My recent research in Bible study led me down the path of the word “wait.”
Using the 1828 Noah Webster’s dictionary, I found these gems:
- To remain or rest in expectation
- To be in readiness
- To act, as a server, attend
- Bide, hold on, expect, sit tight, anticipate, tarry
- Watch. Defend. Be on guard. Be awake
- To be strong. TO BE LIVELY
- To be a sentry, a watchman
- Refers to the longsuffering and patience of God toward his willful children
- A heart responsive to the wooing of God
- Concentration on heavenly things
- Yearning for a revelation from God of truth and love
- Looking for God’s Hand to move
- And…something about musicians…to serve with music? to praise?
- To be strong
- To twist or stretch
- (Hebrew) to collect
- To bind together, perhaps with twisting
- Wait…as for the night to turn to day
And what does LIVELY have to do with it?
To be brisk, vivacious, vigorous, active. To represent life. To remain undestroyed. To float, but not to sink. Containging fire – ignite.
So…wait is a verb. To wait is to live for Him. I never knew waiting could be so renewing! He is near. Wait on Him. Even when we are faithless, He will be faithful – he cannot deny who he is. While you wait for his hand to move, live life like someone left the gate open!