Waiting For the Lord
(Psalm 27)
Mike Johnson
“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps. 27:14) This verse tells us about the focus of Psalm 27, which is a psalm that describes the author’s undaunting faith. The heading in my Bible describes it as “An Exuberant Declaration of Faith.” This Psalm is different in its form from most others. One writer put it like this.
Many of the psalms begin with a lament and end in trust. This one begins with trust, then sinks into a lament, and finally rises again to confidence in God. Themes in common with the preceding Psalm include God’s tabernacle, dependence on the Lord, and hope in divine deliverance. (Thomas Constable’s Notes on the Bible)
Consider now this exuberant declaration of faith.
Introduction
Who wrote this Psalm? The title says David is the writer, and there is no good reason to doubt Davidic authorship. However, some argue that since there is a pronounced contrast between verses 1-6 and 7-14, this Psalm is a composite written by two writers. This probably is not the case. Instead, the format may be a matter of rising in faith in the first section and then faltering to temporary despair before finishing strong in the last two verses. Further, he mentions enemies in both sections (verses 2, 3, 6, 11,12).
What is the occasion of this writing? The Psalmist wrote it during a time when he was: pursued by enemies (2-3), shut out from the house of the Lord (4), just parting from his father and mother (10), and subject to slander (12). These events would fit with a commonly held view that he wrote the Psalm when fleeing from Saul. During this time, he went to the priest Ahimelech seeking food. Doeg saw this happen and reported it to Saul, which resulted in the murder of many priests (1 Sam. 21-22). Although uncertainty exists, this may well be the part of David’s life when he penned the Psalm.
How is this Psalm classified? The differences between the two sections of the Psalm produce some difficulties. However, some label verses 1-6 as a “Psalm of Trust” and verses 7-14 a “Psalm of Lament.”
Confidence in God (1-3)
The first three verses use all three tenses to tell what is happening, what has happened, and what will occur. Consider them now.
The Present
Verse 1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” David states that God is his light, salvation, and strength.
First, he says, “the Lord is my light.” This precise wording is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, although the concept occurs (Is. 60:1, Micah 7:8). Of course, the New Testament refers to Jesus as “light” several times (Jn. 1:7-9; 12:35-36, 46). It also tells us that God is “. . . light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn. 1:5-7). The Scriptures use the word “light” in a positive way to refer to blessings and redemption. In contrast, there is an association of “darkness” with ignorance and condemnation (Ps. 18:28; 36:9; Pb. 2:13). The Lord was David’s light, and He should be the light of all today. God is willing to show us how to walk; He is ready to comfort us, guide us, and help us through the hindrances and obstacles of life. God is the source of moral and intellectual light.
Next, he says God is “my salvation.” The Hebrew word used here means “. . . deliverance, rescue, liberty, welfare, salvation.” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament.) David received deliverance many times physically, but God was also his spiritual/moral deliverer. Later, Paul and Barnabas quoted from the Old Testament that God had promised both light and salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47).
Finally, the Psalmist points out, “The Lord is the strength of my life.” David was a mighty warrior, but God was his strength. Various translations render the Hebrew word translated “strength” (NKJV) as “stronghold” or “defense.” David had literal strongholds in which he hid from Saul (1 Sam. 23:14). However, in a figurative sense, no matter where David was, God was there to protect him as a stronghold or as his defense. In the “Song of David,” after having been delivered from Saul, he stated, in 2 Sam 22:2-3, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence.” For all of us, God should be our light, our salvation, and our strength.
He also asks two rhetorical questions in verse one after speaking of his relationship with God, which are “Whom shall I fear” and “of whom shall I be afraid?” The answer to both questions is “no one,” regardless of how formidable they may be. In Romans 8:31, Paul exhorts, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” In Ephesians 6:10, he affirmed, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Note also Romans 8:37-39.) If we are in the right relationship with God, our answer to these questions should be the same as David’s.
The Past
Next, the Psalmist flashes back to another time when he was in great danger, and God intervened to help. He recalls (2), “When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.”
David is not saying his enemies were cannibals — instead, he uses a figure of speech. His enemies were trying to devour him like a vicious beast devours its prey. Perhaps David recalls Goliath’s words, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” (1 Sam. 17:44b) The same concept is found in Psalm 7:2 (speaking of the wicked), which says, “Lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.” (Note also Ps. 14:4; 17:11-12.)
In the previous verse, the writer used three metaphors to describe God (light, salvation, and strength); in verse 2, he uses three terms to describe those who oppose him (wicked, enemies, and foes). David faced all kinds of enemies, even among his own family. Yet, no matter what happened, God made his enemies “stumble” and “fall.” The Bible uses the terms to describe defeat (Isa. 3:8; 8:15; 31:3; Jer. 46:6).
The Future
Verse 3 proclaims, “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.” There might be times when the wicked, even an army, would come against him in the future. Yet God would show that He was his light, salvation, and strength. If that happened, David would have confidence in God instead of having fear, regardless of the circumstances.
Love For & Communion With God (4-6)
At this point, the tone goes from celebration to contemplation. In verse 4, the author speaks of a very important request he has desired of the Lord. “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
One Desire
Sometimes people might say, “There is this ONE thing I really want.” They may be talking about something material such as wealth, power, a fancy car, or a mansion in which to live. In contrast, the one thing David desired the most was spiritual. He wanted to dwell in God’s house and engage in continuous worship for as long as he lived. Sometimes, people will desire something but not pursue it, which was not the case with the Psalmist.
David speaks of the “temple” in verse 4, yet the temple did not exist until after his death, so how could he dwell in it? In other places, the Hebrew word often translates as “temple,” but it does not have to be rendered in this way. Instead, it seems here he is using the word in the sense of the tabernacle, which he mentions in verses 5 and 6. He also refers to “the house of the Lord” in verse 4.
Is the author saying that he literally wanted to dwell in the tabernacle/temple 24 hours a day? (We do read in Luke 3:36-38 about an 84-year-old widow during the time of Christ who “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”) Did David want to live in cloistered isolation, such as in a monastery? Like us, David did have other essential responsibilities required by God. Today, for example, if we are always at the church building, how can we carry out duties like providing for our families and teaching others? Whereas David could not be in a place worshiping every minute, his desire would include gathering for worship as an essential part of his life. He reflected this attitude in Psalm 122:1 when he announced, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Today, do we assemble to worship God with gladness? In addition, how could someone have the attitude of David expressed in verse 4 and not regularly come together for worship?
Further, God should always be an integral part of our lives. We should allow Him often to speak to us through the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 1:13) and communicate with Him frequently through prayer (1 Thess. 5:17).
Protection
In verse 5, he states, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” The idea is that David would find refuge with God in times of trouble. God would set him high on a rock, which would indicate that God would deliver him and put him in a position of strength.
Triumph
In verse 6, he exclaims, “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
This verse speaks of a celebration due to his successes because of God on his side. His head, he says, would be lifted up above his enemies. Why would someone’s head be down? It could be a case of being despondent or dejected, perhaps due to fear or maybe shame. (In water, our heads need to be above water, or we will drown.) However, David raises his head, perhaps due to excitement or triumph, based on God delivering him from his enemies. As a result, he would offer sacrifices joyfully in God’s tabernacle, and not only would he sing, but he would sing praises to God who had rescued him so often. Because we are so thankful to God, we should have no trouble joyfully obeying Ephesians 5:19-20, which says, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
His Prayer (7-12)
The tone changes here as the writer goes from celebration and praise to crying out and pleading to God. He asks (7), “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” The earlier verses might cause one to think that everything was easy for David. Perhaps there has been a reversal of fortunes.
The Psalmist wants God to hear him when he cries out! God, of course, is ever-present and omniscient, and He hears and knows all, but he wants God to respond to his prayers — to answer him (7b). Although David was a righteous man, perhaps this describes a time when he thinks God is not responding fast enough to his prayers and is not content to “wait on the Lord” (14a). Or, perhaps it is a case of not seeing God’s answer.
It is good that David was willing to “cry out” to the Lord. Many think they can receive God’s blessings without crying out, i.e., without asking. Today, we must ask God. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” A man once worked for a small company for over ten years without a raise. Finally, he went to the owner and said, “What does a fella have to do to get a raise around here?” The owner said, “ASK.” Similarly, we must ask God.
In addition, he cried out with his “voice” (7). The literal Hebrew text says, “Hear, O Lord; with my voice I will call.” Praying will not always be done silently or mentally but will sometimes involve the use of our voice. Consider the description of Jesus’ prayer just before he died in Luke 23:46. “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”
The Bible teaches that God will hear his servants. 1 John 5:14-15 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
As noted earlier, the first half of the Psalm might cause someone to conclude that everything was easy for David, but verses 8-9 again show it was not. Here we continue to see that a person devoted to the Lord might struggle with himself or God. David seems to feel that God did not respond to him immediately. “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.”
We see in these two verses that God took the initiative, asking the Psalmist to seek His face. He wants to have a relationship with us; He wants everyone to be saved (2 Pet. 3:8-10). So often, rulers and others of importance are not interested in having contact with the people. This attitude is not the case with God, as He wants us to seek His face. The response of David was like an echo as he said he would seek God’s face. Then David, perhaps expressing frustration, asked God not to hide His face from him.
The concept of seeking the face of God or God hiding his face from someone appears several times in the Scriptures (Job 13:24; Ps. 13:1; 44:24; 69:17; 88:14; 102:2). Someone may say, “But, God is a spirit and does not have a face.” References to the “face” of God involve the use of anthropomorphism, which means the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. God turning His face toward a person involves receiving His protection, presence, guidance, and favor. God hiding His face from someone would mean being without these things.
How do we seek the face of God? How do we keep God from hiding His face from us? Various passages tell us how to do this and the benefits which will follow.
“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14).
From the verse above, we see that seeking the face of God involves being humble, praying, and turning from wicked ways. God will then “hear from heaven,” and we will receive forgiveness. Consider Psalm 105:1-4.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!”
From the verses above, we learn that one must give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, and make known His deeds among others. We must also sing psalms to Him, talk of His wondrous works, glory in His name, and seek His strength. Note another passage.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face” (Ps 24:3-6).
Finally, seeking the face of the Lord involves having clean hands and a pure heart and not having worshiped idols or having sworn deceitfully. As a result, we will receive blessings and righteousness from God, who will save us.
In addition to asking God not to hide his face from him (9), David makes three other requests expressing the same concept. First, he asks God not to turn His servant away, then not to leave him (e.g., 1 Sam. 15:26), and finally, not to forsake him.
The Psalmist continues his prayer in verse 10, where he says, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”
Did David’s father and mother forsake him? Some translations say “when” or “though,” while others (NASB, ESV) say, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me.” Thus, he is speaking hypothetically with some translations, while others are saying they had forsaken him. In 1 Samuel 22:1-5, however, we learn that David took care of his parents, leaving them in Moab when fleeing from Saul. With that in mind, some scholars think David just felt forsaken, while others believe there had been a rift between him and his parents. The most plausible position is that he is speaking hypothetically, i.e., even if someone as close as his parents forsook him, he would still have God caring for him. If that is true of parents, it would also apply to others with whom he is close. Consider an explanation by John Gill.
Which is not to be understood strictly and literally of his parents, that were in that near relation to him according to the flesh, nor of anything that had past. . .but this is to be understood of something supposed yet to come; and it seems best to interpret it of his nearest and dearest friends, his closest adherents, best counsellors, and most firm allies; that when they should fail and drop him, his God would not leave him: the design of it is to set forth the love and care of God, as superior to that of the most affectionate friends.” (from John Gill’s Exposition of the Old and New Testaments)
Consider some reasons which show that God cares for us.
He Loves to Give Good Gifts. Parents typically enjoy giving gifts to their children. They enjoy giving gifts to them for their birthdays, at Chrismas, returning home from a trip, or for no particular reason. In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us to ask, and we will receive. He then asks, arguing from the lesser to the greater, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Thus, if evil people give good gifts to their children, consider what our heavenly Father will provide us. It is God’s nature to give good gifts. James 1:17-18 reassures us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” In Psalm 103:13, David makes this comparison. “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.”
He Is Our Shepherd. Psalm 23 teaches that the Lord is our shepherd. A shepherd provides care and protection for the sheep. Since God is our shepherd, the text says He does not want us to be in need. “Green pastures” are what sheep need — today, God provides us with abundant provisions. We do not even need to fear when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” for God will take care of us.
He Cares For His Creation. In Matthew 26:25-34, we learn that God takes care of the birds; He “clothes” the lilies and the seemingly insignificant grass of the field. Again, we have an argument made, which involves the lesser to the greater. If God takes care of these, which are less important than humans (30), He will certainly take care of His people. God did not send His Son to die for the birds — He came to die for all humanity. Jesus teaches that we should not worry since God cares for us. If he cares for His creation, even more so, He will provide for us. 2 Chronicles 16:9 assures us, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
He Told Us to Ask. As noted earlier, Christ told us to ask (Mt. 7:7-9). When Jesus taught his disciples to pray (Mt. 6:9-13), He told them they were to ask for God’s kingdom to come, His will be done, our daily bread, the forgiveness of sins, to not be led into temptations, and to be delivered from evil. God provides these things. Would Christ have told them to ask if God would not provide?
He Has Promised Blessings. In Philippians 4:19, Paul tells us, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Also, Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Note also Ephesians 3:20-21). Further, it is crucial to understand that God keeps His promises (Josh. 21:43-45).
He Has a Compassionate Heart. Ps 103:13 explains, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (ESV). (Note also Isaiah 54:10.) During the ministry of Jesus (Mk. 8:1-3), we see this illustrated. A crowd of 4000 had been following Him for three days listening to His teaching. They were hungry. Jesus multiplied a few loaves and fishes to feed the crowd. Mark 8:2 says He was motivated by His compassion and then provided for the people.
Consider the words of this well-known hymn.
God Will Take Care of You
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
Civilla Martin (1869-1948)
It would be terrible to be forsaken by our parents, and it would not be easy if our close friends and associates left us. However, the text assures us that God will take care of us no matter what may come. (Consider also Hebrews 13:5-6.)
In verse 11, the Psalmist asks God to “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” It is interesting to note that he is not talking about the ways of men but the ways of God. This fact is important as God’s way is what we need (Acts 18:26), and today Jesus’ way is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Psalm 25:4-5 elaborates on this concept as it reveals, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” Here David lets us know that not only must we desire God’s Way, but we must walk in it with reverence and respect for Him.
Today, like the Psalmist, we must have an intense interest in acquiring more knowledge and understanding from the Scriptures. We must hunger and thirst after righteousness and seek God’s kingdom first (Mt. 5:6; 6:33). In Psalm 119:97, he states, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
The Psalmist also wanted (11b) to be led down a “smooth path” (level) because of his enemies. (Note also Ps. 26:11-12; 143:10.) He is not asking for an easy way but for a stable and secure place to stand against the storms of life. Why did he want this? He says it was because of his enemies (11c). The writer could be speaking of God’s way in the sense of being led out of physical danger, but he could also be speaking ethically, i.e., asking for help regarding his spiritual enemies.
David continues to ask for help from his enemies in verse 12 as he says, “Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.” (The “false witnesses” probably refer to people of his own country.) Consider some examples of enemies, which David had to face, which are cited in the Scriptures.
- Saul (1 Sam. 18-21)
- Doeg (1 Sam. 21-22)
- Absalom, His Son (2 Sam. 15)
- Shimei (2 Sam. 16)
- Numerous Foreign Nations
David often spoke of his enemies in the book of Psalms. In Psalm 69:4, he exclaims, “Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. Thus, he had many enemies, and they were his adversaries for no good reason.
Also, in 12b, he says his enemies “breathe out violence.” Their words were full of venom and fire — they “panted” for violence. Consider, as an example, the words of Shimei (2 Samuel 16:7-8) when he berated David, “. . . Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!” Later, in the days of the early church, Acts 9:1 tells us that Saul was “breathing” threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. David’s situation reminds us of what Christ would later face.
The Power of Faith & Exhortation to Others (13-14)
In verse 13, the Psalmist declares, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” This verse tells us how to be strong when facing hardship in life. The key is “faith” — it kept him going. David would have given up if he did not have complete confidence in God. He was convinced God would bestow blessings on him as he faced hardships on earth.
What is the meaning of the “land of the living” in verse 13? Today, if someone has not seen a particular person for a long time, he might say, “I am glad you are still in the land of the living,” i.e., still alive. Old Testament writers use this expression many times, and it always seems to be used in the sense of life here on this earth, i.e., not in the grave. (Some contend that David is looking toward the afterlife and calling it the land of the living. However, this does not seem to be the case.) The verse says that David fully expected to see the goodness of the Lord at some point in his life. This confidence kept him going.
There is another way to look at the phrase “the land of the living.” When John Newton (an Anglican Cleric and writer of the hymn Amazing Grace) in 1807 was on his death bed, someone asked him how he was doing and if he was still in the land of the living. He responded with what ended up being his last words saying, “I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon.” So, in one sense, we are in the land of the living during our life on this earth. However, in another way, we are in the land of the dying. Consider the following quote.
The land of the living. Alas! What a land of the living is this, in which there are more dead than living, more under ground than above it; where the earth is fuller of graves than houses; where life lies trembling under the hand of death; and where death hath power to tyrannize over life! No, my soul, there only is the land of the living where there are none but the living . . . — Sir Richard Baker. (from The Treasury of David)
Yet, while we are alive, we are in the “land of the living. Therefore, as with David, we must allow our faith to sustain us and have complete confidence in God. If we do so, we can go to a place where there will be no death (Rev. 20:14), i.e., Heaven, which can indeed be called the land of the living!
The Psalmist concludes with verse 14, where he shifts from focusing on prayer to advising others. He urges people to “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage (‘be strong’ – ESV), and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” Most modern translations say, “wait for the Lord.”
Typically people do not like to wait. For example, they view with contempt having to tarry at the DMV to renew or get a license. Sometimes, when we first arrive at a restaurant, we must get a number and wait to be seated. Upon arrival, it is common for people to ask about the wait time. We often wait at a doctor’s or dentist’s office. While trying to contact a business over the phone, often bad “wait music” is interrupted periodically by someone telling us how important our call is to them.
Although patiently waiting goes against the inclinations of many, in verse 14, the writer twice emphasizes the need to “wait on the Lord.” David expresses his faith and courage, fully expecting the Lord to rescue and save him. There are times today when we pray to God and must wait on the Lord, but this often involves patience on our part.
Next, what is involved in waiting on the Lord according to Psalm 27? First, it involves trusting in God (1-2). Since God was his light, salvation, and strength, he had no reason to fear his enemies. Also, it involved seeking God (4-6). He longed to worship Him in His temple and sing praises to Him. This would make David feel safe and secure. Finally, it involved praying (7-13). In these verses, the writer sought wisdom, direction, and protection.
Waiting on God to act does not necessarily involve passiveness on our part as when we wait to get into an athletic event or an amusement park. For example, very few people are just sitting in the doctor’s office, not doing anything while waiting. They may be looking at a magazine, but most likely, they are engaged with their cell phones. People may be reading their e-mails, doing research, or communicating with friends. This activity is good — staying busy helps us to pass the time. So these people are not passively waiting. Neither should we be while waiting on the Lord. When waiting on Him, we must continue to carry out our responsibilities in life. We must seek God and worship Him; we pray, study, and grow while waiting patiently.
Consider an example where some did not want to wait on the Lord. In Exodus 14, we read where the children of Israel had fled Egypt’s bondage under Moses’s leadership. They came to the Red Sea, which was in front of them, and had the Egyptian army closing in from behind. The people started complaining to Moses, saying it would have been better to remain in Egypt as slaves than die in the wilderness. Note Moses’ response to them (13-14). “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’” Moses encourages them to stand by and wait for God to act.
Another example involves Abraham and Sarah, also from the Old Testament. God told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a child, who would be connected to promises God had made earlier (Gen. 12:1-4). But, they got tired of waiting and took matters into their own hands. Abraham took a surrogate wife, Hagar, and had a child with her. Genesis 16-18 shows the troubles which followed. They did not wait on the Lord.
Note a Psalm (40:1-3) where David speaks of when he patiently waited on the Lord. He said, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” At the end of these verses, we see a positive consequence of David waiting on the Lord as others would see his confidence in God to deliver him. As a result, these would fear the Lord and trust in Him. Today, when people see us living righteously, and at times, they are motivated to follow our example (1 Pet. 3:1, Mt. 5:16).
Notice also Isaiah 40:31. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Thus, the process of waiting on the Lord makes us stronger.
We must be satisfied to let God be in control. He has great wisdom — we must trust Him and His timing. Trusting God, we can have a positive outlook like the Psalmist.
Conclusion
In this Psalm, David expresses total confidence and trust in God no matter how difficult the situation. God had been there for him in the past, and he has full assurance that the Lord will be there in the future. The most important thing to him was to dwell in the house of the Lord all of the days of his life. God is indeed the light, salvation, and strength for the Psalmist. He closes by urging others to be courageous and strong and have the same trust he had and be strong enough to, if necessary, wait on God, trusting His Wisdom