wait

We start worship this morning with:

Psalm 130:5-8

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

    and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

    more than watchmen for the morning,

    more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!

    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

    and with him is plentiful redemption.

And he will redeem Israel

    from all his iniquities.

Those on watch know the middle of the night is the most dangerous.  As the light of day breaks, the danger abates.  They would greet the cock crowing with delight.

The Psalmist was waiting for "redemption" (pᵊḏûṯ).  Job too was waiting:

Job 14:14-17

If a man dies, shall he live again?

    All the days of my service I would wait,

    till my renewal should come.

You would call, and I would answer you;

    you would long for the work of your hands.

For then you would number my steps;

    you would not keep watch over my sin;

my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,

    and you would cover over my iniquity.

But we don't have to wait!  

Isaiah 51:11

“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

On this blessed Advent Sunday, let your dark sorrow flee away as with the dawn, for our Redeemer has come!