Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #30 - Looking in Hope

In our last post we left off with four references in the Psalms in which the Hebrew words sabar and seber are translated with the English word "hope".  We noted that the root meaning of "sabar" was that of "looking" or "examining" and that these two words could therefore express the idea of a watchful hope.  One of the strongest ways we can demonstrate that we are truly hoping for something or expecting someone is to actually watch or look for them.  Of course we recognize that such "looking" is really the attitude of the heart rather than the action of the eyes.  I enjoy physically looking up into the daytime sky and thinking of my Savior's promise that He will return for His saints in the clouds one day.  But I do not have to literally "look" for Him with my eyes in order to "watch" for His Coming, nor is this a feasible or logical thing to constantly do since He has also commanded us to work or occupy until He comes!  The beloved hymnist Fanny Crosby, though physically blind from infancy, could write with profound spiritual vision these words:  "Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love."  This is the type of looking in hope that we find expressed in the Psalms.  In faith the believer looks to God and then watches to "see" how the Lord will work.  This idea is clearly expressed in Psalm 145:15,16 - "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."  The word that is translated as "wait" in verse 15 is the Hebrew word "sabar" and so the marginal translation in the KJV is "look unto".  Every living thing LOOKS unto the Creator for provision even though this "looking" takes place without any conscious or rational thought about God on their part (as far as we know).  They instinctively receive God's provision in the way He has ordained for them and He never fails to provide what they need.  The Pulpit Commentary notes that "The constant supply of all living creatures with their necessary food is little less than a standing miracle". Of all of God's creatures, only man seems to worry or become anxious about the necessities of life. Worse than this is man's ability to doubt God's faithfulness in providing his needs or to complain about what God chooses to provide (or how or when!).  Still worse is man's propensity to think of himself as the source of his own wealth while totally disregarding the Lord who gave to him the ability to work, a job to go to, the health and ability to perform his labors, and the breath that keeps him alive!  James reminds us that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights ..." (James 1:17).  The food on our table, the clothes on our back, and the roof over our head are all graciously  given unto us by our Heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus Christ taught that the God who feeds the fowls of the air and clothes the lilies of the field is the same God who will feed and clothe us even though we are of little faith (Read Matthew 6:24-34). How foolish it is to worry about such things - our Heavenly Father knows that we have need of all these things and He will graciously and faithfully provide for all our need (but not necessarily for our greed).  The providential method or means of provision may differ for each of us but the promise proves true to all who will look to God in faith.  But God's provisions go far beyond the physical necessities of this life.  Not only does He open His hand to give to us our "daily bread", He also satisfies our spiritual desires as well.  The Psalmist goes on to say: "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them" (Psalm 145:17-19).  We must look in hope to our Savior and God for these spiritual provisions as well.  In fact these spiritual desires should take precedence over our physical necessities: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).  May the Lord help us to look in hope to Him and then to praise Him as we watch Him provide!