I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than those who watch for the morning-Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. Psalm 130: 5, 6, NKJV.
Most Holy Heavenly Father, here we are once again, in Your presence; waiting for a Word from You, at Your Throne of Grace. Please speak to us. In the name of your Son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
For most people waiting is not a pleasant experience. But I believe that there is much that can be gained, and much that can be learned, from waiting. The psalmist is talking about waiting on the LORD – not on human beings. There is quite a difference. While he waits, he hopes in God’s Word. Those who have proven God, knows that His Word is sure. They know that they can trust His promises, for they will not fail. They know that waiting can be a time of growth and spiritual maturity! So while they wait, they do not lose hope!
He compares this waiting process, to someone who is having a hard time falling asleep, and lays on his or her bed, counting sheep, as hour after hour ticks away on the clock. The question that is asked with every passing hour is: When will it be morning? If you have ever been in this situation, you know that the time of waiting could seem endless.
For the child who is waiting for Christmas morning, even though the wait may be long, he or she waits with glad expectation. The dawning of the day promises lots of surprises and goodies! For the man or woman on death row, the wait could be one of dread, because sure death awaits him or her. It could also be one of stressful anxiety, if he or she is hoping for a pardon from the governor, and does not know whether or not it will be granted. For the bride-to-be, it is a time of sober reflection. After tomorrow, her life will never be the same again – she will be sharing it with the one she loves. Therefore, for the person who is waiting, what we expect of the morrow, affects the way we wait – hopefully, or hopelessly.
The psalmist is waiting for the redemption of the LORD. He knows that the LORD is “abundant in redemption” (7b). He encourages Israel to hope in the LORD (7a). I encourage us to do the same! God’s mercy is great; and no one who waits on the LORD will be disappointed. He may not always answer according to our desires, but He will always answer according to our needs. Therefore, be hopeful while you wait on the LORD!