"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than watchmen wait for the morning
More than watchmen wait for the morning…"
Psalm 130:5-6
These verses have really resonated with me lately. I’m not the type of person to sit still and wait. As hard as it is for some people to take action and do something. It is just as excruciating for me to not take matters into my own hands and to simply wait and listen to God’s gentle guidance and his directions for my life.
When I first read these verses about the psalmist comparing his activities (or in this case non-activity) to that of a watchman, it made me curious to learn more about the role of a watchman. In ancient times, a watchman or a group of them would be stationed at the city gate and along the tops of the city walls to guard, keep watch and report to their leader sightings of approaching visitors, or perhaps the king returning from an expedition, and especially of any suspicious activities and potential threats.
Just as a watchman is waiting in the dark, bored or anxious of not being able to perceive what might be coming towards the him and just as he is eagerly waiting for the break of dawn, the psalmist too is impatiently waiting for a clearer picture to arise of what might be in store for him.
So that is where I am right now. I am waiting. I am impatient. But I am waiting and not acting. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits!
