Waiting
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.
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plenteous redemption.
Psalm 130:5-7, KJV
Have you ever stood watch during the night? I have. There were eight of us on a two-week outward-bound, sailing-and-survival training course on a small craft somewhere in the Florida Keys. At night, we would anchor close to a small island. During the night, we each took one-hour shifts on “anchor watch.” And yes, that is every bit as exciting as it sounds. The person on watch had the privilege of sitting in a gently rocking boat with a soft breeze rustling through the rigging under a moonlit sky while staring at the anchor line that disappeared into the dark water. One watched the anchor line to see if it moved. If the line broke or the anchor dislodged, we could drift away to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico or we could drift into the Atlantic toward Africa. So, while “anchor watch” was not exciting, it was incredibly important.
The Psalmist appears to be even more eager to encounter the Lord than a night watchman is for the dawn. Let’s face it, waiting is just plain hard.
In the next verse of the Psalm, we hear some really good news, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love.” No matter what our situation, no matter what it is for which we wait, God’s steadfast love is ever present. His love is present and gives us a source of hope.
At times when I meditate on verse six, I imagine God as the Watchman. When I do, I am met with a sense of comfort and security. I think of Him watching over my life to sound the warning if/when I begin to drift from the safety of the still waters of His love and grace. Today, I give thanks as I think of the Lord of all creation watching over the “anchor line” of my journey through life.
Prayer
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, p.831
