Advent Day 2

Day 2: Waiting

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
 My hope is in You. (Psalm 39:7)

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. (Psalm 62:5-7)

[T]hose who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31)

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Rom 8:18-25)

The Hebrew word for "wait" is qawa, which according to Strongs means to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:— gather (together).

How does "binding together" and "gathering" have anything to do with waiting?  What I get from this is that waiting is not a solo sport!  We are not called to wait alone.  We are bound together - the Comforter within, and the Body without.  There are many aspects to the Holy Spirit's work in us, but that is a subject for another time.  Today, as I wait, I am so thankful for the Body!  We, though many, are one...

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken!  (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

As brothers and sisters in The Lord, we are actually to be bound together even as we wait to be free from this bondage to decay.  It's a spiritual union that has great and wonderful physical ramifications.  We are to comfort and encourage one another in very real and meaningful ways through these "light and momentary afflictions" that can seem like two-ton boulders on our backs.  We are to pray for one another, and we are to love one another and build each other up.  We are to live in harmony with each other, and never bite or devour each other or cause another to stumble.  We are to be kind to one another, bear one another's burdens, submit to one another, and address one another with hymns and psalms and spiritual songs as we eagerly wait to see our Lord and Savior face to face.  It is not a small thing we are called to as we wait!

The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”  And so we wait... but not alone!  And not without MUCH responsibility!

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)