Israel was waiting with eager expectation for a long time for the Lord to come and vindicate his people, by punishing their enemies and restoring his people. But because they waited for what seemed like forever, they experienced disappointments with each passing year. Hope deferred makes the heart sick
(Proverbs 13:12). One way to make oneself immune from disappointment is by not getting one’s hopes up too high. The actual coming of the Lord will be unexpected by those who have lowered their expectations.
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.