Thursday, June 19, 2008

I choose to wait-Biblically

Psalm 130:5-7 (Amplified Bible)

I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope. I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption.


When I hear the term watchman, I think about the guard that is on duty all night at a military base or at a big bank. His job is to keep his eyes open and be aware of everything going on - always looking and listening. Always expecting something. In the Bible days, the watchman stood guard over the city at night in case their enemies attacked. But the watchman was only on duty for one shift - the night. He had a family at home waiting for him. No doubt breakfast was waiting on the table and a bed was waiting support him while he slept. The watchman was waiting for the first sign of morning - the first hint of light. He was expecting it. He had no doubt it would show up. He had faith in the sunrise.

This is what the verse in Psalms means when the author is talking about waiting on the Lord. Waiting comes with expecting. It is a joyful thing. How many of us when we are waiting on the Lord to follow through on His promises or to answer our prayers wait without hope or expectation. How often do we sit twiddling our thumbs saying with a downcast face, "I'm just waiting on the Lord..."? That's not Biblical waiting! Biblical waiting involves hope and joyful expectation of what the Lord has in store for us. There is no pity party involved in waiting for the Lord. There is faith, happiness, anticipation, envisioning and thankfulness for what is coming. No more solemn, depressed waiting for me! I choose to wait Biblically!

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