Wait on the Lord

When we hear the word “wait,” there are a few ideas that immediately pop into our minds. While some of the time waiting is associated with happiness like the birth of a child or seeing family members after a long separation, most of the time waiting leans toward negative emotions or experiences (especially since we are so accustomed to getting what we want exactly when we want it in our 21st century society). Something/someone is not here that should be or that we want to be here. We check our watches for late arrivers at a dinner party or meeting. Amazon must deliver its packages to our homes in 2 days or we are annoyed while we wait. We have instant streaming services for music, tv, and film. Pick up groceries so we don’t wait in lines. Fast passes for theme park rides so we don’t have to wait in line. Reservations at restaurants so we don’t have to wait too long to eat. But in all instances waiting is linked to two important ideas: expectancy and patience. Expectancy – normally we do not wait for things we do not expect to receive. In other words, we aren’t waiting every day for a surprise. Patience – generally when we are waiting our patience is tested. We wanted it now – our instant gratification culture has only made this worse and we do not really want to wait too awful long for whatever it is we we are waiting on.

The word “wait,” “waited,” or “waiting” appear over 250 times in the Scriptures. Many of those instances are directly connected to “waiting on the Lord.” In the Psalms alone, calls and cries of waiting on the Lord are found repeatedly through the entire book. The most common form of wait used in the Psalms is the world “qavah” which means the straining of the mind in a certain direction with an expectant attitude. Other words for waiting in the Psalms include “shamar” which means to give attention to; “yachal” which means to be patient and hope; and “sabar” which means to expect, scrutinize, and watch. All of these words indicate that in our waiting for the Lord we should expect, hope, be patient, and watch.

David, the author of many of the waiting Psalms, declares that he waits on the Lord in times of distress, in times of forgiveness, in times of sorrow, and in times of wickedness. Every time David indicates he is waiting on the Lord the reader knows that David expects the Lord to answer his prayers, to judge his enemies, to forgive his sins, and to save his soul. In every instance, David’s faith in the Lord did not waver. He knew without a shadow of doubt that God was there for David. “For you are the God of my salvation, on you I will wait all day (Ps. 25:5).” David never wavered in His belief that God would judge his or the Kingdom of Israel’s enemies. So, because that faith never wavered – he could wait all day and not grow tired of waiting. He knew God would answer him. In other words, David knew he was NOT waiting in vain.

David linked waiting for God to patience. In Psalms 37:7, David tells us to “wait patiently for Him.” In this Psalm David desperately wanted God to judge his enemies and the wicked yet he looked around and it did not appear as though that was happening. So David declares, Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Later in Psalms 69:3, the Psalmist indicates that his eyes have failed him while he waited for God. When we wait for God, we have to learn that God works on His time – not ours. As Peter tells us in II Peter 3:8, one day is like 1000 years to God. Waiting for God requires patience. God is not going to work on our time but His. This can sometimes become very frustrating to us but instead we should use those moments when we think God is “taking too long” to put our lives in the right order. God’s will first. We must restructure our lives and the way we think about our lives. Waiting on God helps us to view life through God’s perspective. We know God hears and answers us but those answers come on His time. Once we learn how to patiently wait, David tells us God will hear our cries and incline His ear toward us: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry (Ps. 40:1).” So, sometimes when God makes us wait, He is simply helping us to work on our patience and perspective before He provides the answer we seek.

However, sometimes the waiting seems so long and difficult. Then we get the urge to lash out at God. How could He make us wait so long for whatever we’ve discussed with Him in our prayers or deliver us from wickedness. David in Psalms 62 gives us another insight into waiting for the Lord. “Truly, my soul silently waits for God. From Him comes my salvation…My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him (Ps. 62:1& 5).” Here David tell us while we wait we should remain silent. It is so easy to say things to God we don’t mean or shouldn’t say when we are frustrated or distressed or sorrowful or anxious yet David tells us here to wait silently. When we rail against God and His timing, we show a lack of faith in God. This is the lesson Job had to learn with God. Job spouted off question after question to God. He wanted to know why, for how long, and would his suffering ever end. God never answered his questions and instead God reminded Job of the hierarchy in his relationship with God. After a series of humbling questions, Job promptly responds, “I lay my hand over my mouth (Job 40:4).” Waiting can be difficult so while we wait we should do so patiently and silently because our God is the Lord of the Universe and the God of our Salvation.

David also links blessings to those who wait on the Lord. In Psalms 37: 9 & 34, David states those who wait on the Lord will inherit the Earth (very similar to the Beatitude of Meekness in Matthew 5). Those who wait on the Lord to fulfill His will on earth will put their desires and wishes behind those of God’s and by doing so they will exalt His way in the Lord and the Lord will bless them for it (Ps. 37:34). He also tells us that those who wait on the Lord should not be ashamed but find courage in God for He is their protector (Ps. 25:3 and 69:9). Those who wait on the Lord – who choose to follow His way and wait for His timing will be protected and blessed. Perhaps not always in this life but without a doubt in the next. “Our soul waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield (Ps. 33:20).” This should show us that our waiting is not without benefit. God blesses and protects those who wait on Him.

Finally, David reminds us in Psalms 39 and 62 that while we wait, our hope should be rooted in Him. “And now Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you (Ps. 39:7). “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is in Him (Ps. 62:5). It is easy to put our hope in entities or people that appear to give us more instant release or help in times of trouble or need. Yet, governments, institutions, and yes even people will let you down. They will fail you and disappoint you. If we’ve rooted our hope in the wrong places then when trouble arises (which it most certainly will), our hope will crumble. We will become discouraged or disillusioned with empty or failed promises. Yet, David tells us to put our hope in God while we wait because He is the only one who will never disappoint, abandon, or betray us. Like David asked, “for what do I wait then? My hope is in you.”

Waiting is essential for the Christian. Sometimes it feels as though God doesn’t hear us when we pray or isn’t close to us in the low moments of our Christian walk or like David when we are truly trying to be close to God and He seems so far away. Yet, Psalm after Psalm David affirmed that his waiting on the Lord was not in vain. David acknowledges that sometimes waiting is hard but in pays off in the long run.

Below are chapters in Psalms that directly mention waiting on the Lord:

• Psalms 25
• Psalms 27
• Psalms 33
• Psalms 37
• Psalms 39
• Psalms 40
• Psalms 52
• Psalms 59
• Psalms 62
• Psalms 69
• Psalms 123
• Psalms 130
• Psalms 145

As you move through the week and your day to day life, remember to wait on the Lord.