With all the troubles in the life of David, pursued by Saul, threatened by his sons, and aware of his sins, he had faith that God would keep the promise to preserve him. His words in Psalms 27:13-14 are echoed by faithful men and women through Bible Times and by us today. “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
Most people today don’t want to wait, desiring instant gratification. We want fast food, faster computers, and cell phones that give instant messages, news, and entertainment. But those same people will wait for hours and even days for a big sale, tickets to a concert, or anything else they want. So individuals who long for Christ’s return, His presence in judgment, and the entrance into that eternal home, eagerly wait for Him. It is close to 2000 years since the promise in John 14:2-3. Like saints of old, who waited many years for the fulfillment of promises made to them, faith in God’s grace and mercy sustains us. Let’s review just a few of those who have waited on the Lord in the past.
Noah waited about 100 years for the promised flood. He spent the time building the ark and preaching to a sinful population. Then after 40 days of rain, 150 days of drying, he had to wait a little longer to be released from the ark (Genesis 8:8-12). Patience during that long time resulted in Noah and his family’s salvation from the flood.
Moses waited 80 years to be called by God to bring Israel out of Egypt. Then at Mount Sinai, as Moses and Joshua prepared to climb the mountain and receive the law, Moses told the Elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you …” (Exodus 24:13-14). The elders and people did not have the patience to wait. They sinned greatly by building the golden calf.
Job was in great misery as he waited for an understanding of this life and the life to come. In Job 14:14, he asks, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” Years later, he says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God …” (Job 19:25-26). Job waited in his physical body until death came. In faith, he looked beyond death to the time when he is transformed with a heavenly body.
Micah was given a message to Israel and Judah that they should stop their conflict and honor the Lord as Jacob had done (Genesis 28:11-19). The comparison is between those that wait on God and those that wait to do evil. Jacob waited for God’s blessing while Esau sold his birthright. Some wait to entrap or shed blood. Others wait for the God of salvation (Micah 7:2-7).
Isaiah waited for the Lord, who was allowing the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the punishment of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He knew by faith that deliverance would come to the remnant of Israel and salvation to the nations through the messiah. “And I will wait on the LORD … and I will hope in Him” (Isaiah 8:17).
Jeremiah learned that he would suffer many things for the Lord but must wait for the completion of his work for God. So, through the beatings, starvation, and being thrown into a cistern, he waited in faith. “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentations 3:25-26).
Joseph of Arimathea chose to wait on God. He was a “good and just man” who “waited for the Kingdom of God.” We read of him receiving and providing the tomb for the body of Jesus in Luke 23:50-53.
The disciples had to wait for the Holy Spirit until the appointed time. “… He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father…” (Acts 1:4-5). Their wait resulted in the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom, the church.
Now believers wait for Christ’s return and the resurrection into eternal life. “…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).
Are you fully prepared and waiting for Christ’s return and the judgment to follow?
