Waiting on the Lord
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope.
We live in a day that says, “Hurry, hurry, hurry!” But so often God says, “Wait! Wait! Wait!” Most of us can relate to a comment by the New England preacher, Phillips Brooks. Normally, he was a calm man. But one day he was clearly agitated. He paced the floor like a caged lion. A friend asked him, “What’s the trouble?” Brooks replied, “The trouble is, I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t.” (Steven Cole, Bible.org)
Psalm 130 Hope in the Lord’s Forgiving Love. A Song of Ascents.
Amplified Bible
1Out of the depths [of distress] I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly,
O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]?
4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder].
5 I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, and in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; More than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel from all his sins.
1. What are the first words that come to your mind when you think about waiting?
The word most often translated “wait” in the sense of waiting on the Lord is the Hebrew qavah. Qavah means:
(1) to bind together (perhaps by twisting strands as in making a rope)
(2) look patiently
(3) tarry or wait
(4) hope, expect, look eagerly
Write your own definition of “wait” that helps you understand what God asks of us when we are waiting on Him.
(look up the definition in dictionary, or use Hebrew definition above).
“Waiting on God is an act of faith--the greatest thing ever required of us humans. Not faith in the outcome we are dictating to God, but faith in His character, faith in Himself. It is resting in the perfect confidence that He will guide in the right way at the right time. He will supply our need. He will fulfil His word. He will give us the very best if we trust Him.” Elisabeth Elliot
2. The first and most important thing to look for every time you read the Word is to look for God. Look at Who He tells us He is, look at what He’s doing, and how He is responding to people. The Bible is primarily God’s words written down for us so that we can get to know Him.
List the names and characteristics of God in Psalm 130.
3. In English translations, do you notice LORD and Lord? (Psalm 130: 1 and 130:3) This is how English translators distinguish between 2 names of God. LORD is Yahweh. Lord is Adonai.
Do you know the characteristics of these 2 names?
4. Psalm 130 is called “A Song of Ascents.” God’s people would sing these songs as they travelled to Jerusalem for the great Jewish festivals. These songs prepared their hearts for the joyous worship and celebration they would engage in at the Temple. Psalm 130 takes us from the depths of despair to the heights of confident hope in the Lord.
How does the writer describe his emotions in Psalm 130:1-3?
5. How do I know if God has heard my prayer when I am not seeing an answer? Everyone faces this test of faith. How would you answer someone who is struggling with this question?
One reason for unanswered prayer can be seen in Psalm 66:18-20. I think everyone instinctively knows this. God says He does not hear our prayer when we cherish, regard, are aware of, ignore, or refuse to confess our sin. Having this attitude towards sin will take away our confidence in prayer. If I know sin is in my heart but I do nothing about it, what does that say about my relationship with God?
6. Now put Psalm 66:18-19 and Psalm 130:3-4 together. What is important for us to know about our sin?
Those who think little of God will think little of sin. One clear sign that you are growing spiritually is a deeper awareness of your sin.
“The nearer a man lives to God, the more intensely he mourns over his own evil heart, and the more His Master honors him in His service, the more also doth the evil of the flesh vex and tease him day by day.”
Spurgeon
7. Look at God’s perspective of our sin. What do each of these Scriptures tell us about our sin and God’s mercy?
a. Psalm 103:12
b. Isaiah 38:17
c. Isaiah 43:25
d. Acts 3:19
e. 1 John 1:9
f. Micah 7:18-19
8. Another reason for unanswered prayer is seen in Psalm 130:5-6. We are waiting! What are we waiting for?
“In His Word do I hope. Take care that you have a promise underneath you, or waiting will be too much for you, and your waiting may be in vain.” Spurgeon
9. Psalm 130:7-8 What is the Psalmist doing while he waits?
10. *This week’s assignment: Find promises in Scripture about waiting on God. Email those Scriptures to me!
