I Waited Patiently For The Lord - NOW WHAT?

What an interesting duo of burdensome words, “waited” and “patiently!”  This is hard work for most of us, but Christian living both requires and rewards it.  This hub message reveals some of the costs and rewards of waiting patiently on the LORD!

Psalms 40:1-3 KJV  Bible:  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  (3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

As a lifelong pastor, I like to show myself as very patient, but the fact is that I struggle and wrestle with this daily.  For example, my wife and I love to eat out together, especially after church.  However, we have almost given it up completely.  Why?  I just can’t stand waiting in line!  I would rather do without than patiently wait!

One of the longest nights was when my first born child came.  Back then fathers were not permitted in the delivery area, so I had to ‘patiently wait’ in the waiting room with other to be papas.  It was one of the longest evenings of my life.  I know Barbara was in labor, and all I had to do was ‘wait’, but at least she was ‘doing something.’  My wife did not have much compassion for my plight!

There was a certain farmer and his wife.  She was a real “go-getter” of a woman; she was always busy; she had to do everything yesterday!  The farmer was a real “think and plan first” kind of man.  He was calm tempered and the complete opposite of his spouse.   One night around dark thirty they were both awakened by a commotion of cackles in the hen house.  The wife sprang from the bed, snatched her robe and ran toward the hubbub as if she were a lion protecting her kittens.  She scurried towards the cloud of feathers only to see a menacing black snake among the hens.  In her haste she had forgotten her sneakers, so barefooted she accosted the snake, holding the villain in place with her foot.  She screams for her husband to come and help.  Minutes pass.  Her beloved husband finally appears, fully dressed with boots, shirt and pants.  He even remembered his pocket watch!  The farmer smiles at her achievement so far and approaches to help her finish the task.  He says, “If I’d known you had the situation under foot, I wouldn’t have been in such a big hurry!”

QAVAH

The Hebrew word in our text for ‘waited’ and ‘patiently’ are the same.  The same word, QAVAH, is repeated twice side by side in this verse.  The idea is “I waited while I waited” or “waiting, I waited!”   The Psalmist feels the slippery discomforts and trappings of the pit. He feels there is no possible escape, and he is forced to wait for his redemption.  While waiting he learns to expectantly wait on the LORD! (See Blue Letter Bible.)  QAVAH also carries the idea of twisting or binding together as if one were making a rope for strength.  Waiting and renewal of strength are bound together.  (See www.ricter.com/wordline/notes/wait.doc)

When you find yourself in a pit, most often all you can do is wait!  However, that does not mean that you are waiting patiently on the LORD.  You can wait and expect nothing; you can wait and find yourself panicking and doing things that make matters worse. There is waiting, and then there is waiting patiently on the LORD!

QAVAH carries with it the idea of expectancy (See Seven Thunders Ministry: Word a Week)  I remember, as a child, I love going to Grandma’s on the weekend.  My Uncle Tom is only a year older than I, and I know we are going to have a great time.  On the other hand it is only Wednesday now.  It is Wednesday, but Sunday is coming (when, after Sunday School, we will be in party mode!)  This is waiting expectantly!

When I am in a miserable, dirty, slimy, sticky, “can’t get out it” pit, I am forced to wait, but there is no great blessing in that.  The blessing is in getting my eyes upon the LORD, and in holding on to Him!  In His time He will pick me up and put me on the Rock!  I do not feel much like singing or worshipping God in the pit, but on the Rock I can do both.  Many times I must learn to praise God anyway!

From the horrible pit to the halleluiah praise all because while waiting I waited on the Lord!  I hope this verse is or will become one of your favorites!