I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 23, 2016): Psalm 40

There is an old joke that says “I asked the Lord for patience, but he made me wait for it.” I know, the saying is probably too true to be funny. We simply are not the most patient people on the planet. A number of years ago I went to a high-class wedding reception held at one of the premiere restaurants in our city. The great news was that this was to be a six-course meal prepared by some of the best chef’s in the area. The bad news was that the meal would be served slowly throughout over the entire evening - from appetizer to dessert, this meal was going to be a five-hour marathon. Long before the entrée arrived, I was plotting for a way to make a break for the McDonald’s just down the street. Waiting is not my thing (and, no, I currently have no intentions to ask God for help, I have enough waiting in my life already.)

But we don’t wait well. We are frustrated when we go through the drive through at McDonalds and they tell us that we have to go and park our car in the waiting area. Or when the person lining up in front of us in the “Express 12 items or less” line has 13 items. Life just doesn’t seem fair. Why should life make us wait?

So the opening line of Psalm 40 doesn’t really make sense to us – I waited patiently. How can anyone in our culture be expected to wait patiently? Actually, the original Hebrew makes the verse even stranger. The verse opens up with the word ‘wait’ twice (qavah qavah). Literally, waiting I waited. Doesn’t modern life have enough waiting in it without telling us that we need to wait while we are waiting?

Too often, we just want to go forward and take our chances, even if it means going without God. Waiting just doesn’t make any sense when we can force the issue. After all, we have to grab the bull by the horns, the change the world needs is the change that is right now residing inside of us; there are so many inspirational speeches that seem to indicate that the time for waiting is not now. Now is the time for action.

But for those who see a strong messianic content in David’s words, this passage doesn’t just raise the expectation that God has for us, it is a summation of the character of Jesus. Jesus knew what it was to wait. He never seemed to be in a hurry. Even throughout his trials leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus waited – no, more than that, waiting he waited.  

And so we learn to wait on God. We wish that he would move quicker, but we know that he is always on time. I love Peter’s words - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Waiting, he waited. And so those who endeavor to be like him learn to do the same thing. Waiting, we wait.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 53