G18. Waiting on God. [Make a Comment]
We are to be patient and wait for God to act.
This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):
Key Scriptures
Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to ADONAI, I will wait for the God of my
ssalvation; my God will hear me.
Lamentations 3:25-26
ADONAI is good to those waiting for him, to those who are seeking him out.
It is good to wait patiently for the saving help of ADONAI.
Romans 8:25
But if we continue hoping for something we don't see, then we still
wait eagerly for it, with perseverance.
James 5:7-8
So, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns. See how the farmer waits
for the precious "fruit of the earth" - he is patient over it until it
receives the fall and spring rains. You too, be patient; keep up your
courage; for the Lord's return is near.
Supportive Scriptures - Waiting on God
Isaiah 30:18
Yet ADONAI is just waiting to show you favor, he will have pity on you from
on high; for ADONAI is a God of justice; happy are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 40:31
... but those who hope in ADONAI [NKJ: wait on the Lord] will renew their
strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles' wings; when they are
running they won't grow weary, when they are walking they won't
get tired.
Psalm 37:7
Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by
those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans.
Psalm 40:2(1)
I waited patiently for ADONAI, till he turned toward me and heard my cry.
Acts 1:3-4
After his [Yeshua's] death he showed himself to them [his disciples]
and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty
days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God. At one
of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to
wait for "what the Father promised, which you heard about from me."
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly
in prayer.
Galatians 6:9
So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don't give
up, we will in due time reap the harvest.
Supportive Scriptures - Having Patience
Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for ADONAI, who is hiding his face from the house of
Ya'akov; yes, I will look for him.
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is meant for its appointed time; it speaks of the end, and it
does not lie. It may take a while, but wait for it; it will surely come, it
will not delay.
Psalm 25:5
Guide me in your truth, and teach me; for you are the God who saves me, my
hope is in you [NKJ: in you I wait] all day long.
Psalm 27:14
Put your hope in [NKJ: Wait for] ADONAI, be strong, and let your heart take
courage! Yes, put your hope in [NKJ: Wait, I say on] ADONAI!
Psalm 33:20
We are waiting for ADONAI; he is our help and shield.
Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before ADONAI; wait patiently till he comes. Don't be upset by
those whose way succeeds because of their wicked plans. Stop being angry,
put aside rage, and don't be upset - it leads to evil. For evildoers
will be cut off, but those hoping in [NKJ: who wait on] ADONAI will inherit
the land.
Psalm 40:2(1)
I waited patiently for ADONAI, till he turned toward me and heard my cry.
Psalm 62:6(5)
My soul, wait in silence for God alone, because my hope comes from him.
Psalm 69:7(6)
Let those who put their hope in you [NKJ: wait for you], Adonai
ELOHIM-Tzva'ot, not be put to shame through me; let those who are
seeking you, God of Isra'el, not be disgraced through me.
Psalm 130:5-6
I wait longingly for ADONAI; I put my hope in his word. Everything in me
waits for Adonai more than guards on watch wait for morning, more than
guards on watch wait for morning.
Job 14:14
If a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my life for
my change to come.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of something is better than its beginning, so the patient are better
than the proud.
Luke 8:15
But what fell in rich soil - these are the ones who, when they hear the
message, hold onto it with a good, receptive heart; and by persevering [NKJ:
with patience], they bring forth a harvest.
Romans 2:7
To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance [NKJ: patient
continuance] in doing good, he will pay back eternal life.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly
in prayer.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful ...
2 Corinthians 6:6-7
We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the
Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love and truthfulness of speech; and by
God's power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons,
whether for pressing our cause or defending it;
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness ...
Ephesians 4:2-3
Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, and
making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the
binding power of shalom.
Colossians 1:11
We pray that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that
comes from his glorious might; so that you will be able to persevere and be
patient in any situation, joyfully ...
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
... but we urge you, brothers, to confront those who are lazy, your aim
being to help them change, to encourage the timid, to assist the weak, and
to be patient with everyone.
Hebrews 6:11-12
However, we want each one of you to keep showing the same diligence right up
to the end, when your hope will be realized; so that you will not become
sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are
receiving what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:15
... and so, after waiting patiently, Avraham saw the promise fulfilled.
James 5:7-8
So, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns. See how the farmer waits
for the precious "fruit of the earth" - he is patient over it until it
receives the fall and spring rains. You too, be patient; keep up your
courage; for the Lord's return is near.
Revelations 2:19
I know what you are doing, your love, trust, service and perseverance [NKJ:
patience]. And I know that you are doing more now than before.
Commentary
Waiting on God and having patience are obviously connected. As a matter of fact, according to Galatians 5:22, patience is a fruit of the Spirit. So why is exercising patience to wait on God sufficiently problematic so as to warrant a mitzvah devoted to it? It is because natural man's way is to be impatient and to seek immediate gratification, so that when natural man petitions God for something in prayer, he judges whether or not God has answered or will answer his prayer by whether or not he sees immediate results.
This Mitzvah calls us to exercise faith for God's timeframe which is not the same as ours; consider the following Scriptures:
2 Peter 3:8-9: Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, he is patient with you; for it is not his purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins.
Ecclesiastes 3:1: For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven.
Acts 1:6-7: When they [Yeshua and his disciples] were together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra'el?" He answered, "You don't need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority."
Waiting on God builds our faith and our dependence on Him, which are good things. Proverbs 3:5-6 expresses it well:
Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.
Classical Commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.
NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm