Waiting with Anticipation

Psalm 130

Verse 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

We talked yesterday about the one kind of waiting that the psalmist was talking about, waiting as a servant waiting to serve. Today we focus on the other kind of waiting that the psalmist was doing.

Waiting. There are many places that we wait in life. We wait at traffic lights and in check-out lanes. We wait for dinner to be served or for the water to boil. We should be experts at waiting and yet most of us don’t wait well. We wait, sometimes impatiently, for our turn because we can’t wait to get to the next thing we have on our agenda.

But do we wait impatiently for Christ? This psalm was written as the people of God were awaiting the Savior that God had been promising from the beginning and so his anticipation was for the first coming of the Lord. He probably didn’t understand that, but he understood that it would happen because God had promised it.

Knowing that God would keep His word was all the psalmist needed to know. The Lord had promised a redeemer and there was no doubt that He would provide one when He felt the time was right. But God’s people didn’t know when that time would be and so they waited and waited and waited. He was anticipating the Lord’s coming more than the watchmen wait for the night to be over. This was his song of praise, he could wait for the Promised One because he knew that God’s promise was as good as done.

This song of praise should be just as relevant in our lives. We know the story of the first coming. A baby born to a virgin and placed in the manger. He came and conquered death so we don’t have to. But the real joy of His first coming is that there is a second coming and for those of us who are His, a promise of eternity with Him. This is what we are waiting for but we don’t know when it will happen. We must wait with great anticipation and serve Him as He has called us to until He comes.

Making It Personal

How much are you anticipating Christ’s return? What are you doing while you are waiting? Why is it important to praise in the waiting?

Making It Personal Kids

Do you like to wait? Is it hardest to wait for something you really want? What is the reason you should be looking forward to Jesus coming back?

Closing Prayer

Father, we praise You for always keeping Your word. We know that You are coming back and we look forward to Your return. Give us the wisdom and courage to serve You the way we are meant to as we await Your return. In Jesus’ name, amen.