What does it mean to “wait on the Lord”? To wait on the Lord is an idea that we read of in the text (Ps 27:14; 37:7; 130:5–6; Isa 40:31; Lam 3:25), sing in songs, and say when we talk about the need for patience. It’s a phrase often used, but one that I have not always understood to the degree that the biblical writers did.
In the world around the OT, to wait on one’s god meant to wait for a direct response. It was custom for kings to go to priests and diviners to ask them to approach their chosen god about important military decisions. They were not to act rashly, but instead, they were supposed to wait on a sign or response from their god. Kings would task experts to search for signs. They’d sacrifice animals to see if the gods answered on the organs, watch the alignment of the stars and the flights of birds, and they’d hope to have special dreams from their god.
In 1 Sam 28, Saul faces the conundrum that every king dreaded: silence from one’s god. The Philistines have surrounded Israel, causing Saul’s heart to “tremble greatly” (v. 5). To discover God’s solution, Saul attempted every form of communication that God told him to try: wait for a dream (cf. Num 12:6), use the Urim and Thummim (sacred objects that the high priest used to determine God’s will in a certain situation found in Ex 28:30), and receive answers from prophets (v. 6). Saul never received a response through any of these (cf. 1 Sam 14:37). The reason for the silence is not because God was present but cruel, but because God was no longer present with Saul (1 Sam 16:14; 18:12). Therefore, instead of waiting on the Lord, he attempted to drudge up Samuel to force a response through a necromancer in Endor (vv. 7, 11). Witchcraft was condemned in Israel (Deut 18:10–12), and Saul had recently cast out all who practice such things (cf. v. 9). Yet, he is willing to break his own ruling to get what he wants.
Why is Saul’s action so wrong? Of course, it was strictly prohibited for Israelites to participate in witchcraft. However, Saul’s sin is one that transcends disobeying the Law. Saul used every form of communication with God possible, but instead of waiting for a response, he sought out a way to get what he wanted on his own time. Waiting on the Lord requires submission, but Saul’s entire kingship is characterized by pride. Pride becomes most evident when submission, trust, and patience are required because it recognizes that one has a need that cannot be met without God.
To wait on the Lord is not an expression that we use to help us be patient in the menial tasks of life. For Israel (Isa 40:31), waiting on the Lord required faith in God’s faithfulness to his promises, even in exile. Today, waiting on the Lord means that, in times of distress or crisis, we will not turn to our own vices but to God, trusting that his provision will be life-sustaining.
Dalraida church of Christ is a congregation of Christians that meet in the mid-town area of Montgomery, Alabama. Our goal and purpose is to seek and follow God and His Word in everything that we do in life.