May 19, Worth waiting.

As the eyes of the slave look to the hand of the master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy.

Psalm 123:2

Waiting.  Hoping for relief.  Eager for a return to something familiar or normal.  Waiting.  But how does God’s Word instruct us to wait?

Psalm 123:2 reveals the reality of waiting.  The psalmist wrote, “until God reveals His favor”, thus indicating the anticipation of God’s mercy and redemption.  Categorized as an "Ascent Psalm", the anticipation built as the Jewish pilgrim sojourned up to Jerusalem for one of three annual festivals.  And, with this song of anticipation came the heart’s posture of waiting until the reality of God’s favor would be manifested.      

Notice that the posture of waiting becomes identified as a servant before his or her master: “like a servant’s eye on his master’s hand, or a servant girl’s eyes on her mistresses’ hand” (Psalm 123:2).  This indicates a familiar depiction from stories of old where the servant stood ready, marking every movement of the master, waiting for that gesture of hand when the servant would be given something specific to which they should respond.  Ready!  Serving!  Attentive!  Waiting!    

So, waiting can be understood as “serving.”  Such a posture of waiting anticipates being a participant more than a recipient.  If one waits only as a recipient, then the posture can easily turn toward self as if to prioritize only the hope of a personal benefit from the waiting.  However, waiting as a participant (which is the meaning of the imagery in the above Psalm) prioritizes not simply what self will benefit from, but what the Master will do and how one can join in the master’s work.  This is indeed the true measure of waiting by faith.  Can you envision the posture?  Eyes are attentive.  Anticipation of the Master’s favor causes the servant to lean in with hopeful eagerness not to simply receive, but to participate in the activity of the Master.  This is the message of the ascent Psalm.  This is the reason for the imagery of the servant before the master.  This is our divine instruction of how we are to wait upon the Lord.   

Actively waiting.  Ready to serve.   

Consider how waiting gives us the proper posture for following Jesus.  At the opening of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He and his disciples attended a wedding at Cana.  In response to an urgent request at the ceremony, Mary looked to Jesus.  Uncertain of what He would do, she gave the servants of the wedding direction that resembles the posture of waiting discovered in Psalm 123.   As everyone waited for Jesus’ response, Mary looked at the servants and offered this simple directive, “do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).  The crisis came.  They attempted to find a remedy.  They eventually looked to Jesus, and they waited for His instruction.  The servants never abandoned their role or responsibility; they waited in the posture of service for the master’s instruction.  

Today, perhaps you are tired of waiting.  Such a feeling is understandable and shared by many.  But waiting does not have to be fatiguing.  

Waiting can become a time of renewal as you take on the posture of serving – the perspective of participant over recipient.  As you wait, daily attend to the spiritual duties already assigned to you.  Serve.  And as you serve, watch the Master.  Do not take your eyes off Him.  Wait!  Serve!  Watch!   God is about to do something amazing, and He invites you to participate.  

Blessings.

READ

Read John 2:1-11, and allow the story of the wedding at Cana to stir your soul to “do whatever He tells you.”