Waiting

Many of the psalms are simply expressions of desire to be near God or to have him clearly show himself as active in our lives. Psalm 130 is one of those.

Notice the first two verses. The writer is calling out to God from “the depths”, often seen scripturally as the sea. He’s overwhelmed. He feels like he’s drowning and cries out to God for help.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”

Then he seems to do some soul-searching. There is something about reaching out to the holy God that causes us to recognize our sinfulness. David goes on, relying on a merciful God’s willingness to forgive.

“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Then we move to what seems to be the central point of the psalm: waiting – waiting with hope.

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

He concludes with a message to his fellow worshippers, telling them to hope in the Lord and to look for his complete redemption. Jewish commentators see this as Messianic, looking forward to the coming of the Christ. Christians see this as the hope of Christ’s return for our final transformation. Either way, the psalmist’s waiting is full of hope – based on the proven character of God and on his word (v.5).

“Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”

We’re probably all waiting for something: restored health, reconciliation of a relationship, financial stability, answered prayers, return of our prodigal, settled peace. What are you waiting for? We never know how long our wait will be, but there’s good news:

God has big plans for our waiting time. While we wait, he nurtures us and promises to give us rest, hope, direction, and encouragement. If that’s what you could use right now, read on.

Rest and renewal come from waiting.

“. . . they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

Waiting can be filled with confidence and hope.

“I wait longingly for Adonai; I put my hope in his word. Everything in me waits for Adonai. . .” – Psalm 130:5-6a (CJB)

Our waiting invites God to act.

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” – Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

We can run ahead of God, but that would be foolish, wouldn’t it? If we wait for him, he refreshes us, he gives us hope, prepares us for his response, and then he acts – in his timing, to be sure, but with all the power, wisdom, and effectiveness than only God can have. His intervention is well worth the wait!

"If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for . . . The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people." - Charles Spurgeon