Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #16 - A Door of Hope

We are still looking at the numerous passages where the Hebrew word "tiqwa" is used to describe the confident hope of Israel's future restoration.  Two such passages remain for our study.  The first is in the book of Hosea.  Hosea ministered as a prophet of the Lord during the last generation before the Assyrian captivity of Israel in 722 B.C.  He foretold and forewarned of the certainty of coming judgment upon Israel in his day.  But, like many of the other prophets of God, Hosea also spoke of the certainty of Israel's future restoration.  The uniqueness of Hosea's message was the fact that his own marriage and home life was a vivid portrayal of the condition of the nation.  His wife was a harlot and unfaithful to him just as Israel had been unfaithful to God in seeking other "lovers" in the idols of false religion. But, like God, Hosea persisted in loving his unfaithful wife and eventually drew her back to himself.  The whole book is a testimony to the power of redeeming love!  One of the messages of Hosea concerning the restoration of Israel is found in 2:15 - "And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt."  God often used images from Israel's past to speak to her of her future.  The past redemption out of the bondage of Egypt stood as a constant testimony to the power of God to deliver His people.  It was also a reminder of the beginnings of the nation and of the blood of the Passover.  It was a very positive picture from Israel's past.  But the valley of Achor was another story!  The very name "Achor" meant trouble in the Hebrew language.  We have to go back to the book of Joshua to find the historical event associated with that place.  There in Joshua chapter 7 we find the record of Israel's first defeat in the conquest of the land of Canaan. The defeat was caused by the transgression of Achan who had taken spoils from the victory at Jericho in defiance of the express command of the Lord against doing so.  He had taken for himself the things that were to be devoted to God alone.  The judgment for this sin was severe.  Not only was the battle lost and 36 men killed, but the entire nation was left humiliated and devastated by the sight of their army fleeing before the enemy.  The sin of Achan however was soon discovered as the cause of this defeat and he was made to pay for his sins with his own life.  As Achan was brought to the valley outside of the city of Ai to be stoned Joshua said to him, "Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD will trouble thee this day...Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day" (Joshua 7:25,26).  Achor would from that time forth be a reminder of trouble and defeat caused by sinning against the Lord.  But, just as the nation's victory was restored through dealing with the sin of Achan, so the nation in Hosea's day was promised the hope of victory if they would deal with their own sin of spiritual harlotry (i.e. idolatry).  The place of trouble could become the place of triumph!  The valley of trouble would become a door of hope!  The exiled nation will one day be given the hope of an open door, a God-given entrance back to the land and back to their LORD.  One day the Lord will draw the nation back to Himself - "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably (literally - to her heart) unto her" (Hosea 2:14).  God will call His unfaithful wife Israel back to Himself and betroth them once again - "And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD" (Hosea 2:19,20).  In that day Israel will truly become Beulah Land - forever married to the Lord!  Israel's promised door of hope is a loving reminder from the Lord that He has the power to turn our troubles into triumphs and our defeats into victories!  "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I John 5:4,5).  Have you entered God's door of hope?