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Meaning of Waiting Patiently on the Lord in Scripture

The concept of "waiting patiently on the Lord" in Scripture encompasses a range of meanings, often involving steadfast endurance, hope, and submission to God's timing and will. The Hebrew verb קָוָה (qawah), frequently translated as "wait" or "hope," appears in passages like Psalm 130:5, where the psalmist declares, "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" [7]. Another related Hebrew term is הוֹחָל (hochāl), also translated as "hope" in Psalm 130:5, indicating an active expectation [7]. Similarly, Lamentations 3:25 states that "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him," using a form of קָוָה (qawah) [9]. Biblical names like Hachaliah ("who waits for the Lord") and Jahleel ("waiting for, or beseeching, or hope in, God") further illustrate this concept's embeddedness in ancient Israelite understanding [3, 6].

In the Psalms, waiting on the Lord is frequently enjoined. Psalm 27:14 exhorts, "Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!" [1]. John Gill interprets this as a call for believers to wait on the Lord for daily blessings, for the return of His countenance, for answers to prayer, and for the fulfillment of His promises [13]. This waiting is not passive idleness but an active posture of trust and expectation [11]. Gill also notes that Christ himself exemplified this patient waiting, particularly in the garden and on the cross, maintaining firm expectation of God's help despite suffering [12].

The New Testament expands on this theme, often using the Greek word ὑπομονή (hypomonē), which signifies "patient endurance" or "perseverance" [16]. James 5:7 urges believers to "Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain" [2]. This analogy highlights the active, hopeful nature of waiting, akin to a farmer who diligently works while anticipating the harvest [2]. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists patience as a characteristic enjoined upon believers, leading to experience and hope, and to be exercised in running the race set before us, bringing forth fruit, and well-doing [4].

Waiting on God, according to Torrey, involves several aspects: waiting as the God of providence, as the God of salvation, as the Giver of all temporal blessings, and waiting for mercy, pardon, consolation, guidance, protection, and the fulfillment of His word and promises [5]. It also includes waiting for the hope of the gospel and the coming of Christ [5]. This patient waiting is considered good and is something God calls His people to do [5].

The theological implications of waiting patiently are significant. It requires submission, prayer, hope, and faith, leading to a quiet spirit and renewed inner strength [15]. Isaiah's message, for instance, encouraged the godly to await the final downfall of ungodly power structures, trusting in God's timing [15]. Calvin notes that God "calmly waits" and does not act with "bustling or hurry," contrasting divine patience with human impatience and emphasizing God's measured judgment [10]. This divine patience serves as a model for believers, who are called to manifest perseverance in seeking God, waiting upon Him, praying, and continuing in faith [8]. The "patience of Christ" (ὑπομονή Χριστοῦ) mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 refers to the endurance Christ himself showed, which believers are to emulate, connecting this grace with the hope of Christ's return [14]. This enduring perseverance is essential for receiving the promised reward of eternal life and bliss [16].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 27:14 (BSB) — Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!”
  2. James “Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. -- James 5:7”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hachaliah — who waits for the Lord”
  4. 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”
  5. 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”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jahleel — waiting for, or beseeching, or hope in, God”
  7. MACULA Hebrew “Psalms 130:5 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑ י וְֽ לִ דְבָר֥ וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי Word-by-word: קִוִּ֣יתִי (qiwwiyṯî) = "wait for" [6960] Vpp1cs; יְ֭הוָה (yhwh) = "LORD" [3068] Np; קִוְּתָ֣ה (qiwwəṯāh) = "waits" [6960] Vpp3fs; נַפְשִׁ֑ = "soul" [5315] Ncbsc; י = "my" [2967a] Sp1cs; וְֽ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; לִ (li) = "in" [3807a] R; דְבָר֥ = "word" [1697] Ncmsc; וֹ = "his" [2050c] Sp3ms; הוֹחָֽלְתִּי (hôḥālətî:) = "hope" [3176] Vhp1cs”
  8. 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”
  9. MACULA Hebrew “Lamentations 3:25 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ לְ קוָֹ֔ ו לְ נֶ֖פֶשׁ תִּדְרְשֶֽׁ נּוּ Word-by-word: ט֤וֹב (ṭôḇ) = "good" [2896] Aamsa; יְהוָה֙ (yhwh) = "LORD" [3068] Np; לְ (lə) = "to" [3807a] R; קוָֹ֔ = "wait for" [6960] Vqrmpc; ו = "him" [2050c] Sp3ms; לְ (lə) = "to" [3807a] R; נֶ֖פֶשׁ (nep̄eš) = "person" [5315] Ncbsa; תִּדְרְשֶֽׁ = "seeks" [1875] Vqi3fs; נּוּ = "him" [5105b] Sp3ms”
  10. 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”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 62:5: My soul, wait thou only upon God,.... Be silent and subject to him, acquiesce in his providences, rest in him patiently and quietly, wait for his salvation; See Gill on Psa 62:1; perhaps some new temptation might arise, and David's soul began to be uneasy and impatient; for frames are very changeable things; and therefore he encourages it to be still and quiet, and patiently wait on the Lord, and on him only: for my expectation is from him; or "my hope", as the Targum; the grace of hope is from the Lord, and the thing hoped for is from him; he is the author and the ”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 40:1: I waited patiently for the Lord,.... Or "waiting I waited" (i); which denotes continuance, constancy, and patience; and which Christ exercised in the garden, when he submitted himself entirely to the will of God; and on the cross, when he continued in sure hope and firm expectation of his help and assistance, though he was for a while forsaken by him; see Isa 50:7; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry; both in the garden, by delivering him from fear of death; and on the cross, by upholding, helping, and assisting him, by carrying him through his sufferings and ”
  13. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 27:14: Wait on the Lord,.... This, with what follows, is spoken by the psalmist either to himself or to others, or it may be to both, upon the rich experience he declares in Psa 27:13, it becomes believers to wait on the Lord for the common blessings of life, for even the eyes of all wait upon him for their daily food; and for the light of his countenance, when it is withdrawn from them, for he will return again at the set time; and for answers of prayer, which will be given sooner or later; and for the performance of his promises, which are yea and amen in Christ: they sho”
  14. 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”
  15. Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 8:17: 8:17 I will wait for the Lord . . . I will put my hope in him: Isaiah’s message against Syria, Israel, and Assyria would be proven true in the historical events that followed. The fulfillment would further encourage the godly to await the final downfall of all ungodly power structures (see 8:9-10). Waiting for the Lord requires submission, prayer, hope, and faith (see 25:9; 26:8; 33:2), resulting in a quiet spirit and a renewal of inner strength (40:31). The book of Hebrews applies these words to Jesus Christ (Heb 2:13). • God had turned away; the people of Israel”
  16. 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”
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