Waiting. And A Hymn.

Throughout Scripture we are told to wait on the Lord.  Wait for His mercy, His consolation, His salvation, His guidance and teaching, His blessings, protection, the fulfillment of His promises… And some days it seems like we spend the day just waiting for Him to show Himself, to be alive and near and with us.  Some days -some seasons-some years-some lifetimes are spent in this perpetual waiting on God.

And sometimes we just don’t wait.  We just don’t have enough interest in, or even need of, waiting on God.  Sometimes we just don't have the energy.

One of the words translated as “wait” of the Old Testament is the word kaw-vaw'.  But it can be translated as something else, too.  “Bind”.   As in put a rubber band around a group of pencils.  Strap the parachute harness thingy around you.  Wrap that baby’s sling around you so that it won’t easily come undone.

Every day we bind ourselves to a thousand different things.  Hopes.  Expectations.  The TV.  Food.  Health.  Job performance.  A clean house. 

Recently I was introduced to a hymn with really complicated English: I Bind Unto Myself Today.  And I ask myself: What am I bound to today?  Am I bound to the goodness of God, His faithfulness, and His glory? 

Today I ordered take out at a restaurant that deals only in take out.  They are supposed to be fast.  They weren't.  After they told me it would be a while, I said I would run a quick errand in the mean time.  When I got back my food was still not ready.  So, I had to sit and wait.  And wait.  And wait.

I was tempted just to say Never Mind, but I had already paid.  I was already bound to what I was expecting to come.  Both parties were committed.

The wonderful thing about waiting on God – on being bound to Him – is that He does come through because He has already committed Himself to me!  He may not "show up" the way I want.  Maybe not the way I expect.  Maybe not in a way that feels comfortable.  But He does.

I don’t know what’s going on in your heart.  I don’t know what God is teaching You in this season.  But wait on Him.  He will be faithful.  He is faithful. 

So grab some worship music.  Doodle flowers around your favorite Scripture.  Call someone to pray with You.  Make a list of all the good things God has done for You.  Bind yourself to His glory, His salvation, His heaven.  Wait on the Lord.

I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on cross for my salvation,
his bursting from the spiced tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
God’s heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!

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Here is the song if you want to listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlZhCmMuGrQ

Here's the sheet music:  

http://openhymnal.org/Pdf/I_Bind_Unto_Myself_Today-St_Patricks_Breastplate.pdf