JULY 2
Psalm 130:5-6, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”
I’ve served as a watchman of sorts. While aboard the submarine, part of my role was to stand watch in the control room, overseeing the electrical operation of the nuclear power plant. Often, the hours were tedious and boring, making it a real challenge to stay awake and alert. I found myself counting down the hours until “morning” — the moment when my replacement would arrive and I could finally get some much-needed rest.
In Psalm 130:6, the psalmist declares, “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” In ancient Israel, watchmen stood guard through the dark, silent hours of the night, alert for danger and longing for the break of day. Morning meant safety, rest, and the assurance that the night had passed. The psalmist uses this image to express a soul waiting—not in despair, but in confident hope—for God’s mercy and redemption.
Waiting for the Lord, as described in Psalm 130, is not passive or uncertain; it is an active, hopeful attitude rooted in trust. The psalmist acknowledges the depths of despair—“out of the depths I cry to you, Lord” (Psalm 130:1)—recognizing the weight of sin and its troubling influence. Yet, amid this darkness, he clings to the confident assurance that God is forgiving and full of steadfast love, “that he may redeem Israel from all their iniquities” (Psalm 130:8).
To wait for the Lord means to place our hope fully in His mercy, patiently trusting that He will answer, forgive, and restore in due time. It is a waiting filled with patience, prayer, and expectation, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and His love never fails. This kind of waiting instructs and transforms our hearts, giving us peace even before the dawn breaks.
“Those who wait on 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.”— Isaiah 40:31
Application Questions: When have you experienced God’s faithfulness after a season of waiting or hardship? How can recalling that encourage you in your current struggles? Is there some particular trouble in your life in which you need to wait patiently and trust God’s timing?
LookingtoJesus 