Waiting

the Pit Crew waits for their driver

I am reading through the Bible in 90 days and for the last few days I have been in Psalms. I am struck by how many times the writers of the Psalms use the word "wait" or the phrase "wait on the Lord" or something similar to that. So I decided, starting in Psalm 1 through Psalm 69 (where my reading ends today) that I would count how many times the word wait appears. I was not disappointed. I found the word "wait" or "waiting" or "waited" a total of 17 times. Just in those first 69 Psalms-Book One and almost all of Book Two. (Book three of Psalms starts in chapter 73). Another interesting observation is that all of these Psalms that mention waiting are written by David, the only person in the Bible to be called "a man after God's own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).  

David says that none shall be put to shame who wait for the Lord (25:3) and that he will wait for Him all the day long (25:5). In the same chapter, David asks God for integrity and uprightness to preserve him because he waits for Him (v. 21). David says in chapter 27, verse 14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." He repeats Psalm 27:14 almost word for word just a few chapters later in Psalm 31: 24. In Psalm 33: 20, David says "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." 

In chapter 37, waiting is mentioned 3 times in verse 7 (Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices." -so applicable to our current world), verse 9 (For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land) and 34 (Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land...). 

Chapter 38:15 says "But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer." while in just the next chapter, Psalm 39:15 reads "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you." 

Then the tense switches from present to past as David writes "I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry." (40:1) After chapter 40, we do not see the word wait until chapter 52. Psalm 52:9 goes back to present tense- "I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly." 

One of my favorite verses (although I have so many favorites now :)) is Psalm 62:1-2 "For God alone, my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken." 

Psalm 69: 3 is different from the previous verses David writes about waiting. This verse says "I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God." We see David struggling with the wait, but that does not deter him. In the same chapter, in verse 13 David writes "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your faithfulness." 

Oh to have a heart like Davids- to be a woman after God's own heart. To become more like my Savior each and every day. That is my prayer! (to be continued) 

Linking with The T2 Women and Titus 2 Tuesdays