One of my favorite worship bands came out with a new album the other day. I sat there listening to it, fully enjoying what I was hearing until one song came on. As I listened I heard the phrase, “We’re waiting on you Lord.” I bristled. I fumed. I hate that statement. It’s stupid. Waiting on Him for what? Waiting on salvation? Done. Waiting on deliverance? Done. Waiting on healing? Done. Waiting on God. What a dumb thing to say. Why on earth… (And before you say, “Well, that term is in the Bible.” I’m well aware but let me just say, the vast majority of them are in the Old Testament when they were, in fact, waiting on God. When the term is used in the New Testament its almost always used in reference to the second coming which we are still waiting for.)
It was in the middle of this tirade that God knocked me off my soapbox. He reminded me that the English language is weirdly nuanced and words often have more than one meaning. First off let me just ease your mind, we are most definitely not waiting on him by this definition — “the action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or until something else happens.” God is not stationary. He’s omnipresent. God is not delaying action. He acted 2000 years ago when He sent His Son to die on the cross. Jesus cried out “it is finished” — not, it’s mostly finished, but there’s just one or two things. He settled the fact forever that we are not waiting on Him. If we’re going to use this definition, let me tell you, in every respect, He is waiting on us — to believe and to act on His Word. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that He has, “given us EVERYTHING that pertains to life and to godliness.” And let me just say, the use of the word “everything” leaves little wiggle room for interpretation.
Waiting can also mean to act as an attendant or servant to — to attend to someone’s needs or desires. While God may not have needs He certainly had a desire. He was lonely. He yearned for fellowship, companionship, so He created mankind. You. What an awesome thought, that when God had a problem (for lack of a better word), His answer was you. Using this definition we should absolutely wait on Him. We attend to His words. We listen and obey. Psalms 37:34a gives us insight into how to do just that. “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” Another way to say this is, you do your part (Wait on and attend to His words) and God will do His part.
As I let that word roll around in my mind another thought tumbled out. Not only can words have different meanings, they can be entirely different parts of speech. (Sorry to get all “English Teachery” on you.) Let’s go from verb to adjective — “waiting” can not only be what we do but can describe who we are. In each of the royal courts of Europe there were a group of people called “Ladies-in-Waiting.” (Now I know not all of you reading this are ladies, but hear me out.) What many people do not know is that, historically, ladies-in-waiting were often noblewomen, but of lower rank than the woman to whom she attended. They were royal and served their queen as we are royal and serve our King. What beautiful symbolism to use to describe who we are! People-in-waiting.
Psalms 8:3-5 says it this way “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Most know that in verse 5 the word “angels” was incorrectly translated. The original word was Elohim. God. We were made a little lower than God. The angels can’t grasp it. They are not redeemed. They serve from a place of duty and obligation. We serve from a place of relationship and love. We are the redeemed and, yes, we wait on Him.
Things Pondered 