What causes believers to "wait for His counsel" as in Psalm 106:13? Setting the Scene Psalm 106:13 recounts Israel’s failure: “Yet they soon forgot His works and did not wait for His counsel.” Their impatience sprang from forgetfulness and unbelief. By flipping the verse around, we discover the ingredients that actually prompt believers to wait. Defining “Wait for His Counsel” • To pause until God speaks or directs • To give His wisdom precedence over our impulses • To submit timing, method, and outcome to the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6) What Drives Believers to Wait • Remembering His mighty works – Psalm 105 rehearses plagues, deliverance, and provision; remembering these keeps trust alive. • Trust in His unchanging character – “Faithful You are to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). Confidence in His goodness anchors patience. • Holy fear and reverence – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Awe restrains rash action. • Love that desires fellowship more than quick solutions – “As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You” (Psalm 42:1). • Hope in promised reward – “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). • Humility that confesses need – “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God” (James 1:5). • Obedience learned through previous discipline – Israel’s wilderness lessons warn us that premature moves carry costly consequences (Numbers 14). • The Spirit’s fruit of patience – “The fruit of the Spirit is…patience” (Galatians 5:22). Practical Habits That Nurture Waiting • Daily Scripture remembrance—rehearse God’s past deeds aloud. • Regular silence and solitude—create space to hear. • Corporate worship—others’ testimonies fortify trust. • Journaling answered prayer—visible records fight forgetfulness. • Submitting decisions in prayer before acting—letting time test motives. • Choosing fellowship over frantic problem-solving—seek wise counsel from mature believers. Anticipated Fruit of Waiting • Clearer guidance (Psalm 32:8) • Strengthened faith (Romans 4:20-21) • Protection from missteps (Psalm 25:12) • Deeper intimacy with God (Psalm 27:14) • A testimony that stirs others to wait as well (Psalm 40:1-3) When believers remember who God is and what He has done, trust rises, impatience fades, and they willingly “wait for His counsel.” |
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