Wait and Watch | Tables | Drew Moore

When was the last time you stopped to wait and watch for what God is doing in your life? A time to rest can help create space for you to wait patiently on the Lord and be still to know that he is God. Psalm 130 models what it means to look for God in the middle of all that life can bring. What might change if you took the time to wait for God?

KEY VERSES

  • Psalms 130:5-8 MSG: I pray to GOD—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.I pray to GOD—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.O Israel, wait and watch for GOD— with GOD’s arrival comes love, with GOD’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.O Israel, wait and watch for GOD— with GOD’s arrival comes love, with GOD’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

  • Psalms 130:1-8 MSG: Help, GOD—I’ve hit rock bottom! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.Help, GOD—I’ve hit rock bottom! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.If you, GOD, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.If you, GOD, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.I pray to GOD—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.I pray to GOD—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.O Israel, wait and watch for GOD— with GOD’s arrival comes love, with GOD’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.O Israel, wait and watch for GOD— with GOD’s arrival comes love, with GOD’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

  • Exodus 23:10-11 NLT: “Plant and harvest your crops for six yearsbut let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.

  • Psalms 27:14 NLT: Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

  • Psalms 46:10 NLT: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

  • Psalms 62:1 NLT: I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.

  • Psalms 62:5 NLT: Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

  • 1 Samuel 13:5-14 NLT: The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven.The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome himbut Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the LORD’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

  • Psalms 27:14 NLT: Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT: “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

  • Psalms 23:6 NLT: Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

  • Psalms 27:13-14 NLT: Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

  • Psalms 130:5-7 NLT: I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

  • What are you thankful for?
  • What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
  • What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?

+ Recap

  • Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
  • Did you live out your response from last week?
  • Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

  • One person reads the story out loud to the group.
  • Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.

+ Read and Look

  • Read the passage again (different version if possible)
  • What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?

+ Read and Look Again

  • Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
  • What does this passage say about people in general?

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

  • What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
  • How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
  • Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

  • Take prayer requests
  • Pray together

+ Share

  • Who in your life needs to hear this story?
  • Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.

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