HOPE THOU IN GOD (Part 2)
By John C. Carpenter
The psalmist wrote, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth
my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been
my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept
holyday. Why art thou cast down [bent down, sunk, depressed], O my soul? And why art thou disquieted [causing or allowing great commotion
or tumult] in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (Psalms 42:1-5). From a biblical viewpoint,
what does it mean to “hope in God?”
In verse 5 of our subject verses, the word hope is transated from the Hebrew word yaw-chal,
which means to be patient, have hope, stay, tarry, trust, or wait. In the new testament, the word hope is translated from the Greek
word elpic, which means anticipation, expectation, confidence. In his bible dictionary, Merrill F. Unger comments that, in the New
Testament sense, hope is defined as the expectation of good, a joyful and contented expectation of eternal salvation. Unger adds that,
in the Old Testament, hope can refer to safety, security, trust, or refuge in the sense of firm and certain expectation. Websters
New Collegiate dictionary defines hope as cherishing a desire with expectation of fulfillment.
It is April 2022, and these are
very difficult times. There is a war raging in Ukraine. There are also many worldwide signs suggesting we may be in or approaching
the last days. Major and minor wars are happening in much of the world. Earthquakes, famines, pestilences, plagues, seem to be everywhere.
Worldwide rebellion, anger, murder, hatred, crime, fear, anxiety, hostility, political evil, jealousy, competition, deception, homelesness,
sexual abuse, mental illness, psychological and emotional abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, physical illness, unemployment,
divorce, separation, family conflict and breakdown, laziness, greed, hatred, corruption, infirmity, delusion, hopelessness, and lawlessness
abound. Many have tried to resist or overcome the human and worldly evils they see around them, but have failed. Many are trusting
in other men, doctors, friends, relatives, family members, politicians, business leaders, and government for strength and hope, and
they have been sorely disappointed. Others are seeking sanity, and cannot find it.
All of us at one time or another, and for
one reason or another, have felt like we are sinking, and without hope of anything ever being better, or good. We feel hurt, helpless,
fearful, depressed, humbled, and brought low We may even feel forsaken by man or God, or both. We are, as a result, in an uproar,
moaning and complaining with a loud voice to just about anyone who will listen. In fact, at these difficult times, we find it practically
impossible to remain silent in our spiritual, mental, and emotional suffering.
As difficult and painful as our worldly condition
might be, God, through the psalmist, instructs us in some very uplifting ways. In our pain, we are not only to wait upon, but expect,
our loving God, according to His own will, timing and method of deliverance, to act and help us in our time of need. We can and should
expect God to revive us, and to bring us new hope, strength and life. The psalmist explains: I shall yet praise Him, who is the health
of my countenance, and my God. In verse 11, the word health is translated from the Hebrew word yeshuah, which means saved, prosperity,
deliverance, salvation, welfare, aid, or victory, while the word God is translated from the Hebrew word elohiym, which means exceeding,
supreme God, very great, or mighty. When the psalmist says that God is the health of his countenance and His God, he is explaining
that we will eventually praise Him because He is our victory, deliverance, and salvation, and He is our victory, deliverance, and
salvation because He is very great, mighty, and the supreme God. In a simple way, God delivers because of His nature, because He is
great, and because He can. Regarding waiting patiently and expectantly for God's help; is it impossible, no, is it difficult, yes.
WHAT
ARE WE TO HOPE FOR?
What do the scriptures say about hope? What are we as believers to hope in, or for? First of all, the scriptures
instruct us that there are at least two hopes we as believers are not to hope in, hopes that the scriptures teach are displeasing
to God. One, Jesus taught His own disciples one thing to not hope in; that is, to lend services or products with the selfish expectation
of obtaining gain. The Lord explained, Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for
sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even
the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend [Greek, daneizo, to loan on interest], hoping for nothing again; and your reward
shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful,
as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:30-36). The believer in Christ is to give to every man who asks of him or her, and is not
to ask for those things back or for some type of recompense. The believer in Christ is to do unto others as we would have them do
unto us, and to love our enemies, and do good, and lend to those who ask, hoping and expecting for nothing in return. Christ also
explains that this unselfish love will cause the believer to receive great spiritual and heavenly reward.
Secondly, the scriptures
instruct us not to lust after nor expect to obtain or receive gain or profit from ungodly methods. When Paul and Silas were in prison,
we find the following story: And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met
us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants
of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said
to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters
saw that the hope [Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation, confidence] of their gains [Greek, ergasia, profit from a craft, occupation,
or work] was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates,
saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither
to observe, being Romans (Acts 16:16-21).
Clearly, there are some things which God the Father does not want us to hope for. So
what are some of the things God does want us to hope for? The great apostle Paul refers to the first hope: when Paul perceived that
the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a
Pharisee: of the hope [Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation, confidence] and resurrection of the dead I am called in question (Acts
23:6). God wants the believer in Christ to have hope regardiing resurrection of the dead, especially our own resurrection from death.
Later, Paul also spoke of hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both
of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15). In another example of what we are to hope in, the apostle Paul tells a story of being at sea.
Paul says, And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with
our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all
hope [Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation, confidence] that we should be saved [Greek, sozo, to deliver, protect, heal, preserve,
be or make whole] was then taken away [removed, no longer possible] (Acts 27:20). Of course, in this context, Paul is referring to
their being saved from the dangers of the storm at sea, but Paul's words about salvation are also symbolic of the hope of eternal
salvation available throught faith in Christ.
God promised Abraham that he would be the heir of the world (Rom 4:13), but due
to his advanced age, Abraham found no reasonable human hope that God's promise could ever come to pass. However, the scriptures tell
us that Abraham, against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken,
So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old,
neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith [and hope],
giving glory to God (Romans 4:18-20). As with Abraham, God the Father wants us to continue in hope toward God even when we have no
hope. Paul wrote the church in Ephesus, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope [Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation, confidence] of his
calling [Greek, klesis, an invitation], and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power (Ephesians 1:16-19). We are to pray that
God will give us the wisdom and revelation of Himself so that we may understand the hope of the inheritance available to the saints
resulting from God's invitation.
The apostle Peter also refers to hope with these words: Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [ Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation,
confidence] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4). So, what is the believer in Christ to have hope in? Peter answers with these words:
an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. To the believers in Colossae, Paul
wrote, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come
unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit [of faith in Christ and eternal life], as it doth also in you, since
the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:5-6). Because he or she has heard and believed the word of
truth of the gospel, he or she has the hope of eternal life, which is laid up for you in heaven. In his letter to Titus, who Paul
described as his own son in the faith, Paul also referred to the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before
the world began (Titus 1:2). Paul later referred to that blessed hope [of salvation], and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:13-14).
Paul also referred to the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2), the hope residing
in the believer due to the glory of the new testament and administration of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:6-18), the hope of righteousness
by faith (Galatians 5:6), and the one hope of your calling [to faith and eternal life] (Ephesians 4:4). Writing to the church in Thessonalica,
the apostle Paul again made reference to the believer's hope of salvation: But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9).
WHAT ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF BIBLICAL HOPE?
Clearly, the scriptures
teach that there are numerous things the believer in Christ is to hope in or for. As we see in the scriptures, hope also has numerous
aspects, qualities and characteristics. What are some of these qualities and characteristics of hope mentioned in the scriptures?
We certainly cannot mention them all, but let us mention some of the more important ones.
First, it is not our own strength that
should give us hope. Job naively connected his own strength with his own hope. Job complained, What is my strength, that I should
hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? (Job 6:11). Scriptures also teach us that the the hope of a hypocrit is
vain and impotent, and shall perish: So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall
be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast,
but it shall not endure (Job 8:13-15). In the psalms we read, For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth (Psalms
71:5) and The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (Psalms 147:11). Solomon teaches, Hope deferred
maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12), and The wicked is driven away in his wickedness:
but the righteous hath hope in his death (Proverbs 14:32).
The scriptures also teach us that only the living can have hope: For
to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they
shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten (Ecclesiastes
9:4-5). God subjected man unwillingly and forcefully to the vanity of this life and its sufferings so that He could subject that same
man to hope in the unseen world and the salvation of God. The apostle Paul wrote, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth
for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected
the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God (Romans 8:18-21). Paul later adds, For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man
seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (Romans 8:24-25).
Paul
also instructed the church in Rome to rejoice because of their opportunities to have hope. Paul wrote, be kindly affectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing
in hope [Greek, elpis, anticipation, expectation, confidence] ; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing
to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality (Romans 12:10-13). Paul also exhorted the believers in Rome to be comforted by the
Holy Scriptures so that they might have hope: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4), yet clarified that it is God who brings us to faith
in Christ and who is our true source of hope: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound
in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13). Paul taught the church in Corinth that until all believers in Christ
clearly see Christ face to face, there are three qualities that are most important now in this life, and one of these is hope: When
I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly [unclearly, obscured]; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (1 Corinthians 13:11-13).
Writing
to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul taught that before coming to Christ, all gentiles were considered to be aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants, were without God in this world, and had no hope: Wherefore remember, that ye being
in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision [the Jews, Israelites]in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us (Ephesians 2:11-14). To the church in Colossae, Paul referred to the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:27-28). Similarly, Paul wrote the Thessalonian believers, Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself,
and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your
hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). To Timothy, his own son in the faith, Paul also referenced God
our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Indeed, God through Christ is the only hope of glory. To the
church in Thessalonica, Paul also addressed those who had no hope regarding the resurrection of the dead and eternal life: But I would
not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [physically dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep [are dead] in Jesus will God bring with
him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
As most of us have experienced, hope can also be lost, and the believer in Christ must battle
to hold on to it. For example, the author of the book of Hebrews emphasized the need for clinging to hope when he wrote, For every
house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for
a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end (Hebrews 3:4-6), and then later added, And we desire that every
one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:11-12). God Himself, through the author of the book of Hebrews, also described
the new testament as a better hope than the hope found in the old testament. He wrote, For the law [of the old testament] made nothing
perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was
made a priest. (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will
not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament (Hebrews
7:19-22). The apostle Peter exhorted, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is
to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
Every believer in Christ, also referred to as sons of
God, is also exhorted to hope in eventually seeing Christ and being like Him: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure (1 John 3:1-3).
IN THEE,
O LORD, DO I HOPE
Obviously, the holy scriptures have much to say about hope, but they specifically teach that our hope should
be in God and Christ alone. First of all, David, the psalmist, felt inadequate before his enemies, and expressed his need for and
hope in God the Father: For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should
rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before
me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that
hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good
is. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation (Psalms 38:15-22).
Despite
his own feelings of inadequacy and rejection from others, David instinctivly knew who he should trust and hope in: But thou art holy,O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto
thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised
of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD
that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst
make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. Be not
far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help (Psalms 22:3-11).
To the strangers scattered abroad, the apostle
Peter wrote, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time (1 Peter 1:3-5). Peter later added, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your [Hebrew, Jewish] fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these
last times for you. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might
be in God (1 Peter 1:18-21). Clearly, Jesus Christ was made our consolation and high priest, the believer's hope anchors the soul.
In the book to the Hebrews scattered abroad, the author wrote, God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we
might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even [specifically]Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:17-20).
The needy David prayed to God, Preserve
me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Oh my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to
thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied
that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is
the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have
a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the
LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my
flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms
16:1-11). As David, we should exclaim, in thee, God, do I put my trust, my soul hast said thou art my Lord, the Lord is the portion
of mine inheritance and of my cup, I will bless he Lord, I have set the Lord always before me, my flesh also shall rest in hope, and
thou will show me the path of life. David further instructs, O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful,
and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD (Psalms
31:23-24).
The Lord strengthens the heart of those who hope in Him. The psalmist encourages us in our hoplesness: Our soul
waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee (Psalms 33:20-22). In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never
be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong
habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver
me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou
art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise
shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and
with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak
against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there
is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are
adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will yet
praise thee more and more (Psalms 71:1-14).
In our hopelessness, hoping in and waiting upon the Lord and His salvation is essential,
as the prophet Jeremiah wrote: The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that
wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD (Lamentations
3:24-26). Jeremiah taught elsewhere, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as
a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall
be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Writing to the
believers at Colossae, the apostle Paul specifically identified Christ as our hope of eternal glory when he referred to the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), Similarly, Paul exhorted
the church in Rome, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power
of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13).
If we are in need of hope, we can, and must, seek and wait upon the Lord for help. Hope is
found in no one else and nowhere else. Why would we not seek Him who is all knowing and all powerful, and our only source of hope?
Where else can we go, for Christ promised each and every one of us, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5). Scriptures
remind us, And he [Christ] said [to His disciples], Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given
unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve,
Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe
and are sure that thou art that Christ [Greek, Christos, smeared with oil, consecrated to an office, anointed, the Messiah], the Son
of the living God (John 6:65-69).
When the psalmist asks, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me?
He gives us the wisest answer he possibly can – he tells us to hope thou in God: for we shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance
(Psalms 42:1-5). Hopeless, look to God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. They will not let us down, and we will yet praise them.AMEN!
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now
as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith"
(2
Timothy 3:1-8).
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are
mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness
of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be
as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word
of the Holy One of Israel"
(Isaiah 5:20-24).
