La Patience De Dieu Dans L'attente De La Rédemption

God's patience in waiting for redemption is a recurring theme in biblical theology, highlighting divine forbearance and the steadfast expectation of ultimate salvation. This patience is not a passive quality but an active, purposeful attribute of God, often linked with His mercy and justice ^{[1, 8, 9]}.

The concept of "waiting upon God" is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects of divine interaction with humanity. It includes waiting for God as the God of providence, salvation, and the giver of temporal blessings ^[2]. Believers are called to wait for God's mercy, pardon, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises ^[2]. This waiting is described as good and is an act God calls His people to ^[2]. The name Hachaliah, for instance, means "who waits for the Lord," illustrating this ancient understanding ^[5].

The prophet Isaiah articulates this divine patience, stating, "Yet therefore will the Lord waite, that he may haue mercy vpon you, and therefore wil he be exalted, that hee may haue compassion vpon you: for the Lord is the God of iudgement. Blessed are all they that waite for him" ^[1]. John Calvin interprets this passage as God calmly waiting, not acting with "bustling or hurry," because He always promotes the salvation of His people, even when chastising them ^[9]. This patience is contrasted with human impatience, emphasizing that God observes limits in punishment, remembering His mercy "in the midst of wrath" ^[9].

The New Testament further develops the theme of patience, both as a divine attribute and a human virtue. The Apostle Paul refers to God as "the God of patience and consolation," indicating that patience is inherent to His character and the source of comfort for believers ^[8]. This divine patience is the foundation upon which the efficacy of Scripture in producing patience and comfort depends ^[8].

The "patience of Christ" is also a significant concept, referring to the endurance Christ Himself demonstrated and the endurance He requires of His followers ^{[7, 11]}. Christ patiently waits until His enemies are made His footstool, and His Church, in turn, endures patiently, anticipating His coming kingdom ^[7]. This "waiting endurance" or "enduring perseverance" is connected to the hope of Christ's return ^{[10, 11]}. The "earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God," as Romans 8:19 states, pointing to a cosmic dimension of this waiting for redemption ^[3].

Patience is not merely a passive state but an active characteristic of saints, evidenced in seeking God, waiting upon Him, persevering in prayer and well-doing, and continuing in faith ^[6]. It is a fruit of trials, producing experience and hope ^[4]. The perseverance of saints is maintained through the power of God, the power and intercession of Christ, and the fear of God ^[6].

God's patience can also manifest as silence, as seen in Psalm 50:21, where God's silence is attributed to His patience ^[12]. This divine forbearance allows time for repentance and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The expectation of redemption, therefore, is deeply intertwined with both God's enduring patience and the patient endurance He cultivates in His people ^{[10, 13]}.

Sources

Isaiah “Isaiah 30:18 (Geneva1599) — Yet therefore will the Lord waite, that he may haue mercy vpon you, and therefore wil he be exalted, that hee may haue compassion vpon you: for the Lord is the God of iudgement. Blessed are all they that waite for him.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
King James Version “[KJV] Romans 8:19 — For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hachaliah — who waits for the Lord”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 3:10: patience--"endurance." "The word of My endurance" is My Gospel word, which teaches patient endurance in expectation of my coming (Rev 1:9). My endurance is the endurance which I require, and which I practice. Christ Himself now endures, patiently waiting until the usurper be cast out, and all "His enemies be made His footstool." So, too, His Church, for the joy before her of sharing His coming kingdom, endures patiently. Hence, in Rev 3:11, follows, "Behold, I come quickly." I also--The reward is in kind: "because thou didst keep," &c. "I also (o”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 15:4: Now the God of patience and consolation,.... These titles and characters of God are manifestly used on account of what is before said concerning the Scriptures, and to show, that the efficacy and usefulness of them, in producing and promoting patience and comfort, entirely depend upon God the author of them: from exhorting, the apostle proceeds to petitioning; well knowing that all his exhortations would be of no avail without the power of divine grace accompanying them. The words are a prayer. The object addressed is described as "the God of patience", because he is ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 18.30: will chastise thee in judgment. 298 298 {Bogus footnote} ( Jeremiah 30:11 .) “Judgment” is thus contrasted with severity, when the Lord observes a limit in punishing believers, that he may not ruin those whose salvation he always promotes; and, accordingly, as Habakkuk says, “in the midst of wrath he remembers his mercy.” ( Habakkuk 3:2 .) He is not like us, therefore; he does not act with bustling or hurry, otherwise at every moment we must perish, but he calmly waits. Nor is it a slight confirmation of this when he adds, that God gives a p”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:36: patience--Greek, "waiting endurance," or "enduring perseverance": the kindred Greek verb in the Septuagint, Hab 2:3, is translated, "wait for it" (compare Jam 5:7). after ye have done the will of God--"that whereas ye have done the will of God" hitherto (Heb 10:32-35), ye may now show also patient, persevering endurance, and so "receive the promise," that is, the promised reward: eternal life and bliss commensurate with our work of faith and love (Heb 6:10-12). We must not only do, but also suffer (Pe1 4:19). God first uses the active talents of Hi”
2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:5: If "the Lord" be here the Holy Ghost (Co2 3:17), the three Persons of the Trinity will occur in this verse. love of God--love to God. patient waiting for Christ--rather as Greek, "the patience (endurance) of Christ," namely, which Christ showed [ALFORD] (Th2 2:4; Th1 1:3). ESTIUS, however, supports English Version (compare Rev 1:9; Rev 3:10). At all events, this grace, "patience," or persevering endurance, is connected with the "hope" (Th1 1:3, Th1 1:10) of Christ's coming. In ALFORD'S translation we may compare Heb 12:1-2, "Run with patien”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 50:21: 50:21 Because he is patient, God remained silent.”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 130:4: I wait for the Lord,.... For his gracious presence and the light of his countenance, being in darkness, as well as in the deep; for his salvation and deliverance out of the depths of distress; for an answer of prayer, having cried unto him for application of pardoning grace he had some view and hopes of; and for the performance of promises the Lord had made to him; and for eternal glory and happiness: all which are to be patiently and quietly waited for, God having his set time to do them; and may be confidently expected, since he is gracious and merciful, wise and p”

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