Snapshot
👀: Original post.
My Dear Friend,
The author of Psalm 130 is waiting steadfastly, confidently, intently, and expectantly for God to answer his prayer according to His promises. “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word [promise] do I hope” (Psalm 130:5). But this statement apparently didn’t fully say what he wanted to say.
So, he describes his expectation again, this time more specifically: “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning [dawn]; I say, more than they that watch for the morning [dawn]” (Psalm 130:6).
Ah, now we have a metaphor to work with, an example, a symbol that more accurately describes the psalmist’s hope. Like a sentry awaiting the dawn of a new day, so he is awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promise to begin a new season in his life.
So, here’s the point: he is comparing the fulfillment of God’s promises to the coming of the dawn. He is saying, “Lord, your promises are as sure as the dawn.” Here we are dealing with a universally understood fact. Whoever we are, whatever we do, and wherever we are on planet earth, we are all very familiar with the dawn. We know it is certain, fixed, immutable.
The dawn always comes. It never fails. Divinely scheduled, it occurs with regularity and precision. Thus, it always comes in God’s time, not ours. Yet it always changes our times: it always ends our nights and always begins our new days. It always brings light, dispelling the darkness; and clarity, to replace the obscurity; and a fresh beginning, that makes us forget the long, old night. Winds, rains, even hurricanes cannot stop the dawn. Our poverty or prosperity cannot stop it, nor our popularity or reproach. Good leaders and misleaders cannot alter the dawn. Bad days cannot slow it’s coming, nor can good days hasten it. Neither God’s enemies, nor ours, can change its rhythmic arrival. Demons cannot destroy it. And though clouds may hide it temporarily from our sight, it comes anyway behind them, on schedule, from God’s hand, unchangeable, sure, reliable.
The dawn, therefore, is one of the most predictable, constant, and trustworthy things known to man. And so are all of God’s promises to every one of His humble, obedient, trusting, prayerful, God-fearing, Word-loving servants! They, too, are fulfilled like the coming of the dawn.
No sentry, however weak-minded or anxious, has ever worried that the dawn might not come. He may dread and fret over what enemies, thieves, or traitors may do on his watch. He may be impatient and discontent for the dawn’s appearance. He may be lonely and cold and full of longing. But that the dawn will eventually come, that no sentry can doubt, even for a moment. So, with unbroken confidence he “watch[es] for the morning” (Psalm 130:6).
What do you need from God’s hand today? With childlike simplicity, ask for it, citing God’s applicable unfailing promises, and it shall be given unto you. Keep seeking, with faith and obedience, and ye shall find. Keep knocking at God’s door, expressing confidence and offering anticipatory worship for the approaching “dawn” of His promise, and His door shall be opened unto you.
Wait for God as a sentry waiting for daybreak. Occupy well - seeking Him daily, staying full of His Word, praying always, faithfully discharging your duties, paying your vows, and walking in love. No sentry has ever doubted that dawn would come. As one of Christ’s wise and faithful sentries, never doubt the eventual dawn of His promise, not for one second! Rather, await the arrival of God’s promise in your life confidently, restfully, joyfully, praisefully, in full fellowship with the Promiser, not hoping but knowing that His promise is as sure as the dawn!
On duty…
