The Weight of Waiting

Psalm 130 NKJV

A Song of Ascents. 1 Out of the depths 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 mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

The Weight of Waiting

THE WEIGHT OF WAITING

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I HATE TO WAIT.

I HATE TO WAIT IN LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE, AT WALMART, AT HOME DEPOT, OR IN A FAST-FOOD DRIVE THRU.

SOME OF YOU DON’T EAT FAST FOOD AND YOU’RE JUDGING ME RIGHT NOW, AREN’T YOU? (HOPEFULLY SOME LAUGHTER).

THERE’S A PART OF ALL OF US THAT WANTS TO BE FIRST, TO GET WHAT WE WANT WHEN WE WANT IT, WITHOUT WAITING.

DO I HAVE A WITNESS?

SOMETIMES WE GO THROUGH SEASONS WHEN THE WAITING IS EXCRUCIATING.

THE WAITING FEELS VERY HEAVY ON OUR SOULS.

WE WAIT FOR MEDICAL TEST RESULTS.

OR WE WAIT TO SEE IF WE GET THE JOB, OR SOMETIMES WE WAIT TO FIND OUT IF WE’RE THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING LAID OFF.

• ILLUSTRATION: I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CHARLOTTE FROM MD FOR A JOB INTERVIEW. I HAD ALREADY BOUGHT A HOUSE IN CHARLOTTE, BUT I NEEDED A JOB HERE IN ORDER TO MOVE….AFTER THE INTERVIEW….WHICH I THOUGHT WENT WELL….THE CLOCK ON WAITING TO SEE IF I GOT THE JOB BEGAN….I WAS GOING THROUGH A THIRD PARTY RECRUITER TO GET THE JOB….SO WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE I WOULD HEAR SOMETHING….ALL I KNEW WAS….I COULDN’T MOVE WITHOUT A JOB…SO I HEADED BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO FLY BACK TO MD

…AND I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT….I STARTED TO REPLAY MY INTERVIEW IN MY HEAD…AND STARTED WONDERING…SHOULD I HAVE SAID THIS INSTEAD OF THAT….OR DID I ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT….

DO I HAVE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THAT CAN RELATE TO WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT?

WELL I WAS JUST ABOUT TO THE AIRPORT….WHEN MY DUMB PHONE STARTED TO RING….YOU SEE THIS WAS IN 2005….AND WE DIDNT GET SMART PHONES UNTIL 2007.…

SO I ANSWER MY DUMB PHONE…AND ITS THE RECRUITER ON THE PHONE….

SHE SAYS THEY WANT TO HIRE YOU….

ALL I COULD DO WAS TO THANK GOD….

AND ALTHOUGH MY WAIT WASNT THAT LONG….IN THE MOMENTS OF MY WAITING….IT WAS A WEIGHT ON MY SHOULDERS…

AS WE CONSIDER THE PSALMIST'S CRY FROM THE DEPTHS, WE ARE DRAWN INTO A PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING OF WAITING.

WAITING IS NOT A PASSIVE STATE, BUT AN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH GOD'S TIMING.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE FAITH IS TESTED AND HOPE IS REFINED.

IT'S A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE THAT REQUIRES PATIENCE, TRUST, AND SURRENDER.

THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IS ONE OF 15 DIFFERENT PSALMS REFERRED TO AS “SONGS OF ASCENT” (PSALM 120-134). TO ASCEND MEANS TO CLIMB OR GO UP. WHY ARE THESE PSALMS CALLED “SONGS OF ASCENT”?

THAT’S BECAUSE THESE PSALMS WERE RECITED — OR SUNG — BY PEOPLE OF FAITH AS THEY JOURNEYED TO ANCIENT JERUSALEM TO OBSERVE RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND FEASTS.

THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IS ELEVATED ON A HILL, SO THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THE CITY FROM ANY DIRECTION WAS TO ASCEND.

I LIKE THAT PSALM 130 IS A SONG OF ASCENT, BECAUSE IT IMPLIES THAT LIFE WITH GOD IS A JOURNEY.

IT’S A CLIMB.

IT TAKES EFFORT AND FAITH AND ENDURANCE.

THE PSALMIST'S WAITING WAS NOT A CASUAL OR INDIFFERENT WAITING.

IT WAS A WAITING THAT INVOLVED HIS "WHOLE BEING".

THIS SPEAKS TO US OF A WAITING THAT IS FULLY ENGAGED, FULLY INVESTED.

IT'S NOT A WAITING WITH A DISTRACTED MIND OR A DIVIDED HEART.

IT'S A WAITING THAT IS ALL IN, COMPLETELY COMMITTED, TOTALLY SURRENDERED TO GOD'S TIMING AND GOD'S WILL.

THE PSALMIST'S WAITING WAS ALSO A WAITING THAT WAS ANCHORED IN GOD'S WORD.

LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS….

"IN HIS WORD I PUT MY HOPE”

THIS IS A WAITING THAT IS GROUNDED IN THE PROMISES OF GOD, A WAITING THAT IS SUSTAINED BY THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD.

IT'S A WAITING THAT DRAWS STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES.

WAITING ON GOD IS SOMETHING THAT WE’LL EXPERIENCE AS WE JOURNEY WITH GOD.

WE WAIT ON GOD BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED GOD.

WE NEED HIM TO SHOW UP.

WE NEED HIM TO GIVE US DIRECTION.

WE NEED HIM TO PERFORM A MIRACLE.

WE NEED HIM TO MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY.

THESE THINGS DON’T ALWAYS COME TO US INSTANTLY, SO WE NEED TO WAIT.

GOD KNOWS HOW HARD IT IS FOR US TO WAIT SOMETIMES.

THE WEIGHT OF WAITING CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

IT CAN SQUEEZE THE LIFE AND JOY OUT OF US.

GOD KNOWS THIS AND WANTS TO MEET US IN THIS SEASON OF WAITING.

WAITING ON GOD IS PART OF THE JOURNEY WITH GOD.

SOMETIMES OUR JOURNEY WITH GOD — OUR JOURNEY OF ASCENT — BEGINS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY. (READ PSALM 130)

MAIN TEACHING

HERE ARE FOUR THINGS TO KNOW WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SEASON OF WAITING.

1. CRY TO GOD FROM THE DEPTHS

WHEN YOU’RE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF WAITING, BE HONEST AND CRY OUT TO GOD. THE PSALMIST BEGINS WITH A CRY TO THE LORD.

Psalm 130:1–2 NKJV

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE DEPTHS OF LIFE?

HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BUT CRYING TO GOD FROM THE DEPTHS IS PART OF THE JOURNEY WITH GOD.

TRUTH BE TOLD… FOLLOWING GOD IS NOT ALL PEACHES-AND-CREAM SPIRITUALITY WHERE EVERYTHING GOES OUR WAY AND BAD THINGS NEVER HAPPEN.

A. BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE

ACTUALLY, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE. AND YOU ARE PART OF GOD’S PEOPLE. THAT MEANS YOU CAN EXPECT BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

YOUR KIDS MAY WANDER FROM THE FAITH.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS.

THE DOCTOR MAY GIVE YOU TERRIBLE NEWS.

THE CAR BREAKS DOWN.

YOUR SIBLINGS TREAT YOU BADLY.

YOUR COWORKERS GOSSIP ABOUT YOU.

YOUR BOSS MAY TREAT YOU UNFAIRLY.

IS THAT RIGHT? DO I HAVE A WINESS?

AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF US.

WHAT ABOUT THE BAD THINGS WITHIN US?

WE FEEL ALONE, OR DEPRESSED, OR CONSTANTLY ANXIOUS.

MOST OF US FEEL LIKE WE’RE NEVER ENOUGH.

WE FEEL INADEQUATE.

WE HURT OTHERS OUT OF OUR OWN INSECURITY AND ANXIETY.

WE WRESTLE WITH JEALOUSY AND ENVY.

WE SOMETIMES FEEL UNLOVEABLE AND UNWORTHY OF ACCEPTANCE.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….WHEN YOU LIVE IN THESE SEASONS, YOU ARE IN THE DEPTHS.

YOU MAY BE IN THE DEPTH OF FEAR, OR THE DEPTH OF FAILURE, OR THE DEPTH OF FINANCIAL STRUGGLE…WHATEVER THE DEEP POINT IS.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE’RE IN THE DEPTHS OF THE VALLEY?

WE CRY OUT TO GOD. THIS IS WHAT THE PSALMIST DID.

THIS IS WHAT THE ISRAELITES SANG ON THEIR WAY TO JERUSALEM.

Psalm 130:1–2 NKJV

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.

TO “CRY OUT TO GOD” MEANS TO EXPRESS YOUR TRUE FEELINGS TO HIM. WHETHER YOU’RE ANGRY, DISAPPOINTED, MAD, OR FRUSTRATED, YOU CAN CRY OUT YOUR TRUE FEELINGS TO HIM.

HE ALREADY KNOWS, SO THERE’S NO USE PRETENDING OTHERWISE!

CRYING OUT TO GOD PROMOTES HONESTY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP RATHER THAN RELIGIOUS PRETENDING.

B. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE DEPTHS

WHEN WE CRY OUT FROM THE DEPTHS, WHAT HAPPENS?

WE DISCOVER THAT GOD IS THERE WITH US:

LOOK AT WHAT PSALM 139 REMINDS US…

“WHERE CAN I GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT? WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR PRESENCE? IF I GO UP TO THE HEAVENS, YOU ARE THERE; IF I MAKE MY BED IN THE DEPTHS, YOU ARE THERE. IF I RISE ON THE WINGS OF THE DAWN, IF I SETTLE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA, EVEN THERE YOUR HAND WILL GUIDE ME, YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST” (PSALM 139:7-10).

THIS IS GOOD NEWS! GOD IS WITH US, EVERYWHERE. WE ARE NEVER ALONE.

2. GOD KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS

SECONDLY, WHEN YOU’RE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF WAITING, KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT HIDING FROM YOU NOR PUNISHING YOU. GOD IS NOT KEEPING SCORE.

THE PSALMIST CONTINUES, SAYING,

Psalm 130:3–4 NKJV

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

GOD KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.

HE DOES NOT KEEP A LIST OF SINS.

GOD IS NOT WATCHING DOWN FROM HEAVEN, HOLDING HIS CLIPBOARD, AND KEEPING TRACK OF EVERY SINGLE SIN WE COMMIT.

HE DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF OUR MISTAKES.

ISN’T THAT GOOD NEWS?

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF GOD DID KEEP A RECORD OF OUR SINS?

HOW LONG WOULD THAT LIST BE!

BUT THE TRUTH IS, GOD KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS!

THIS IS VERY HARD FOR MANY CHRISTIANS TO GET THEIR MINDS AROUND.

WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT GOD IS HOLY — AND HE IS HOLY, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT.

BUT, HIS HOLINESS DOES NOT LEAD HIM TO KEEP A LONG LIST OF OUR FAILURES. HIS HOLINESS LEADS HIM TO FORGIVE US.

“GOD IS LOVE.” (1 JOHN 4:8)

GOD’S CORE NATURE IS SELF-GIVING LOVE.

THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES, AND THIS IS WHAT WE SEE DEMONSTRATED FROM THE LIFE, TEACHINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

GOD IS LOVE, PERIOD.

THE DISCIPLE, JOHN, SPENT YEARS LIVING AND WALKING WITH JESUS ON EARTH, AND THEN, AFTER JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HAD DECADES TO INTERACT WITH THE RISEN CHRIST THROUGH PRAYER AND OBEDIENCE.

IN ONE OF HIS FINAL LETTERS TO THE CHURCH, JOHN SUMMED UP GOD’S NATURE WITH ONE WORD: “GOD IS LOVE.” 1 JOHN 4:8

IF GOD’S CORE NATURE IS LOVE, GUESS WHAT ELSE THE BIBLE TEACHES US?

IF WE LOOK AT THAT FAMOUS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT WE CALL THE LOVE CHAPTER… IN 1 COR 13

IT TEACHES US THAT “LOVE…KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS.” (1 CORINTHIANS 13:5)

DO YOU SEE? GOD DOES NOT KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR MISTAKES AND SINS BECAUSE HIS LOVING NATURE LEADS HIM TO FORGIVE YOU.

• PASTOR: HOW CAN YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CONGREGATION TODAY TO RECEIVE GOD’S LOVING FORGIVENESS? ENCOURAGE THEM FOR A MOMENT HERE.

3. WAITING IS NOT PASSIVE, BUT ACTIVE PREPARATION

THIRDLY, WHEN YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT OF WAITING, REMEMBER THAT WAITING IS NOT PASSIVE BUT ACTIVE PREPARATION FOR WHEN GOD SHOWS UP.

THE PSALMIST CONTINUES,

Psalm 130:5–6 NKJV

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

NIV says it like this….

“I WAIT FOR THE LORD, MY WHOLE BEING WAITS, AND IN HIS WORD I PUT MY HOPE. I WAIT FOR THE LORD MORE THAN WATCHMEN WAIT FOR THE MORNING, MORE THAN WATCHMEN WAIT FOR THE MORNING” (130:5-6).

WE HAVE IMAGERY HERE OF THE NIGHT WATCHMEN STANDING GUARD ATOP THE CITY WALLS.

IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, AS IN MANY OTHER ANCIENT CULTURES, CITIES WERE OFTEN ENCLOSED BY WALLS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ENEMIES AND WILD ANIMALS.

WATCHMEN WERE STATIONED ON THESE WALLS TO KEEP A LOOKOUT TO DETECT ANY APPROACHING DANGER THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF A WATCHMAN WAS TO STAY AWAKE AND REMAIN ALERT DURING THE NIGHT, SO THAT THE CITY’S INHABITANTS WOULD BE SAFE.

THEY WOULD WATCH FOR SIGNS OF TROUBLE, LIKE AN INVADING ARMY OR OTHER THREATS.

THE PHRASE "WAITING FOR THE MORNING"EMPHASIZES THE WATCHMAN'S ANTICIPATION OF THE MORNING LIGHT, WHICH MEANT THE END OF THEIR SHIFT AND THE CERTAINTY OF SAFETY.

THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH DANGER AND UNCERTAINTY, WHILE MORNING LIGHT BROUGHT RELIEF AND A SENSE OF SECURITY.

Story about a Pastor friend of mine named Emory Berry

My family and I once went on a dinner cruise. As the captain shared the safety precautions, he also stressed we should all be patient if we had to wait for a bridge to be raised. It was smooth sailing until we came to an overhead bridge that required us to wait for what seemed like an eternity. The unusual wait time led the captain to call the bridge operator to inquire about the long wait. The operator told the captain he couldn’t draw the bridge because there was traffic on it that we couldn’t see from the boat. The captain then promised when the traffic above cleared, we would continue our journey below. Some of our blessings are delayed because God is clearing up traffic we can’t see from where we sit.

Simmons, Martha; Bell, Reginald . 500+ Illustrations for Preaching and Other Occasions (p. 57). The African American Pulpit Inc.. Kindle Edition.

HERE’S THE POINT: JUST AS THE MORNING IS CERTAIN TO COME, THE PSALMIST USES THIS IMAGERY TO EXPRESS HOPE AND TRUST IN THE LORD.

THE CERTAINTY OF THE MORNING IS PARALLELED WITH THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S DELIVERANCE AND PRESENCE.

A. PRAYER IS ACTIVE WAITING

THERE IS AN ESSENCE OF WAITING IN PRAYER.

PRAYER IS ACTIVE WAITING, PREPARATION FOR WHEN GOD SHOWS UP.

TRUE PRAYER IS NOT MERELY ABOUT PRESENTING OUR OWN THOUGHTS AND REQUESTS TO GOD BUT INVOLVES A DEEP, PATIENT WAITING FOR GOD TO “SPEAK” BACK TO US.

WAITING IN PRAYER FORCES US TO ADMIT OUR LIMITED ABILITY TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND, AND PUTS US IN A POSTURE TO RECEIVE THE WAY GOD SEES AND UNDERSTANDS.

GENUINE PRAYER GOES BEYOND OUR PERSONAL DESIRES.

THIS "WORD" WE WAIT FOR IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN FORCE OR CREATE OURSELVES; IT IS A GIFT THAT COMES IN ITS OWN TIME.

LIKE THE CERTAINTY OF THE MORNING SUNRISE, WE CAN HAVE EQUAL CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL SPEAK.

GOD WILL SHOW UP.

GOD WHO LOVES US TO SPEAK TO US IN WAYS THAT CAN TRANSFORM HEARTS AND UNDERSTANDING.

AND SO WE WAIT LIKE THE WATCHMEN FOR THE MORNING.

BY WAITING FOR A WORD WE CANNOT SPEAK TO OURSELVES, WE OPEN OURSELVES TO NEW PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHTS THAT CAN LEAD TO DEEPER GROWTH AND UNDERSTANDING.

THIS WAITING IS NOT PASSIVE BUT ACTIVE!

IT REQUIRES US TO PRACTICE STILLNESS, QUIETNESS, AND RECEPTIVITY TO THE VOICE OF GOD.

4. GOD LOVES YOU AND WILL REDEEM YOU

THE FOURTH THING TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE IN A HEAVY SEASON OF WAITING IS THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND WILL REDEEM YOU!

THIS IS GOOD NEWS! THE PSALMIST SAYS,

Psalm 130:7–8 NKJV

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

“ISRAEL, PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE LORD, FOR WITH THE LORD IS UNFAILING LOVE AND WITH HIM IS FULL REDEMPTION. HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM ISRAEL FROM ALL THEIR SINS” (130:7-8).

CONCLUSION

THE LIFE OF FAITH IS A JOURNEY. GOD MEETS US WHERE WE ARE BUT DOES NOT LEAVE US THERE.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CRY OUT TO GOD AND BE HONEST WITH HIM ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE FEELING; REMEMBER THAT GOD’S CORE NATURE IS SELF-GIVING LOVE AND THAT MEANS HE’S NOT AGAINST YOU KEEPING A RECORD OF WRONGS;

PRACTICE ACTIVE, LISTENING PRAYER AND WAIT FOR A WORD FROM GOD THAT YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO YOURSELF;

AND FINALLY, TRUST THAT GOD IS GOING TO REDEEM YOU AND HEAL EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS HEALED.

LET’S PRAYTOGETHER.