“My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning.” –Psalm 130:6
Sometimes I see my Bible and I feel like a man who walked the desert and rejoiced in finding a watery oasis, and other times I feel mysteriously heartless. My mood rides the waves of circumstances and unpredictable affections of the heart. Church services can be much the same way. I question whether I should just read the Bible or sing this song anyway, despite my disinterest. Yet, I grow deep in my fear of the Lord, praying I don’t end up like the hypocrites Jesus says “honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
There is a precious hope wrapped up in the biblical words “longing” and “waiting.” Every trial and every struggle which comes my way is a warm invitation of my heavenly Father to find in Him my strength, joy, and peace to persevere in this journey. I long for the Lord to answer my pleas for mercy when I’m in the depths of woe. What else does it mean when my affections for the disciplines of grace such as Bible reading, prayer, and worship grow dim but that a trial is upon me and tempts me to abandon from hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow? The dullness of my heart weakens my resolve to pray, read Scripture, or attend church. Beloved, to feel heartless in our worship of Christ is not an exercise in trying to recover feeling “it,” but in longing and waiting for the Lord.
Waiting is a major part of our modern lives. We wait in the doctor’s office only to wait for the doctor when finally in a room. We wait in lines. We wait on hold when calling customer service. Yet, waiting for the Lord is not passive like these things. The Psalmist waits for the Lord “more than watchmen for the morning.” There is an active anticipation in waiting for the Lord that is MORE than a nightshift guard waiting for the sun to rise.
Waiting for the Lord means to shift our focus away from our unaffectionate hearts and toward Christ in faith in who He is and what He says of His affection for you. Our Lord says to ask whatever you want in His name. Ask the Father for the “want tos,” the deep feeling of longing as you wait with eager anticipation greater than a watchman for the morning. The Psalmist waits for the Lord with greater joy and assurance of His coming than a watchmen of the rising sun.
Through your faith in Christ the Son of God your soul can wait for the Lord by putting your hope in His Word (vs5). Press on with certainty knowing He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of the Lord’s coming (Philippians 1:6). Press on knowing that a trial of indifference is purely a temptation, and He will not allow this temptation without an escape (I Corinthians 10:13). When your heart lacks the “want tos,” you will find it is there in the depths you need Scripture, prayer, and fellowship more than ever. Pray as one crying out of the depths like this Psalm, confessing and rejoicing that you stand before the Lord who could mark our iniquities but has instead judged your sin finally and fully upon Christ at the cross.
Christ loves you now. His affections are not like ours in and out, up and down, hot and cold. Paul assures us in Romans 8 that God is for us and not against us (31), graciously giving us all things (32), all charges of sin are completely pardoned for God’s elect who cannot be condemned (33-34), and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (35-39).
We must hold onto the word of His promise as we wait for the Lord. With this great comforting assurance of His grace, our soul can wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Behold, He is coming, He is with you, He will not abandon you. His love for you is steadfast. Your weary heart can rejoice in the Word of His great promise. Your soul can rest as you wait for Him with patience. To God be the glory!
Heavenly Father, forgive my fickle heart which may be warm today and cold tomorrow. From the depths of woe my soul cries out to You. May my prayer reach Your ears, I beg a hearing for Your mercy. You are a God who could mark all my iniquities which would bar my standing before You. I fear Your awesome power and pure holiness, and in Your grace my sin is forgiven. I wait for You, Lord, with hope in Your Word more than a watchman waits for the sunrise. May all Your covenant people rejoice in Your redeeming, steadfast love. We wait for it with patience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
