by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Waiting Patiently for Redemption

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“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.”
Psalm 130:5-6 English Standard Version

It feels like we’re waiting, waiting for things to change for the better.

• We’re waiting for government leaders to get their act together, that is, the way that we think they should act.
• We’re waiting for our financial situation to improve so that we can live the dream that we’ve always wanted to live.
• We’re waiting for our health to be restored and fear to disappear like the morning mist.

How difficult it must have been to be the night guard when this psalm was written. The sentinel didn’t have the advantage of night vision goggles, radar, or advanced weaponry. He walked along the walls hoping for the light of the moon to help him see if enemies were approaching and if his city was in danger.

How, on a new moon night, he must have longed for the light of morning and the comfort of his bed.

The psalmist was familiar with the anxiety of the watchmen for he states that the longing of his soul is greater than that of those watchmen. However, his greatest longing wasn’t for situations to change in his life, his longing was for his covenant God, the God who had rescued his people from their bondage to the Egyptians. He waits patiently for his God to rescue him out of the depths of his sin (Psalm 130:3-4).

“O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.”
Psalm 130:7 ESV

We join with the psalmist in waiting for the Lord to come and pour on us his grace and mercy. We wait for the day when Jesus will return in his glory when sin, death, and Satan will be no more. We wait because of God’s steadfast love and his abundant redemption. We wait for the Lord more than the watchmen wait for the glow of morning.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado