Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #28- An Eschatological Hope

This is our final study on the Hebrew word "yahal" and its derivative "tohelet".  Thus far we have considered this "hope of patient waiting and trust" as it relates to the believer's hope in God, His Mercy, and His Word.  The final aspect of yahal and tohelet we shall consider has to do with the  believer's hope for salvation and the expectation of a future (and everlasting) life.  While some so called "scholars" tend to deny or downplay any statements found in the Old Testament that may possibly indicate a belief in life after death, there is no valid reason for assuming that Old Testament believers lacked any revealed knowledge of an afterlife.  It is true that the revelation they possessed was limited and that the New Testament revelation of Christ would bring "life and immortality to light through the gospel (II Timothy 1:10), but references to an eschatological hope are not completely lacking in the Old Testament Scriptures.  We have already considered Job's hope in a future resurrection in Job chapter 14 (see study #7 posted 3/11/13).  There Job said that his dead body would "wait" (yahal) in the grave until his "change" (resurrection/transformation) came at God's appointed time (Job 14:12-15).  Clearly this speaks of the eschatological hope of a future physical resurrection of the believer from the dead.  The "yahal" hope of the Old Testament saints extended beyond this life to include elements of a future deliverance and everlasting salvation.  For example, we find this prophecy in Isaiah 51:5 - "My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait (qawa) upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust (yahal)".  This is a prophecy that is clearly set in an eschatological context as verses 6-8 make plain: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished" (Isaiah 51:6).  This is God's own promise of eternal life to those who know and follow after righteousness (vs.1,7).  It extends beyond the physical restoration of Israel to the eternal salvation of those declared to be righteous by the Lord, including the islands of the Gentile nations - those who dwelt "in the ends of the earth", the "people from far" (see Isaiah 41:5, 42:10; 49:1), the only condition being that they placed their trust (yahal) in God's "arm" (i.e. in His power to save them).  This "yahal" hope in God's promise of eternal salvation for the righteous is placed in sharp contrast to the eternal destination of the wicked - "For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation" (Isaiah 51:8).  The language of this chapter is clearly reflected in the prophecies of the New Testament pertaining to the coming judgment, the new heaven and earth, the everlasting punishment of the wicked dead in hell, and the everlasting salvation granted to those who die in Christ. We may also note the words of the prophet Micah as he looked for a day when God would right the wrongs of this world and would bring salvation to His people:  "Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait (yahal) for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7).  The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament states: "Not only does 'hope' bring relief from present problems, but also in the eschatological sense 'hope' in God's help and ultimate salvation will bring to an end all distress" (emphasis mine).  Finally we come to the Hebrew word "tohelet" which is regarded as a derivative of the word "yahal".  Here again we find that this word is also used to express the expectation of the believer of a future salvation in contrast to the lack of such a hope for the wicked:  Proverbs 10:28 - "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish".  We should also note Proverbs 11:7 - "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth."  Once again we appreciate the comments found in the Theological Wordbook on these passages:  "This word (tohelet) may refer ... to a confidence in a future life.  In Prov10:28 the joyful tohelet of the righteous is contrasted with the no hope (tiqwa) of the wicked.  The previous verse concerns long life and sudden death so the questions of eternity are in view.  Proverbs 11:7 seems to support this idea; at death the hope of the wicked is gone... Solomon, like Job, found the resolution of the antimonies of this existence in the judgments of a future life."  And so, while we must look to the New Testament for a fuller declaration and description of the believer's future eschatological hope, it is encouraging to find that such a hope was not non-existent among the believers of the Old Testament times.  While we look back in faith upon the Savior who has come they looked ahead in faith for the Messiah to come.  But both find their eternal hope in the same place and in the same way - through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  How wonderful that this eschatological hope has been made even more certain and clear to us today through the revelation of the New Testament and the preaching of gospel of Christ!