Hope is a powerful thing. G. K. Chesterton said, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.” Emily Dickinson, in one of her poems said, “Hope is a thing with feathers, / That perches in the soul.” O. S. Marden said, “There is no medicine like hope . . .” Pliny the Elder wrote, “Hope is the dream of a waking man.” Martin Luther said, “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”
Here is how the dictionary describes hope. “to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely.” Hope, from the world’s viewpoint is just what that definition describes. The world sees hope as a wish or a desire. Hope, for the world, is a longing for something that may or may not take place.
The Bible teaches us a vastly different definition of hope. Listen to the words of Jeremiah, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is,” Jeremiah 17:7. Hear also Paul, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity,” 1 Corinthians 13:13. The world says that hope is merely a fond wish or desire. But, the words used for hope in the Bible tell a different story. They teach us that hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!”
Now, I know you have battles, who doesn't? But, do you have hope? Are you resting in the sure confidence that God will do just as He has promised He would? That is the essence of hope and hope is a possession we all need to be sure we own in large quantities. I want to look at Psalm 27:1-6, in your Bible. I want to show you, from the words of David, why you and I have a reason to hope in the Lord. Let's look at where our hope comes from, and what hope will accomplish in our lives.
Psalm 27:1-3 tells us that our confidence in the Lord provides hope. Here, David begins his psalm of hope by declaring his personal faith in the Lord. Notice the three-fold use of the word “my” in verse 1. David has a personal relationship with God. This is the basic foundation for hope.
Notice in Psalm 27:1, his confidence in the person of the Lord. David tells us that God is his “light”, his “salvation” and his “strength.” There is a tremendous blessing in these three titles attributed to our God. 1) As light, God delivers His people from darkness. 2) As salvation God delivers His people from damnation. 3) As strength God delivers His people from defeat.
These three great characteristics of God serve to give us hope even in the midst of battle! Because of who our God is, we need not fear any enemy that should arise against us. Satan himself is no match for our sovereign God!
Next, in Psalm 27:2-3, David talks about his confidence in the performance of the Lord. He declares that his present hope in the Lord rests upon that which the Lord has done for him in the past. God didn't fail him then, and He will not fail His child today. That same confidence is ours today! The God we serve is unchangeable, Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8. He is the same God with the same power that He has always been. He has never, and He will never change. Because He has been faithful in the past, we can count on His being faithful now.
Psalm 27:4 tells us that our commitment to the Lord provides hope. Not only does living with our faith give us hope; but also living faithful to the Lord provides a measure of hope that cannot otherwise exist. David mentions three goals in this verse. These three goals all arise from a single commitment to serve the Lord faithfully from a heart of love. Notice how David’s commitment to the Lord manifests itself.
For instance, he is committed to lingering near the Lord. David wants to spend his entire life in the house of the Lord. He wants to be in that place where the Lord dwells and where the Lord’s presence is real. He is also committed to loving the Lord. David wants to “behold the beauty of the Lord.” That is, he wants to “seek His face.”
You see, not only is David committed to being where the Lord is; but he is also committed to worshiping the Lord. That, dear friends, is a worthy goal for life. This should be the goal of every believer, as well. If we're going to worship the Lord, we are going to have to do it His way.
Finally, David is committed to leaning on the Lord. He also expresses his desire to call upon the Lord; to commune with God; and to make requests of God. David looks beyond his own abilities and sees the limitless provisions of the Lord. Therefore, he wants nothing more than to be able to call upon the Lord
Psalm 27:5-6 tells us that our comfort in the Lord provides hope. God has a sheltered place for us. The assurance of His sheltering place allows us to weather the storms of life with hope. God also has a secret place for us. It a place that you and I can flee to during the crushing battles that rage about us. A place that affords us quiet, peace and the profound presence of God.
Those who have learned to abide in Him have been to that place and know the glory of it. It's a place reserved for those who love the Lord; their God. Have you ever been to that place? That place where God meets with you and you alone. That place where all else falls away and you are left with Him and Him alone?That's the place He invites those who abide to enter!
God has a secure place for us, as well. David has the assurance that even when life threatens to overflow him, the Lord will set him on a rock, a place that is unchangeable, powerful and immovable. Of course, this Rock he refers to is none other than the Lord Himself, Psalm 40:1-2.
The rock referred to in these verses is a “great craggy rock”. It's a rock that juts far above the battles going on at its feet. It allows those who ride its heights to rise far above the pandemonium beneath! This is the gift to all those who know Him! We are promised that we have a place of refuge that will lift us far above the stormy seas that would threaten to drown us.
At last, God has a special place for us. David says that he will worship the Lord; he will praise the Lord; because of the things the Lord has done for him. Because the Lord has lifted him above the battles; because the Lord has hidden him away in the secret place; because the Lord sheltered him away from the terrors of the battles; he will praise His name.
Dear reader, are you fighting some battles today? Of course you are! Who isn't? But, in the midst of your battles, do you have hope? Do you have the deep settled confidence that everything is going to be alright? If you do... praise the Lord! For He has already brought you to that special place of blessing from which you can offer praise to His name!
Scripture: Colossians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Timothy 4:9-10; Lamentations 3:26; Philippians 1:20; Psalm 146:5; Romans 5:5
Prayer: Dear Father, please help me today. I have many worries and sorrows. Take these from me and guide me as I face the unknown. Amen
May your day be blessed!
Bonnie
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