…waiting for the dawn
After saying goodbye to my son in Phoenix a few days ago, I’ve had the privilege of staying in Scottsdale for another 7 days. I’m up super early each morning because I go to bed super early every night (because of the health issues I’m experiencing). On morning #1, while it was still totally dark, I used the compass on my phone to place my chair due east so that I would not miss the sunrise. And God did not disappoint. The grandeur of his creation dazzled my eyes and nearly caused my heart to burst with joy. I’m serious. Consequently, I have not missed a single morning in my chair.
This morning, as I sat peacefully in the dark, waiting for the dawn on morning #6, God brought to mind Psalm 130, a prayer for mercy that concludes with the point of this post.
The psalmist begins with a rehearsal of the reality of his life. He says “I call to you, oh Lord, from out of the deep, aware of my sin and the distance I keep from the light.” Man, I have to do that every day! He goes on to say “Lord, if you kept a record of sin, who could ever stand in your presence?” True. But he doesn’t stop there. He says “BUT, there is forgiveness in Thee and in wonder I fall on my knees. My soul waits for the Lord, in the hope of his promise; [and] in the hope of his promise deliverance will come!”
- Deliverance!
- Deliverance from the turmoil I feel amidst our country’s political climate
- Deliverance from the pain of my illness
- Deliverance from the tensions that often exists in my marriage
- Deliverance from the fear of the future amidst financial strain
- Deliverance for my young adult children (both believers in Jesus Christ) as they deal with the highs and lows of becoming actual adults
- Deliverance in the form of mercy and grace as I daily become more and more aware of the depth of my depravity
- Deliverance!
But here’s the point this morning. As I literally sit on my chair with my computer on my lap, watching a most spectacular sunrise, the last part of Psalm 130 popped into my mind. The psalmist concludes his prayer with “I wait patiently for the Lord’s forgiveness and deliverance [just] like a watchman waits patiently for the coming of the dawn.” A night-watchman sits patiently in the dark waiting and waiting for his replacement; and the dawn, for him, signifies the coming of that replacement. Similarly, I’ve been sitting here this morning since it was pitch black waiting for my morning sunrise. However this morning, God actually gave me the literal reality of my visual experience. Just like that watchman, I must wait patiently for my promised deliverance just as a night-watchman waits patiently for the dawn. Oh. My. Goodness. What a gift.
Wait, friend wait. Wait with your nose in the Bible and your eyes fixed on Jesus. Deliverance will come.