Yesterday I took some time to study the meaning of the phrase "wait on the Lord." As I studied that, however, I decided to expand my search to simply understand the word "wait." Interestingly, many of its uses in the OT refer to people who were "lying in wait" to do harm. Obviously, I don't think God is asking me to harm someone through my waiting, but the priniciple that struck me is that waiting is not simply hanging around watching time elapse.
No, instead waiting seems to be a concept of expectantly watching for the right moment to spring into action. Moreover, prior to "lying in wait," there are likely plans that need to be laid and preparations to be made.
As I thought about the stories of people in the Bible who waited, the Lord brought to mind the story of Saul who failed to wait for Samuel the priest to offer a sacrifice. God had clearly forbidden kings to offer the sacrifice -- it was the priest's job (this actually has some great foreshadowing for the way in which Christ divinely assumes both roles as King AND Priest -- ruling and offering Himself as a sacrifice). You can read about Saul in 1 Samuel 13.
Sadly, Saul chooses not to wait as commanded. At least three factors seem to influence Saul's decision to stop waiting:
1. The time he expected to have to wait (7 days) had passed.
2. People around him were scattering.
3. Philistines were gathering in battle array in front of him.
He had waited "too long"(impatience). People all around were communicating a lack of confidence in him (rejection). Enemies were lining up to assail him (fear). I have no doubt that these same threats (impatience, rejection, and fear) are in store for all who seek to wait for God's timing. My takeaway is to find scripture that addresses each of these three threats and commit them to memory. If you have any good ones I'd love to hear from you on them!
2 comments:
Hi, John, this is my first blog experience, so bear with me. I resonated with your message today, and wanted to direct you to Oswald Chambers' (My Utmost for His Highest) daily reading on May 2. It's called the "Passion of Patience" - and what stood out for me (underlined years ago) was this quote found midway in the reading): "A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself."
In my mind and heart, you are that man, or...are becoming that man. I love the introspection that you have shared on your blog. Thank you for the insights I am learning from you. --mom
Read Habakkuk 2: 1-3.
My Ryrie says that Habakkuk was instructed to write God's answer on tablets so that whoever reads it may run to proclaim what he has read. However, the last phrase may mean "write it plainly" so that anyone who "runs his eye" over the tablet will read it easily. Interesting!
--mom
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