WAITING ON THE LORD IN THE PSALMS

Psa. 25:5

Morning Meditation 2/10/17

Verse 5 says, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

Human nature does not like to wait. This is not a good word for us. Americans have a reputation for impatience. I think our missionaries discover this when they are processing important paper work in foreign countries. They find that these people are not in a hurry at all and don’t mind telling one to come back tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow until one wants to scream. These people know how we are and get a kick out of seeing our frustrations.

David says, “ . . . on thee do I wait all the day.” The word “wait” translates “qavah” and means, “to wait or look eagerly for.” This verb is in a tense that speaks of intensive action operating on a past decision. There are four words in this text that I will mention that are associated with David’s waiting. The words “Lead me in thy truth” indicate one of the things for which David is waiting. David felt that He must have God’s leadership. This is an essential for the Christian who is to walk with God. We do not make up our own minds. We wait for the Lord to lead us in His truth. The truth here in David’s request implies untruth in contrast. Our sinful nature and Satan will lead us down a wrong path. Human rationalism gets us into trouble. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” It is easy and convenient to do what seems right. But the wise man, like David, will wait on the Lord to guide him in truth.

The next word mentioned in connection with waiting is “teach.” The LORD was David’s teacher. He needed to understand God’s viewpoint concerning every situation in life. Man teaches man and leads him down a path that leads further from the truth. The man who waits upon the LORD is the wise man. Psalm 119:99 says, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.” It is so offensive when a teenage believer quotes Genesis 1:1 to his science teacher after hearing a lecture on evolution. The science teacher is usually nervous and unsure (because evolution doesn’t make sense at all) and in his frustration usually attacks the student. They fact is with all the science teacher’s education, he is as dumb as a box of rocks compared to the one quoting Genesis 1:1. David says I will wait to be taught of the LORD.

The next word in this connection is “salvation.” This salvation for David is probably referring to real live enemies. David is saying that He needs guidance. He needs to proceed according to truth. He says, “ . . . for thou art the God of my salvation . . .” Salvation can refer to the salvation of the soul or salvation from a threatening circumstance. It is probably the latter here. Man is prone to take the easiest way out of bad situations. We have what is called “damage control.” I get out of the situation so as to get the least amount of damage. Jesus didn’t do that did He? Sometimes God’s way out of a situation is very damaging. I think about Richard Wurmbrand and Georgi Vins who spent years in a communist prison for their faith in Christ. I’m sure they did not pray, “Lord, I really enjoy this torture. I really enjoy being put into this place. Lord, you can take your time about getting me out of here.” I don’t believe they prayed like that. But they waited for the salvation of the LORD and both received it in a miraculous way. Amen.

Then another truth implied in this verse is “expectancy.” David said, “ .. . . on thee do I wait all the day.” A day can be a long time. For instance, if an eighteen wheeler is sitting on your foot! Or, you have a kidney stone without anything for pain (I just had an episode). It is like the man who fell over the cliff. On his descent he grabbed a root and was hanging on as he looked down at what would have been certain death. He began to scream, “Help! Help! Is anybody up there?” A voice came back. “I am the Lord. I am up here. I will help you.” The man screamed, “Please Lord help me. I’m about to lose my grip on this root..” The voice came back and said, “Turn the root loose.” The man hung there hesitating for a moment and screamed, “Is anybody else up there!” That is the way we are. Faith expects God to keep His promises. Paul said in Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” The word “ashamed” means the believer will never be left embarrassed by the Lord over a promise not kept. Faith expects an answer. David did.

The next verse is Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” There are two words that especially want explanation in this verse. The word “courage” means “to be firm and resolute.” When one needs courage is when circumstances require it. It is not hard to be courageous when I am facing man four foot tall in a wheel chair. I need courage when I am facing Mike Tyson! And maybe a small miracle! The courage that is mentioned here is relative to waiting on the LORD. David is saying that the waiting may not come as soon as you would like but be of good courage, it will come. He is saying, “The Lord will be there for you. Don’t move on your own to solve your problem. Wait on the LORD.”

Then there are the words, “ . . . and he shall strengthen thine heart . . .” The word “strengthen” means that He will take our weak heart, one that is about ready to fail, and make it strong. It is not wrong to be weak. We are all weak. Our weakness is the environment for the manifestation of His power (2 Cor. 12:9). David is exhorting us in this verse. He is not talking to himself here. He is speaking to those of us who read these words. He says, “. . . wait, I SAY (caps mine for emphasis), on the LORD.” Waiting is for courage and strength. I need that.

The next verse that we will look at is Psalm 33:20 which says, “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.” The “soul” is our mind, emotions and will. It is our control center. It is the staging area of all our actions. This where we sort through information that comes to us and decisions relative to that information are made. David is saying that we should take no action on the information we have until the LORD has spoken. He exhorts us to wait on Him.

David said, “ . . . he is our help . . .” The word “help” translates a word that means, “To help, to support, to succor.” If we need support, we will have it. We must wait at times. If we wait, we will always have help. Do we need succoring? He will come with His comforts. The LORD comes to dress our wounds. Isaiah 61:3 says, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Then there is the word “shield.” The basic idea in this word is “to cover over and to shield from danger.” This is good to know since we are told in 1 Peter 5:8 that Satan is as a roaring lion who is walking about seeking whom he may devour. I have heard preachers say, and I have also said that the Lord has pulled Satan’s teeth and all he can do is roar and gum us! That makes good preaching but it is not exactly true. The words “he may devour” translate “katapino” and means, “to drink down, swallow down.” It is an aorist active subjunctive verb. This means that Satan wants to “Swallow us down with one gulp!” You can do that without teeth! I do not care to be swimming in the digestive juices of the lion!

Then finally, Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Fretting over the prosperity of the wick is a real problem for the saved. It was then, it is now. When we by the grace of God do right, and we are not making it nearly as good as those wicked people around us, what do we do? He says, “ . . . wait patiently for him . . .” Don’t act. Just wait. Waiting can be one of the most frustrating things that we do. We are also told how to wait. It is to be done “patiently.” This word means to bear up under pressure. The pressure may be caused by pain. It could be caused by bad advice given by friends. David says, “fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” The word “fret” translates “charah” and means, “to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.” Have you ever boiled over something like how good the wicked have it? David says, “Cool off. You will not be sorry. God is going to make it all end right.” It is going to end right for the Christian. Amen.

These are a few of the uses of the word “wait” in the Psalms. May the Lord bless them to your heart.

In Christ

Bro. White