Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #22 - Hope Thou in God

We are continuing our look at the Hebrew word "yahal" which indicates a hope characterized by patient waiting and trust.  Last time we acknowledged that this is not typically easy to do, in fact we might confess that it is humanly impossible.  Like all of God's commands, we need the strength that He provides in order to obey them.  And so we left off with Psalm 31:24 - "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."  It is not surprising therefore to find that most of the passages using yahal speak of the hope that the believer places in God.  Simply put, God gives us the strength to place our hope (patient trust) in Him.  Quoting again from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament:  "This yahal 'hope' is not a pacifying wish of the imagination which drowns out troubles, nor is it uncertain ... but rather yahal 'hope' is the solid ground of expectation for the righteous. As such it is directed toward God....In short, that which is hoped for is not some desideratum arising from one's imagination, but in God himself and whatever he should propose to accomplish" (emphasis mine).  This is seen clearly in the use of yahal in the Psalms.  In fact, of the 22 times yahal is translated as "hope" in the KJV, 18 of them are found in the Psalms, and all 18 times refer to hope that is placed in the Lord, His Word, or His Attributes.  First, let us consider the admonitions to place our hope in the Lord Himself.  Three times in almost identical words we find the Psalmist admonishing himself to hope in the Lord:  Psalm 42:5 - "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."   Psalm 42:11 - "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."  Psalm 43:5 - "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."  This admonition, "hope thou in God", forms a sort of refrain for these two Psalms.  (Some believe they may have originally formed one Psalm but were later divided into two.)  The Psalmist, in a time of despair and trouble, literally preaches a sermon to his own soul!  This is one example when it is truly okay to talk to one's self.  In fact, as far as we know, only human beings can speak to themselves in this way.  It is an evidence for the very existence of a spirit or soul that is distinct from the mere animal life of a body and brain.  Here the Psalmist commands his own spirit to hope (patiently wait and trust) in God in order to shake himself from the inward misery he was feeling.  His soul was "cast down" (literally "bowed down" as under a heavy load) and "disquieted" (literally "groaning" or "troubled" like the seas in a storm).  Exiled from his homeland, mocked by his enemies, saddened by his past memories of better times, and longing for the Presence of God he once enjoyed, the Psalmist rebukes himself for his lack of trust and resolves within himself to hope in God!  Here we find the Biblical answer to worry.  It has been said that whenever a Christian worries we in reality are expressing doubt either in God's power, wisdom, or goodness.  We are in essence saying that either God doesn't care, doesn't know what is best for us, or is unable or unwilling to do anything about it.  Such an attitude deserves a strong rebuke!  We like the Psalmist must remind ourselves of what we know to be true about our God:  He is always in control!  He is always wise!  He is always good!  "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee ..." (Psalm 42:6).  "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy ..." (Psalm 43:4).  Matthew Henry wrote: "A believing confidence in God is a sovereign antidote against prevailing despondency and disquietude of spirit" (emphasis mine).  The lesson these Psalms teach is that in times of deepest sorrow the soul of the believer may turn to God and find hope in Him.  The cure for the Psalmist's sorrow was found in renewing his hope in God and the outcome was twofold:  "... for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (Ps.42:5); and, "for I shall yet praise him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God" (Ps. 42:11; 43:5).  Some versions make these two statements identical by a slight adjustment of the Hebrew, but I think the difference is significant.  Not only does the believer find help in the countenance of God (i.e. in the favor of His Presence), but the Lord in turn produces a positive change in our own countenance as well.  The word "countenance" is literally the "face".  The face is the most expressive indication of one's attitude and feelings and is therefore an indication of whether one is sad, angry, joyful, pleased or displeased.  This is why we are to "seek the face of God" in prayer.  We are comforted and strengthened when we sense His loving approval, favor and acceptance in Christ.  Likewise, He brings joy to our face and wipes away our tears as we place our full hope and trust in Him.  Does your face express the joy unspeakable that comes from God's loving kindness in your heart?  If not, rebuke your downcast soul, remember God's goodness, love and wisdom, and hope thou in God!