Seven times in the King James Version we read “Wait on the Lord” or “Wait upon the Lord.” The meaning of the phrase is just as it sounds. God is calling us to put our trust completely in Him, His Word, and His promises. From the seven passages, let us note five occasions when it is import to “Wait Upon The Lord.”
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord” when we are tempted to be afraid. At Psalm 27, the psalmist begins with these words: “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?” (Psalm 27:1). Then, he ends with these words: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord” when the wicked prosper (Psalm 37:9, 34). This psalm can remind us of the age-old question that has been asked by many: “Why do bad things happen to good people, why do good things happen to bad people?” In this psalm, David says, “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:9). Furthermore, he exhorts, “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it” (Psalm 37:34).
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord” when praying for God’s mercy. Psalm 123 is a short psalm focused solely upon asking God for mercy. Particularly, the psalmist illustrates, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2).
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord” when wanting to seek revenge. “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee” (Proverbs 20:22). Paul teaches the same principle to New Testament Christians: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord” when doing what is right seems so wrong. Isn’t that our modern-day society? That was the Hebrew society in Isaiah’s day, also. In fact, God used Assyria to punish Israel and take them into captivity, leaving Judah to stand for a little while longer. In foretelling of this punishment to Isaiah, God commanded Isaiah to not give into the same sins as his contemporaries and to not be afraid of them. Isaiah’s response was this: “And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him” (Isaiah 8:17).
It is important to “Wait Upon The Lord.” For, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Clifton Angel preaches for Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater.
