Advent is a peculiar time of waiting between promises and their fulfillment. Waiting can be tough. For example, right now, we are waiting (and not so patiently) for a vaccine to defeat the coronavirus. Though we are confident one is coming, and it even seems near; nevertheless, waiting can be hard.

We must deal with life as it is until promises are fulfilled. This waiting game isn’t new to God’s people. In the Old Testament, the Israelites wandered for 40 years, waiting and wondering when God would get them to a promise land. After arriving, later generations defied and rejected God. So, they were exiled to foreign lands, far from their homes.

For seventy years, they waited for God to fulfill His promise to restore them to the land. In Psalm 85, the text we are exploring today, we get a snapshot of what it felt like for the Israelites to arrive back home, but not yet be fully restored to life as it was.

The Psalmist acknowledges God covering their sin and returning “the fortunes of Judah”, meaning bringing them back home. He does so in the first few verses. However, life is hard. The walls of the city have crumbled and need rebuilding. The land needs attention. Homes must be established. God seems perhaps still angry. At least that’s what the Psalmist expresses in the middle of the Psalm – that messy middle of a promise half met.

The Psalmist though in hope and faithfulness, says he will listen for the Lord to speak. He trusts that God will speak peace, meaning full salvation, for those who turn their hearts to the Lord. The Psalmist fixes his gaze on what he knows to be true – God’s faithfulness. This focus is how he maintains his balance in the messy middle.

As Christians, we walk this path too. Our sins have been covered through Christ Jesus, and yet our redemption is not fully complete. We still await a new heaven and a new earth. We await the God’s full restoration of creation.

We too can stand solid, strong, and faithful by turning our hearts to the Lord and fixing our gaze upon that which we know to be true. The one who promises is faithful. The one who loves us has love that is steadfast and endures for heaven. His kingdom will come. Death will not contain us. Poverty, sorrow, tears, and suffering will all vanish before his power and might.

Praise be to God and may we stand faithful by choosing the Lord as our focal point any time we find ourselves uncomfortably waiting.

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