to cost something. I'm going to tell you what that something is a little bit later, but it will cost something. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 12. I want you to see what Samuel told the people. We're talking about time right now. Standing still requires time. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 12.

And notice if you would please verse 7. 1 Samuel 12 verse 7. Samuel is speaking to the people and he says, "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers." Now wait a minute. "Now therefore stand still." Stand still, he said, "that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and to your fathers." So Samuel then tried to reason with the people. And he wanted to reason with them of all the righteous acts that God had done for them and for their fathers. So if he's reasoning of all the righteous acts, he's also reasoning then of all the benefits that God had bestowed upon them, of all the promises that He had fulfilled upon them. He's probably also reasoning of all the chastisements and judgments that fell upon them because of their sins. So actually what he's saying is, "Stand still, this is going to take just a little while.

I'm going to reason with you." The question is this, will we stand still long enough to be reasoned with? In Isaiah 1 in verse 18, God says, "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." How long do you think it would take God to reason with you? How long do you think it would take you to reason with God?

Now let me show you something. If you're going to reason with God, you better be prepared to argue. Now when I use the word argue, I'm not talking about fussing, bickering, belly aching, fighting. No, no, no. I'm using the word the way Job did in Job 23 and verse 4. Job said this, "I would order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments." Now when he said, "I will order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments," what Job is saying, "I'm going to reason with Him scripturally. I don't understand this and I'm going to bring these verses up, I'm going to bring this truth up and see what God is going to say." So if I'm going to argue with God, if I'm going to reason with God, what I'm going to do is this, I'm going to have His Word say, "Now Lord, you said this right here, and Lord, you said this right over here, and Lord, I don't understand this. How can this be happening, Lord, if this and this is true?" And I'm going to apply the—in other words, I'm going to fill my mouth with arguments, I'm going to fill my mouth with the Word of God and reason based upon the Word of God.

So if you're going to reason with God, even in prayer, you better learn to stand still because it'll take a while. You can instruct God, but you can't fill your mouth with biblical arguments and say, "Lord, you'll have to give me illumination. You'll have to give me understanding. I don't see how all this comes together. I just, I don't understand." Well, that's why Paul told Timothy, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." So if you're going to consider the wonders of God in salvation, or the works of God in creation, or if you're going to consider the Word of God in exposition, you better stand still, because it's going to take a while.

Applications: No Shortcuts and Learning to Enjoy God's Gifts

Weaver applies the message by stating there are no shortcuts to waiting on God, and we must slow down to enjoy God's gifts—family, friends, creation—before life ends.

Now let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. Listen please. There are no shortcuts nor any quick ways to stand still and wait upon God. Brother McCurry always said that God is the slowest individual you'll ever get hooked up with, because He's eternal. Time is nothing to God because God is above and beyond time. It simply takes time if you and I really and truly want to learn and to praise Him and worship Him alone and magnify Him. And if we're going to do that, we might as well stand still. It's going to take a while. Has it ever really entered your mind? Think down. Has it ever really entered your mind that the only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time? He owns everything else. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the hills are His and everything else. God has ordained the day of our birth, and God has ordained the day of our death, and the only thing that we have in between is time.

Ever stop to think about that? Really and truly, the only thing that we can give Him is our time. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him, which is our reasonable service. So we need to learn to stand still, sit still, be still, and hear from God and worship Him. The second application is this. We need to learn to slow down, take time to live and enjoy all that God has given unto us. You say, "I don't have much money." That doesn't matter. God's given you family. God's given you friends. God's given you health. God's given you creation. 1 Timothy 6 verse 17, let me just quote it. God says, "Charge them that are rich in the world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy."

You know, Stonewall Jackson said that he never took a sip of water without at the same time thanking God and praising God for the water of life which is in Christ Jesus. That's how you enjoy a glass of water. We may not be rich in this world. But there are so many other things that God has given us. Our children, our grandchildren. We need to learn to enjoy them. We need to learn to stand still before it's time for us to lie still. And everything will be gone at that time.

You know, I rejoice in the fact that I have so many memories concerning my mother. And when I was home, at least three days a week I had her. I would take her out to dinner. I would bring her to the house. I'd fix coffee and cake for her. And my mother would always say to me, "Don't you have other things to do?" And I would always say, "No ma'am, not today. Today I'm with you." And today you can be with your husband, your wife, your child, your father, your mother, your friend.

We need to learn to stand still before we lie still. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we praise Thee today. We praise Thee for everything that we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord. You're so wonderful. You're so gracious. You're so merciful. Lord, help us to consider the greatness of Your grace in salvation, and the greatness of Your majesty and glory in Your creation. And certainly, Lord, the greatness of the truth of Thy Word. Enable us to stand still, and be still, and love Thee, and worship Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. Hey.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Necessity of Stillness Before God

Summary: Spiritual understanding and worship require deliberate stillness and silence, as commanded in Scripture (Psalm 46:10; Habakkuk 2:20).

Evidence: Weaver says, 'In order to hear God and observe His works and His Word, there must be stillness and there must be silence.'

The Greatness of Salvation by Grace

Summary: Salvation is entirely God's work, given by grace to those who are undeserving and hell-deserving, not based on human merit.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'Grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving.'

God's Revelation in Creation

Summary: Creation declares God's glory and majesty, and believers should take time to consider His wondrous works in nature.

Evidence: Weaver reads Psalm 19: 'The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.'

The Cost of Learning God's Word

Summary: Understanding Scripture requires time, study, and meditation; God measures truth to us according to the effort we invest.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'God says, to the same degree that we give in learning the Word of God, God is going to measure truth back to us in that same degree.'

The Idolatry of Busyness

Summary: Modern life's busyness causes people to neglect God, family, and the enjoyment of His gifts, prioritizing non-essentials.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live.'

Time as Our Only Gift to God

Summary: Since God owns everything, the only thing we can truly give Him is our time, which we should use to worship and enjoy Him.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Has it ever really entered your mind that the only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time?'

Key Arguments

Salvation is entirely by grace, not works

Summary: Paul argues in Romans 11:5-6 that election and salvation must be by grace alone, not a mixture of grace and works.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.'

Grace is more than unmerited favor; it is favor to the hell-deserving

Summary: We were not just undeserving but actively rebellious and hateful toward God when He saved us (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving.'

God's works in creation demand our contemplation

Summary: Elihu commands Job to 'stand still and consider the wondrous works of God' (Job 37:14), which include weather, stars, and all nature.

Evidence: Weaver reads Job 37:14 and comments on God's control over storms and His naming of the stars.

Learning Scripture requires personal study, not just academic knowledge

Summary: One cannot learn the Bible in the fast lane or merely through Bible school; it requires personal study and meditation over time.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment.'

God measures truth to us according to our effort

Summary: Mark 4:24 teaches that the measure we use in seeking truth will be the measure God uses to give us understanding.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'God says, I'm going to measure truth to you to the same degree that you give in learning truth.'

We must be willing to wait for answers from God

Summary: Moses told the people to 'stand still' while he inquired of the Lord (Numbers 9:8), illustrating the need for patience in seeking God's will.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'How many times have we had questions and we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer?'

Scripture References

1 Samuel 9:27

Context: Samuel tells Saul to stand still so he may show him the word of God; the foundational text for the sermon.

Luke 14:16-20

Context: The parable of the great supper, where invited guests make excuses because they are too busy with everyday life.

Psalm 46:10

Context: Be still and know that I am God; cited to emphasize the need for stillness to know God.

Habakkuk 2:20

Context: The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him; used to stress silence before God.

Hebrews 2:3

Context: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation; used to introduce the greatness of salvation.

Exodus 14:13

Context: Moses tells Israel to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord; a type of the greater salvation in Christ.

Romans 11:5-6

Context: Election is by grace, not works; if by grace, it is no more of works.

Romans 5:6-8

Context: Christ died for the ungodly while we were yet sinners; demonstrates God's love for the undeserving.

Romans 8:7-8

Context: The carnal mind is enmity against God; those in the flesh cannot please God.

Ephesians 2:1-3

Context: We were dead in sins, children of wrath by nature; describes our state before salvation.

1 John 4:10

Context: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as propitiation.

Jonah 2:9

Context: Salvation is of the Lord; emphasizes monergistic salvation.

John 15:16, 19

Context: You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you; I have chosen you out of the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Context: God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation; Paul's gratitude for election.

Job 37:14

Context: Elihu tells Job to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

Psalm 111:2

Context: The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Psalm 19:1-6

Context: The heavens declare the glory of God; creation reveals God's majesty.

Genesis 1:16

Context: God made two great lights and the stars also; cited to show God's creation of the stars.

Psalm 147:4

Context: He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.

Mark 4:23-25

Context: Take heed what you hear; with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you.

Historical References

Stonewall Jackson

Context: Weaver mentions that Stonewall Jackson never took a sip of water without thanking God for the water of life in Christ.

Important Quotes

Stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God.

Significance: The key verse of the sermon, emphasizing the need to pause and receive God's Word.

Most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live.

Significance: Highlights the problem of busyness that distracts from true life and God.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Significance: A direct biblical command to cease striving and acknowledge God's sovereignty.

Grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving.

Significance: Defines grace as favor to those who deserve wrath, not just the unworthy.

Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone.

Significance: Affirms monergistic salvation, countering synergistic views.

The only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself.

Significance: Stresses personal responsibility in Bible study over institutional learning.

With what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you.

Significance: The principle that God's revelation corresponds to our effort in seeking.

The only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time.

Significance: A practical application that our time is the most valuable offering to God.

Discussion Questions

What are some practical ways we can 'stand still' in our daily lives to hear from God?

Context: Weaver emphasizes the need for stillness and silence to observe God's works and Word.

How does understanding salvation as entirely by grace change the way we view ourselves and others?

Context: Weaver explains that we were hell-deserving sinners when God saved us.

In what ways does creation declare God's glory, and how can we be more attentive to it?

Context: Weaver discusses Psalm 19 and Job 37, urging contemplation of God's works in nature.

Why is personal Bible study essential, and what obstacles keep us from it?

Context: Weaver argues that the Bible cannot be learned in the fast lane or through academics alone.

What does it mean that God measures truth to us according to the measure we give?

Context: Weaver explains Mark 4:24, linking our effort in study to God's revelation.

How can we cultivate patience in waiting for God's answers to our questions?

Context: Weaver references Moses in Numbers 9:8, who told the people to stand still while he inquired of the Lord.

What are some 'non-essentials' in our lives that crowd out time for God and family?

Context: Weaver notes that we determine what is essential and often neglect the truly important.

How can we practically give God our time as an offering?

Context: Weaver concludes that time is the only thing we can truly give God, since He owns everything else.

Applications

Prioritize stillness and silence before God

Summary: Deliberately set aside time to be still and silent in order to hear God and observe His works.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'In order to hear God and observe His works and His Word, there must be stillness and there must be silence.'

Meditate on the greatness of salvation

Summary: Take time to consider the wonder of God's grace in saving undeserving sinners, which humbles and produces gratitude.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you really want to be humbled, if you really, genuinely want to know where you stand, you have to honestly ask yourself this question. Who am I that God would choose me and save me?'

Contemplate God's creation

Summary: Regularly observe and reflect on the natural world as a revelation of God's glory and majesty.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Have you ever really considered the work of God in creation? Have you stood still long enough to behold His works?'

Commit to personal Bible study

Summary: Invest time in studying Scripture personally, not relying solely on sermons or academic learning.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment.'

Give God your time

Summary: Recognize that time is the primary offering we can give God, and use it to worship and enjoy Him.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Really and truly, the only thing that we can give Him is our time.'

Enjoy God's gifts in the present

Summary: Slow down to appreciate family, friends, and simple blessings before life passes.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to learn to slow down, take time to live and enjoy all that God has given unto us.'

Be patient in seeking answers from God

Summary: When you have questions, be willing to wait on the Lord and study His Word rather than expecting instant answers.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'How many times have we had questions and we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer?'

Evaluate your priorities

Summary: Examine whether you are too busy with non-essentials to make time for God and His Word.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We set our own priorities... We don't have time for coffee, roses, or holiness.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:54:00Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T05:56:46Z

Clean Transcript

Stand Still This Will Take a While

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Well, let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to 1 Samuel chapter 9. 1 Samuel chapter 9. And I'm thankful that you're here today. I'm going to be preaching a message entitled, "Stand Still. This Will Take a While." I mean to preach it too. 1 Samuel chapter 9. Lord willing, next week I want to bring a message which I have entitled, "Shall We Listen to the Old Men or the Young Men?" And the subtitle is, "Shall We Listen to Our Founding Fathers or the Modern Day Politicians?" And I think you'll understand when I bring the message. So today, stand still. This will take a while. Look in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27. "And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God."
#1 | 0:15 to 1:15 | cleaned
Anyone who has ever had children has repeated the words, "stand still," many times. It seems as if children were born with running shoes on, and it's impossible to get a child to stand still for any length of time. There have been many instances in which we've used those words to our children, from trying to tie their shoes to dressing them to cutting their hair, to even picking out splinters. Standing still seems almost an impossible task for any child.
#2 | 1:16 to 1:56 | cleaned
I remember when our twins were younger, that occasionally they would go to sleep with chewing gum in their mouths. And naturally, as they slept, their mouths would open, the gum would fall out, it would always end up in their hair. And then Alice then would say to them, as she tried to either get it out or cut it out, "Stand still, this is going to take a while." And certainly it did.
#3 | 1:57 to 2:28 | cleaned
Our parents can probably testify the same thing concerning us, that we too also were impossible children. But the question that has to be asked is very simple. Has anything really changed since they and we have matured into adults? We're busy, busy people. In fact, as I said yesterday, most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live. One of my favorite stories is that of the old man who called his son the week before Thanksgiving and told his son that he and his wife of 50 years, the boy's mother, were getting a divorce. And the old man told his son, "There's nothing you can do about it.
#4 | 2:29 to 3:24 | cleaned
Our minds are made up. Your mother and I are going through with this divorce." And the son just begged and pleaded with his father not to do anything rash until he and his sister could get there over the Thanksgiving holidays and speak to them concerning this issue. So finally, the old man consented and gave in, said, "All right, we'll wait until y'all come for Thanksgiving and then we'll discuss it." When the old man finally hung up the phone, he looked at his wife, he said, "Well, that settles it. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving. I don't know what we're going to do for Christmas."
#5 | 3:24 to 3:59 | cleaned
Now, we smile and laugh at that, but the truth is that most adult children hardly ever make time for their elderly parents. They too are too busy living their lives, raising their children, and they forget in reality the debt that we owe to our parents. Have you ever noticed that we really do not have time to do certain things? We always make time for essentials. But we don't have time for what we consider the non-essentials. And the non-essentials fall by the wayside. And it never really dawns on us that we're the ones that really determine what is essential and what is non-essential in our lives.
#6 | 4:09 to 4:56 | cleaned
We set our own priorities. We have expressions like, "Wake up and smell the coffee." Or "Take time to smell the roses." Or "Take time to be holy." Yet the most frequently quoted saying is something like this, "Don't let the grass grow under your feet." In other words, we want to be busy and we want to stay busy. We don't have time for coffee, roses, or holiness. We have to make hay while the sun shines.
#7 | 4:58 to 5:22 | cleaned
Now, I understand that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. And I also understand that slothfulness and laziness are condemned in the Word of God. But I want you to do something. I want you to hold 1 Samuel 9. We will come back there. But I want you to look in Luke chapter 14. In fact, there will be several passages before we ever get back to 1 Samuel 9. But look at Luke 14, and let's begin reading there at verse 16.
#8 | 5:23 to 5:51 | cleaned
And let me show you the mentality of the average individual. Luke 14, beginning there with verse 16. "Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper and bade many. And he sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it.
#9 | 5:51 to 6:19 | cleaned
I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come."
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Now the point is not simply that these people were making excuses, although they were most certainly offering excuses. You've got to stop and you think through this. No one buys property unseen. If he does, he's an absolute fool. Neither does anyone buy oxen without previously proving them. Who wants to buy a bunch of unruly, untrained, and worthless oxen? No one. Someone has pointed out that really and truly the last one only had a legitimate excuse, his wife wouldn't let him come. Well, I want you to think about the situation just for a moment. Is there anything wicked and wrong with purchasing property?
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And the answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about buying oxen? The answer is no. Is there anything wicked and wrong about being married? And the answer is absolutely not. The point of this story is that these individuals were too involved and too concerned and too busy with their everyday lives that they did not have time for the Lord. They were caught up in everyday activity, living and doing what they thought they needed to do.
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Now, it may be that they really did not want to come to the supper, and that may be true. But it also may be equally true that they did not think that they had time to come to the supper. They were too busy making a living and they believed that they had more important things to do. I believe this is one of the problems that we have, both for the saved and the unsaved, is that we do not really think that we have time to consider the things of God. We either do not think that we have the time or we do not wish to take the time to enjoy the things of God.
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You know, Alice and I have commented on this innumerable times, but since the Lord has allowed us to travel in many states, we have seen some of the most stunning and some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. And Alice and I will look in absolute awe at the mountains, at the oceans, at the deserts, at the sunset, and yet the people who live there are so busy running up and down the road, they never even look at the scenery. But you know, we do the same things here.
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We will run up to North Carolina and Tennessee to see all the leaves change. And do you realize we have the same kind of trees here? And we have the same colors here. Now we may not have as much, but we would drive 200, 250 miles to see leaves change up there and all that beautiful scenery, and we totally ignore it right where we live. We do exactly the same thing.
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We need to heed the counsel and the advice of Samuel, because Samuel said, and I will explain this later, he said to Saul, "Stand still. This is going to take a while." I want you to learn to look and listen. You know what God has commanded us? Let me just quote some verses. He said in Psalm 46 and verse 10, "Be still, and know that I am God.
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I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Listen to what he said, "Be still, and know that I am God."
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Now Habakkuk said something similar, a little differently, but the same principle. He said in Habakkuk 2 and verse 20, "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him." The point of these two passages is very simple. In order to hear God and observe His works and His Word, there must be stillness and there must be silence. And we miss a lot of things by our rushing hither and yon, especially as we do our daily tasks.
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Before I go back to 1 Samuel chapter 9 and develop the thought, I'm going to give you two other thoughts. First, number one, we need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. We need to stand still and consider the wonder of God in salvation. I know that each of us are thankful to be saved, we're thankful for the salvation that is given to us, and that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible tells us, and asks this question in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" Now I want you to note what the question is asked. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" In other words, this salvation is extremely great. Now, the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ is far superior and far greater than the salvation that God gave to Israel when He delivered them out of Egypt. However, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, not Ephesians, but Exodus, the book of Exodus.
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Notice chapter 14. Exodus chapter 14. You have to remember now that the salvation that God gave to Israel as He delivered them out of Egypt is emblematic. It is typical. It is a shadow. It is pictorial. It just pictures the salvation that God is going to give us in Jesus Christ. So I want you to notice now, look in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13, as God is about to deliver Israel, as He is going to take them through the Red Sea, as He is going to slay the Egyptians. Moses says this in Exodus chapter 14 and verse 13. "And Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever." Now note what Moses said. He said, "Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."
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Now, let's do just a little arguing from the lesser to the greater. If Israel had to stand still to see the picture, the type, and the emblem, how much stiller should we need to stand when we consider the wonder of God in the reality that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord? How much more should we stand still and gaze at God's so great salvation? You know, we tend to take salvation for granted. In fact, there are some people that even tend to think that God owes them salvation. How seldom do we ever really comprehend the thought that the only thing that God owes us is judgment.
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And I got news for you folks, I don't want that. I don't want what God owes me. You know, when we talk about grace, grace has been defined as unmerited favor. If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 11, let me show you what the Bible says in Romans 11. And let's look at verses 5 and 6, Romans 11 verses 5 and 6. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Romans 11 verse 5. "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Now notice his argument. "And if by grace, then it is no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work." Now notice if you would, he said, "There is a remnant according to the election of grace." So Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.
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It must be one or the other. That is what Paul is arguing. And therefore he says, no one has ever been chosen or saved based upon their works. Election and salvation are by grace. Why? Because you cannot earn it, you cannot merit it, you cannot work for it. There is no way that you can claim it by your own deeds in any stretch of the imagination. So the Apostle Paul is saying, it's absolutely true that we cannot earn or merit election or salvation, therefore it is by grace which is indeed unmerited favor.
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Now let me point out something. Although we talk about grace being unmerited favor, unearned, unworked for, grace is far more than that. Let's suppose I was a multi-millionaire, and Joe just came in, and I said, "Joe, come here, I want to give you something." And I just handed him a million bucks. And someone says, "Wow, that's grace. Joe didn't work for it. Joe didn't earn it." That's true. But let's go a little bit further. Let's suppose that Joe had just murdered my only son. And I still gave him a million bucks. I want you to understand something. Grace is not just unmerited favor. It is that.
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But it's more than that. Because grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving. You follow that? Look in your Bibles. Romans chapter 5, you're close there. Look in Romans chapter 5 and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Romans 5 verse 6. "For when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." I want you to know that we were not only ungodly, we were sinners. We were ungodly, we were wicked, we were disobedient, we were rebellious. And in spite of our sins, in spite of our rebellion, God chose us and God saved us. Now I want you to look in Romans 8.
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Notice if you would please, verses 7 and 8. Look what the scripture says. Romans 8 verse 7. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." So when God chose us and when God saved us, we were not only hell deserving, we were not only sinners and rebels and wicked, we hated God. We didn't want Him. We didn't please Him. We didn't do anything for Him. In fact, look in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians chapter 2, because here is a description of what we were by nature. Notice Ephesians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 1. Ephesians 2 verse 1, "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past," that's what we used to be like, "wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
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in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." So when God came to us, we were lost, hopeless, helpless, undone, impotent, condemned, under the curse and judgment of the law, and the only thing that you and I earned and merited was God's wrath and God's anger and God's judgment. So grace is more than unmerited favor.
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It's not that we just don't earn it. It's that God was merciful and He gave to us an unspeakable gift. He gave us His only begotten Son to be our surety, our sacrifice, and our substitute. You know, that's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins." Herein is love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us. Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone. It is not synergistic. That word just simply means, some people say, "Well, you know how it is. You have to do your part and God has to do His part." They say that salvation is a combination of the work of God and man. No, it is not synergistic, two working together. It is monergistic, that is, God working alone. That's why in Jonah 2 and verse 9, the Bible says, "Salvation is of the Lord."
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So from the beginning to the end and everything in between, salvation is of God, not of man. Now, if you really want to be humbled, if you really, genuinely want to know where you stand, you have to honestly ask yourself this question. Who am I that God would choose me and save me? Why did God choose us? You know what our Lord said in John 15 and verse 16? Listen carefully.
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He said this, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And that whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it unto you." Listen to what he said. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." And then again, in John 15 and verse 19, our Lord said this, "If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But because you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world. Therefore the world hateth you."
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I want you to turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and look at verse 13. Our Lord has made it very plain that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us. And if you'll look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13, the Apostle Paul expresses his gratitude and the gratitude that should be in our hearts when he says this, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord. Why? Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.
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So let's ask some questions. Why did God choose you? Why would God choose you? Many of us can testify that we are saved only by the grace of God and many of our family members are still lost. Many of our closest friends are still lost. So why would God choose us? Why would God save us? Why would God give His only begotten Son for me? Why would Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, come to be my surety, my substitute, and my sacrifice?
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Now, if you really want to understand the answer to those questions, stand still, it will take a while. Because it will take a while for you to comprehend the matchless, marvelous grace of our Father and of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's going to take a while for you to consider everything that Jesus Christ has done for you in salvation. He drew you. He called you. He regenerated you. He convicted you. He converted you. Salvation from beginning to end and everything in between is the work of God. So if you want to really understand, you might as well stand still. It will take a while. I want you to stand still and consider the works of God in creation. Not just the wonder of God in salvation, but the works of God in creation.
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If you'll look in Job 37, right before the book of Psalms, Job 37, I want you to see what Elihu said to Job. And we will come back to Job 37 momentarily. We'll look in verse 14. Job 37 verse 14. Elihu said, "Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." Do you realize that God has worked wonderfully in creation and redemption and in providence? But have you ever really considered the work of God in creation? Have you stood still long enough to behold His works?
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Have you studied them or sought them out? If you haven't, why not? Is it because you have no pleasure in them? Hold Job 37, we're coming right back. But look in your Bibles to Psalm 111 and verse 2. Psalm 111 and verse 2. Look at it. Look what the Bible says concerning the works of the Lord. Now Elihu said to Job, "Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." Now in Psalm 111 verse 2, David writes, "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." So if you're not seeking out the works of God, is it because you don't really have any pleasure therein?
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They mean nothing to you. Now, I want you to go back to Job 37. And I want to take time just to read a few of these verses. I wish I had time to read Job 37, Job 38, Job 39. But look in just Job 37 verse 1. "At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice." Listen. "Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth." Is God speaking? Well, how does God speak?
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We know that He's spoken through His Word, but watch this. "He directeth it under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the ends of the earth." So He's talking about thunder. He's talking about storms. "After a voice roareth, He thundereth with His voice of His excellency, and He will not stay then when His voice is heard. God thundereth marvelously with His voice. Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend." Now watch. "For He said to the snow, Be thou on the earth, likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of its strength." What he's saying is this, God speaks to us through the rain, through the snow. Verse 7, "He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work.
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Then the beasts go into the dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind, and the cold out of the north. By the breath of God, frost is given, and the breath of the waters is straightened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud, he scattereth his bright cloud, and it is turned round about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commanded them upon the face of the world in the earth.
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He causes it to come. Now watch, he's talking about storms, he's talking about rain, he's talking about sleet, snow. "He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of His cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous work of Him which is perfect in knowledge?
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How thy garments are warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind. Hast thou with him spread out the sky which is strong and is a molten looking glass?" You can continue reading when you get home, Job 38 and Job 39. And what he's saying is this, it is God in all of His marvelous works that even teaches not just man but animals as well. The beasts go into their dens. The animals know when to get out of the way. They know when to go into their den, when a storm is coming. God teaches them. I'm just simply saying, here are the wonderful works of God. And He says concerning the storms, that God causes those things to come, whether for correction, that is in judgment, or for His land, or for mercy. If you will look in your Bible to Psalm 19, I'm just pointing out the wondrous works of God in creation. Look in Psalm 19. "The heavens declare the glory of God." What? Have you ever noticed the immensity of the sky?
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Have you ever noticed the stars, the sun and the moon? "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech. Night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber from east to west, and rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit into the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." Notice what God is talking about. The heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day, every day, He says, uttereth speech. And every night shows knowledge. You know, the sun, the moon, the stars, all of God's creation reveals the majesty and the greatness and the glory of God.
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I love Genesis 1:16. Listen to this. I tell you what, before I read it or quote it, I want you to turn to Psalm 147. Just get ready. 147. Just turn to Psalm 147 and hold it. And I want to quote for you Genesis 1 and verse 16. "And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night.
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Now you don't have to turn there, you know he's talking about the sun and the moon. Now listen to this, "And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, the lesser to rule the night," and the last part of that verse says this, "He made the stars also." Is there any way that you can number the stars? We don't even know how many galaxies we have. They're still discovering galaxies and stars that are unknown.
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But I want you to see something. God not only knows how many stars there are. If you look in Psalm 147 and verse 4, "He telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by their names." Out of all the multi-trillions of stars, God has them all named. And He calls each one by their names. Can you conceive of that in your mind? We have never really stopped to consider how vast God's creation really is. We've never really stopped or paused to see how great God's creation really is. We need to consider the works of God in creation from the mountains, to the seas, from the swamps, to the plains, from the hills, to the deserts. God made them all. And if you're going to behold the wondrous works of God in creation, stand still, because it's going to take you a while. You just try numbering the stars and you'll understand. It will take you a little while. And you don't even have to try to number the ones you can't see.
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You just try to number the ones you can see. Stand still. It'll take a while.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 9. I told you I was coming back to that passage. This is the verse that got me thinking and prompted me to consider the other two thoughts. But in 1 Samuel 9 and verse 27, let's read it again. "And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But Samuel said to Saul, But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God." Without going back and reading all of the content and context, Saul and his servant had been sent on a mission, and that mission was to find the lost asses of his father. If you'll look back just very quickly in verse 5, "And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave caring for the asses and take thought for us."
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They had been gone about three days, and they had not found them. And so Saul suggests to his servant, "Look, let's go back home, because my father's going to be more concerned about us now than he is those lost asses." And if you read the context, you will find that the servant said, "Well, wait a minute. You know, there's a man of God in this city. Let's go see him. And he will tell us about those lost asses, where they are, what's going on." Saul says, "Well, that's fine, but I have nothing to give the man of God." Well, he said, "I've got a little shekel or two here. I'll give him this." "Well, fine, we'll go." And of course, the whole thing was in the providence of God because Saul was chosen to be king. And when Samuel sees Saul, he tells him to cease worrying about the lost asses. He says, "Well, they've been found." And he says, "But we've been holding a sacrifice. Everybody was waiting for you to come up." And so they ate together and then Samuel was walking out with Saul to the end of the city and he says, "You bid your servant pass on. This is not for him. This is for you. But for you, Saul, stand thou still a while, while
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I show thee the word of God." Now I have some very important information for you. Here it is. It takes time to learn the Word of God. You may not learn it on the run. You will not learn it in the fast lane. And you will not learn it in Bible school or at the seminary. You may learn about the Bible at Bible school or you may learn about the Bible in seminary. But the only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment, illumination and understanding. And I'm going to tell you up front, you might as well stand still because it's going to take a while. Because the only way you can learn that Bible is going over and over and over and over. I've heard people say to me, "Well, I've read the Bible all the way through." Well, you know, George Bush's father said George Bush had read it through twice. I don't think it did him any good, but at least he said he read it through twice.
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I've got news for you folks. Reading the Bible through twice is nothing. It's not. You can't comprehend everything on one page. How in the world do you think you can comprehend the whole Bible just reading it through twice? I've been studying the Bible for nearly 46 years. I have no idea how many times I've read the Bible. I've never kept count. Multitude of times. I still don't know it. And I've got news for you. If God lets me live another 45 years, I probably still will not know it. No one can conquer it. It is unconquerable. But I do know this. If you're going to conquer any part of it, it's going to take time.
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Now let me show you a principle. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 4. Mark chapter 4, and look if you would please, beginning there at verse 23. Mark 4, verse 23. Look what he says. Mark 4, verse 23.
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"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And He said unto them, Take heed what you hear, with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you, and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath to him shall be given, and he that hath not from him shall be taken even that which he hath."
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Now here's a principle, and the principle is very simple. God says, to the same degree that we give in learning the Word of God, God is going to measure truth back to us in that same degree. Listen to what He said, "Take heed what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you." So God says, I'm going to measure truth to you to the same degree that you give in learning truth. One does not get a week's worth of truth from a 30-minute Bible study. One does not get a year's worth of truth from a month-long Bible study. No. God is going to measure truth to us to the same degree that we give in seeking to understand it and studying it and meditating upon it. You know what the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7? Paul told Timothy this. Listen carefully.
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He said, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." But what did he tell Timothy? "Consider what I say." The Lord is not going to give us understanding without consideration. He's not going to give us understanding without meditation, without study. It is true that God must give us understanding, but He normally uses means, and that means is as we study the Word of God.
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If you'll look back in your Bibles to the book of Numbers, chapter 9, when Moses was asked a question that he did not know the answer to. I want you to note what Moses said. Look at Numbers 9 and verse 8. Numbers 9, verse 8. Moses was asked a question and he didn't know the answer, and he says this, "And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you." I don't know the answer, but you wait a while. You just stand still. Now, let me ask you a question. How many times have we had questions and we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer? And how many times have we really wanted to know something, but we were not willing to put the time and the effort into study and find out? We were unwilling to stand still. You know, David says this just a little differently, but I want you to think about it. In Psalm 4 and verse 4, and I'll quote it.
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David said, "Stand in awe and sin not, commune with your own heart upon your bed. Be still." So here's what David is saying. If you won't stand still in the daytime, stand still at night while you're lying on your bed. Commune with the Lord. Think. Meditate. It doesn't matter if it's daytime. It doesn't matter if it's nighttime. But here's our problem. Every one of us have used this expression, and we know it, but we never apply it to truth. You've heard the expression, "Easy come, easy go."
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When you simply ask a question and you get a quick answer, you normally forget the answer. You know why? It never cost you anything. And your attitude is this, "Well, if I forget it, I can always ask the question again." But have you ever noticed, when you have a question, and you sit down, and you take the Bible, and you take a commentary, and you start praying, and you start searching, and finally you find the answer, isn't it strange that you don't forget the answer when you put something in it? You only forget it when you put nothing in it. And the reason you don't forget it when you put something in it is because it costs you something. You know what the Bible says in Proverbs 23 and verse 23?
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"Buy the truth and sell it not." Buy the truth. In other words, it's going to cost something. I'm going to tell you what that something is a little bit later, but it will cost something. I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 12. I want you to see what Samuel told the people. We're talking about time right now. Standing still requires time. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 12.
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And notice if you would please verse 7. 1 Samuel 12 verse 7. Samuel is speaking to the people and he says, "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers." Now wait a minute. "Now therefore stand still." Stand still, he said, "that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and to your fathers." So Samuel then tried to reason with the people. And he wanted to reason with them of all the righteous acts that God had done for them and for their fathers. So if he's reasoning of all the righteous acts, he's also reasoning then of all the benefits that God had bestowed upon them, of all the promises that He had fulfilled upon them. He's probably also reasoning of all the chastisements and judgments that fell upon them because of their sins. So actually what he's saying is, "Stand still, this is going to take just a little while.
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I'm going to reason with you." The question is this, will we stand still long enough to be reasoned with? In Isaiah 1 in verse 18, God says, "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." How long do you think it would take God to reason with you? How long do you think it would take you to reason with God?
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Now let me show you something. If you're going to reason with God, you better be prepared to argue.
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Now when I use the word argue, I'm not talking about fussing, bickering, belly aching, fighting. No, no, no. I'm using the word the way Job did in Job 23 and verse 4. Job said this, "I would order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments." Now when he said, "I will order my cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments," what Job is saying, "I'm going to reason with Him scripturally. I don't understand this and I'm going to bring these verses up, I'm going to bring this truth up and see what God is going to say." So if I'm going to argue with God, if I'm going to reason with God, what I'm going to do is this, I'm going to have His Word say, "Now Lord, you said this right here, and Lord, you said this right over here, and Lord, I don't understand this. How can this be happening, Lord, if this and this is true?" And I'm going to apply the—in other words, I'm going to fill my mouth with arguments, I'm going to fill my mouth with the Word of God and reason based upon the Word of God.
#61 | 50:07 to 51:11 | cleaned
So if you're going to reason with God, even in prayer, you better learn to stand still because it'll take a while. You can instruct God, but you can't fill your mouth with biblical arguments and say, "Lord, you'll have to give me illumination. You'll have to give me understanding. I don't see how all this comes together. I just, I don't understand." Well, that's why Paul told Timothy, "Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." So if you're going to consider the wonders of God in salvation, or the works of God in creation, or if you're going to consider the Word of God in exposition, you better stand still, because it's going to take a while.
#62 | 51:14 to 52:10 | cleaned
Now let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. Listen please. There are no shortcuts nor any quick ways to stand still and wait upon God. Brother McCurry always said that God is the slowest individual you'll ever get hooked up with, because He's eternal. Time is nothing to God because God is above and beyond time. It simply takes time if you and I really and truly want to learn and to praise Him and worship Him alone and magnify Him. And if we're going to do that, we might as well stand still. It's going to take a while. Has it ever really entered your mind? Think down. Has it ever really entered your mind that the only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time? He owns everything else. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the hills are His and everything else. God has ordained the day of our birth, and God has ordained the day of our death, and the only thing that we have in between is time.
#63 | 52:11 to 53:49 | cleaned
Ever stop to think about that? Really and truly, the only thing that we can give Him is our time. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him, which is our reasonable service. So we need to learn to stand still, sit still, be still, and hear from God and worship Him. The second application is this. We need to learn to slow down, take time to live and enjoy all that God has given unto us.
#64 | 53:52 to 54:40 | cleaned
You say, "I don't have much money." That doesn't matter. God's given you family. God's given you friends. God's given you health. God's given you creation. 1 Timothy 6 verse 17, let me just quote it. God says, "Charge them that are rich in the world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy."
#65 | 54:44 to 55:16 | cleaned
You know, Stonewall Jackson said that he never took a sip of water without at the same time thanking God and praising God for the water of life which is in Christ Jesus. That's how you enjoy a glass of water. We may not be rich in this world. But there are so many other things that God has given us. Our children, our grandchildren. We need to learn to enjoy them. We need to learn to stand still before it's time for us to lie still. And everything will be gone at that time.
#66 | 55:17 to 56:28 | cleaned
You know, I rejoice in the fact that I have so many memories concerning my mother. And when I was home, at least three days a week I had her. I would take her out to dinner. I would bring her to the house. I'd fix coffee and cake for her. And my mother would always say to me, "Don't you have other things to do?" And I would always say, "No ma'am, not today. Today I'm with you." And today you can be with your husband, your wife, your child, your father, your mother, your friend.
#67 | 56:38 to 57:24 | cleaned
We need to learn to stand still before we lie still. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we praise Thee today. We praise Thee for everything that we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord. You're so wonderful. You're so gracious. You're so merciful. Lord, help us to consider the greatness of Your grace in salvation, and the greatness of Your majesty and glory in Your creation. And certainly, Lord, the greatness of the truth of Thy Word. Enable us to stand still, and be still, and love Thee, and worship Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen. Hey.
#68 | 57:27 to 58:17 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:54:00Z

Stand Still This Will Take a While

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver preaches from 1 Samuel 9:27, urging believers to 'stand still' in order to consider the wonder of God in salvation, the works of God in creation, and the Word of God in exposition. He emphasizes that spiritual understanding requires time, stillness, and meditation, not a hurried life. The message challenges the busyness of modern life and calls for deliberate, unhurried devotion to God.

Introduction: The Command to Stand Still

Weaver introduces the message from 1 Samuel 9:27, where Samuel tells Saul to stand still to hear the word of God, and relates it to the difficulty of getting children to stand still.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 9:27

"And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid thy servant pass on before us. And he passed on. But stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God."

The Busyness of Adult Life

Adults are just as busy as children, often too busy making a living to actually live, and they prioritize non-essentials over time with God and family.

The Parable of the Great Supper

Using Luke 14:16-20, Weaver illustrates how people make excuses because they are too involved in everyday life to have time for the Lord.

And let me show you the mentality of the average individual. Luke 14, beginning there with verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Luke 14:16-20

"Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper and bade many. And he sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come."

Stand Still and Consider the Wonder of God in Salvation

Weaver calls believers to stand still and contemplate the greatness of salvation, which is entirely by grace, not works, and given to those who were undeserving and hell-deserving.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:3

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

Now I want you to note what the question is asked.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:3

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:13

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you this day. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever."

Now note what Moses said. He said,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 14:13

"Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

Now notice his argument.

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"And if by grace, then it is no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work."

Now notice if you would, he said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:5-6

"There is a remnant according to the election of grace."

So Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:6-8

"For when we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Notice if you would please, verses 7 and 8. Look what the scripture says. Romans 8 verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:7-8

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:10

" Herein is love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us. Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone. It is not synergistic. That word just simply means, some people say, "

Stand Still and Consider the Works of God in Creation

From Job 37 and Psalm 19, Weaver urges standing still to behold God's wondrous works in creation, from storms to stars, which declare His glory.

Scripture Reading — Job 37:14

"Hearken unto this, O Job, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 1:16

"And God made two great lights, the greater to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night.

But I want you to see something. God not only knows how many stars there are. If you look in Psalm 147 and verse 4,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 147:4

"He telleth the number of the stars, He calleth them all by their names."

You just try to number the ones you can see. Stand still. It'll take a while.

Stand Still and Consider the Word of God in Exposition

Returning to 1 Samuel 9:27, Weaver stresses that learning the Bible takes time, study, and meditation; God measures truth to us according to the measure we give.

Applications: No Shortcuts and Learning to Enjoy God's Gifts

Weaver applies the message by stating there are no shortcuts to waiting on God, and we must slow down to enjoy God's gifts—family, friends, creation—before life ends.

Stand Still This Will Take a While

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	QzbSNaD2XKQ
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-03-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	68

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Command to Stand Still: Weaver introduces the message from 1 Samuel 9:27, where Samuel tells Saul to stand still to hear the word of God, and relates it to the difficulty of getting children to stand still.
The Busyness of Adult Life: Adults are just as busy as children, often too busy making a living to actually live, and they prioritize non-essentials over time with God and family.
The Parable of the Great Supper: Using Luke 14:16-20, Weaver illustrates how people make excuses because they are too involved in everyday life to have time for the Lord.
Stand Still and Consider the Wonder of God in Salvation: Weaver calls believers to stand still and contemplate the greatness of salvation, which is entirely by grace, not works, and given to those who were undeserving and hell-deserving.
Stand Still and Consider the Works of God in Creation: From Job 37 and Psalm 19, Weaver urges standing still to behold God's wondrous works in creation, from storms to stars, which declare His glory.
Stand Still and Consider the Word of God in Exposition: Returning to 1 Samuel 9:27, Weaver stresses that learning the Bible takes time, study, and meditation; God measures truth to us according to the measure we give.
Applications: No Shortcuts and Learning to Enjoy God's Gifts: Weaver applies the message by stating there are no shortcuts to waiting on God, and we must slow down to enjoy God's gifts—family, friends, creation—before life ends.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Salvation is entirely by grace, not works

Paul argues in Romans 11:5-6 that election and salvation must be by grace alone, not a mixture of grace and works.

Weaver says, 'Paul's argument here is simply this, that election and salvation must be by grace. It cannot be by works, nor can it be a combination of works and grace.'

Grace is more than unmerited favor; it is favor to the hell-deserving

We were not just undeserving but actively rebellious and hateful toward God when He saved us (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-3).

Weaver says, 'Grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving.'

God's works in creation demand our contemplation

Elihu commands Job to 'stand still and consider the wondrous works of God' (Job 37:14), which include weather, stars, and all nature.

Weaver reads Job 37:14 and comments on God's control over storms and His naming of the stars.

Learning Scripture requires personal study, not just academic knowledge

One cannot learn the Bible in the fast lane or merely through Bible school; it requires personal study and meditation over time.

Weaver says, 'The only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself. You're going to have to study and meditate and think and seek God for enlightenment.'

God measures truth to us according to our effort

Mark 4:24 teaches that the measure we use in seeking truth will be the measure God uses to give us understanding.

Weaver says, 'God says, I'm going to measure truth to you to the same degree that you give in learning truth.'

We must be willing to wait for answers from God

Moses told the people to 'stand still' while he inquired of the Lord (Numbers 9:8), illustrating the need for patience in seeking God's will.

Weaver says, 'How many times have we had questions and we even asked those questions, but we were unwilling to wait for an answer?'

Scripture References

1 Samuel 9:27: Samuel tells Saul to stand still so he may show him the word of God; the foundational text for the sermon.
Luke 14:16-20: The parable of the great supper, where invited guests make excuses because they are too busy with everyday life.
Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God; cited to emphasize the need for stillness to know God.
Habakkuk 2:20: The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him; used to stress silence before God.
Hebrews 2:3: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation; used to introduce the greatness of salvation.
Exodus 14:13: Moses tells Israel to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord; a type of the greater salvation in Christ.
Romans 11:5-6: Election is by grace, not works; if by grace, it is no more of works.
Romans 5:6-8: Christ died for the ungodly while we were yet sinners; demonstrates God's love for the undeserving.
Romans 8:7-8: The carnal mind is enmity against God; those in the flesh cannot please God.
Ephesians 2:1-3: We were dead in sins, children of wrath by nature; describes our state before salvation.
1 John 4:10: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as propitiation.
Jonah 2:9: Salvation is of the Lord; emphasizes monergistic salvation.
John 15:16, 19: You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you; I have chosen you out of the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:13: God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation; Paul's gratitude for election.
Job 37:14: Elihu tells Job to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
Psalm 111:2: The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Psalm 19:1-6: The heavens declare the glory of God; creation reveals God's majesty.
Genesis 1:16: God made two great lights and the stars also; cited to show God's creation of the stars.
Psalm 147:4: He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.
Mark 4:23-25: Take heed what you hear; with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you.

Historical References

Stonewall Jackson: Weaver mentions that Stonewall Jackson never took a sip of water without thanking God for the water of life in Christ.

Important Quotes

Stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God.

The key verse of the sermon, emphasizing the need to pause and receive God's Word.

Most folks are so busy making a living they've actually forgotten how to live.

Highlights the problem of busyness that distracts from true life and God.

Be still, and know that I am God.

A direct biblical command to cease striving and acknowledge God's sovereignty.

Grace is given to those who are not only positively undeserving, but who are also positively hell deserving.

Defines grace as favor to those who deserve wrath, not just the unworthy.

Salvation, from the beginning to the end, is the work of God alone.

Affirms monergistic salvation, countering synergistic views.

The only way you can learn the Bible is to study it yourself.

Stresses personal responsibility in Bible study over institutional learning.

With what measure you mete, it shall be measured unto you.

The principle that God's revelation corresponds to our effort in seeking.

The only thing that in reality that we can give to God is our time.

A practical application that our time is the most valuable offering to God.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What are some practical ways we can 'stand still' in our daily lives to hear from God?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes the need for stillness and silence to observe God's works and Word.

[Question]

How does understanding salvation as entirely by grace change the way we view ourselves and others?

[Context]

Weaver explains that we were hell-deserving sinners when God saved us.

[Question]

In what ways does creation declare God's glory, and how can we be more attentive to it?

[Context]

Weaver discusses Psalm 19 and Job 37, urging contemplation of God's works in nature.

[Question]

Why is personal Bible study essential, and what obstacles keep us from it?

[Context]

Weaver argues that the Bible cannot be learned in the fast lane or through academics alone.

[Question]

What does it mean that God measures truth to us according to the measure we give?

[Context]

Weaver explains Mark 4:24, linking our effort in study to God's revelation.

[Question]

How can we cultivate patience in waiting for God's answers to our questions?

[Context]

Weaver references Moses in Numbers 9:8, who told the people to stand still while he inquired of the Lord.

[Question]

What are some 'non-essentials' in our lives that crowd out time for God and family?

[Context]

Weaver notes that we determine what is essential and often neglect the truly important.

[Question]

How can we practically give God our time as an offering?

[Context]

Weaver concludes that time is the only thing we can truly give God, since He owns everything else.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T05:56:46Z