What does it mean "To wait on God"?

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shepherdsword

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What is "waiting"? Is it a task of service as in to wait on tables? Is is a span of time? Let's examine another possibility

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The hebrew word for "wait" in this verse has an interesting meaning: OT:6960 qavah (kaw-vaw'); a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:

Very interesting. Perhaps "waiting" is a binding together of your life with that of Jesus'? To become a part of his body and enjoy intimate fellowship.
It's also interesting that Jesus will say to some "Depart, I never knew you" What could this mean, this "know" After all it is the same greek word that the Septuagint uses for "know" in this verse: Ge 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived...
Could that be it? Could Jesus be saying "Depart, because there was never any intimacy between you and I, You never let me conceive any spiritual fruit within you. All you had was an intellectual belief that even the demons had and trembled. You misappropriated my righteousness and used it to justify yourself because you were tainted with the leaven of the Pharisees, which I had warned my disciples about. You never did the will of my Father"

These are scary thoughts and cut against the grain of the sinner's prayer salvation methodology. What do you think?

Blessings!
 
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Bob

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Thank you for the question.

Other translations have “trust in the Lord” or “hope in the Lord.” Perhaps “serve the Lord” is consistent with your idea of “wait” as in “waiting on table” since that is clearly service. After all, Love the Lord Your God means a whole range of actions.

Others in this forum with knowledge of the Hebrew can no doubt do better.

Blessings.