Wait
Psalms 27:8 KJV
(8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
Psalms 27:14 KJV
(14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
The political season in which we find ourselves lends itself strongly to the floating of assurances, promises, and commitments by means of words. Based upon the way the wind is blowing there is a very well thought out presentation of just the right image to please the largest group of people, somehow capturing their hearts and their votes by means of mere words that don’t necessarily have any heart validation. A large amount of searching and digging takes place on the part of the opponent in order to somehow upend the cart of words that have been piled up and discourage anyone from being taken in by their concepts and ideals. Given time, there is also some choice, some acquaintance, or some turn of events that can undermine the credibility of a candidate that had been very popular at one point, leaving them with very low approval ratings and very little heart commitment. I remember the first president I voted for was Jimmy Carter. Not completely aware of his true agendas, I was taken in by his religious strengths, his smile and apparent knowledge and wisdom. He seemed to be ushering in a welcome change after the era of Watergate, and he initially enjoyed great popularity. As events and his decisions began to bring a toll upon the nation, however, hearts were transformed from affectionate favor to disgust and disdain. Hearts that had once been strong towards him were turned away with the passing of time.
Ok, how does this relate? Well, there is something very precious about these passages that has to do with first of all the words that have been spoken by our Father God, and then the words that form the heart’s response. Because this call to seek His face is coming from someone who has never violated a trust or been overwhelmed by circumstances the heart has found, over time, great security and confidence in the proclamations from His mouth. In turn, the words from the heart are not mere religious mumbo jumbo; they are the commitment of a life. As both phrases emerge they exist in a realm far removed from the posturing facades of emotional salesmen. They are not meant to impress, but to bind ever closer a relationship that can only grow nearer and stronger the longer it is pursued. Unlike the surety that a political icon will fail in some way given the time, the opposite is discovered in the heart that has chosen to wait on the Lord. While there is inevitable discouragement and despair with the failures of men over time, waiting only produces strength and encouragement when it takes place in the presence of the King. He will never fail, never run away, never quit, and never disappoint the one who responded with the heart-felt statement “Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
