“But for you, O LORD, do I wait.”
David missed the train! At least he was feeling that way. It was as if the goodness and presence of God had just left the station and David was watching it go. I am speaking metaphorically, of course. As Spurgeon puts it, "David felt as if he had been forgotten of his God...."
Had God really forgotten him? Read Psalm 38. David takes inventory and doesn't like what he sees. Physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually -- he was a wreck.
The situation was not good. But David was not going to let his situation dictate his orientation. David was "eyes up!"
“But for you, O LORD, do I wait.”
"But"
"But" is a contrasting word. David wants us to see the contrast. He is comparing his health (weak), his sin (heavy), his wounds (self-inflicted), his anguish (pronounced), his heartache (throbbing), his friends (vanished), his enemies (many) . . . with his orientation.
“But for you, O LORD, do I wait.”
"For you"
David is not waiting for the gifts of God -- he is waiting for God. He is not demanding. He is patient. Any why? Because nothing could be better than the presence of the LORD.
“But for you, O LORD, do I wait.”
"O LORD"
LORD is the English translation of the Hebrew, "YHWH," God's personal name. Think about this. David may be patient, but he is audacious. He's not looking for one of God's representatives. He wants God. He fully expects God to be personally involved in the affairs of his life. Yes, that is worth the wait!
“But for you, O LORD, do I wait.”
"Do I wait"
Read to the end of the Psalm. David is still at the station. God has yet to show his face, but David is okay with that. Waiting is not demanding. Waiting is patient expectancy.
Eyes up!
I am not like David. Too often . . .
- I prefer to "get after it" rather than "wait for it."
- I want the gifts of God more than God.
- I prefer my activity to God's presence.
- I want direction more than the Director.
- I want God's favor more than I want the Father.
Forgive me Lord. I want to be like David. I'll wait . . . eyes up!
"David felt as if he had been forgotten ..." from Psalm 38, The Treasury of David, by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.