Hope In His Word
In a world filled with ugliness, hatred and despair, where do you put your hope? It isn’t found in power, political systems, money or fame. Even those who obtain these things, eventually realize that they are temporary and they have to put their hope in something else. In Psalm 119:73-80, the psalmist says that he put his hope in God’s word. He acknowledged that the God who created him was righteous, just, faithful, loving and compassionate. And God alone knew what was best for his life. Therefore, he delighted in God’s precepts, statutes and commands in His word. I pray that you will pursue knowing and obeying God’s word and that through it, you will be blessed now and into eternity. Amen
Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:73-74) The psalmist praised God as his Creator. And since God was his Creator, he asked God to give him the understanding he needed to learn God’s word (commands). The psalmist wanted those who had reverence for God to rejoice when seeing God’s work in his life. His was a life filled with the hope he found in God’s word.
I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight. (Psalm 119:75-77) Even in his afflictions the psalmist praised God and delighted in His laws. He was afflicted because of God’s judgment that was faithful to His word. But he accepted that God’s laws were just and righteous. Yet, God’s unfailing love was present even in the psalmist’s afflictions. So he appealed to God’s divine compassion, and he asked God to comfort him.
May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame. (Psalm 119:78-80) Those who had wrongly mistreated the psalmist were arrogant in their pride and disregard of God’s laws. The psalmist prayed that they would experience shame because of their pride and arrogance. But the psalmist was clear that he would humble himself to meditate on God’s word and follow God’s decrees with his whole heart. And in so doing, he trusted that God would not allow him to come to shame. He hoped that others who knew and obeyed God would see him as an example of God’s mercy and turn to him to provide him with Godly fellowship.
There is so much that God has put in His word for us. There is guidance, wisdom, encouragement, faithful promises, warning, admonition, grace and love. As our Creator, He knows what we need to best live our lives and to ultimately be in eternal fellowship with Him. The psalmist recognized that fact, and he delighted in God’s word even in his afflictions. Why? Because he knew that while God is righteous and just, He is also loving, compassionate and faithful. In contrast with those who walked in their own pride and would end up in shame and regret, the psalmist vowed to follow God’s word with his whole heart. He trusted that God’s word is true, and that he would not regret his decision to live by God’s word. Regardless of his circumstance, the psalmist put his hope in God and His word. How about you? Our hope is found in the word that God has given to us to know Him and to live our lives by!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
