SUSTAINABLE HOPE . . . DO YOU HAVE IT?

February 16, 2017

SUSTAINABLE HOPE . . . DO YOU HAVE IT?

Psalm 33

Rachel Carmichael

Central Truth

All else will fade away. God is our only great hope and sure foundation. He is a loving Father, always providing for His beloved children in word and deed.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
(Psalm 33:18-19)

The Steadfast Love of the LORD

1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

What an incredible picture of God’s faithfulness to us Psalm 33 is. In verses 1-5, we see the psalmist encouraging praise to God for all He has done for us, His beloved. The rest of the psalm focuses on a reminder of how God tangibly shows His steadfast love and provision for us. Verses 20-22 complete the psalm, giving a picture of being in awe and sweetly silenced in the Lord’s presence: “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

Reflecting on God’s character and all He has done helps me to put things in perspective. He is the ultimate picture of a perfect, love-motivated Father. All throughout the Scriptures are echoes of the truths gleaned in this psalm. 1 Peter 1:3-4 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

I can be so easily tempted to look for hope in my family, a paycheck, the government, a zip code, etc. The psalmist, however, gives numerous examples of how God is our only real hope. It’s not a “possibly could happen” hope, but a sure hope that we can count on, no matter our current season. He gives hope that reaches beyond our present circumstances into eternity for all who believe and have a personal relationship with Him. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

1. Describe what comes to mind when you think of hope.

2. Where are you looking for hope?

3. Do you have a personal relationship with God? If so, explain. If not, do you desire more information regarding how you can have hope, peace, and love found in a relationship with God? (For more information about what it means to have a relationship with God, see http://realtruthrealquick.com/relationship-god.)

4. What are ways you have not been resting and finding hope and trust in God? What things do you need to surrender to Him today?

Hope