Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #33 - The Fullness of Hope

In our last post we introduced the Hebrew words "kesel" and "kisla" as expressing a full hope.  We noted that the root idea behind these words was that of "fatness" and sought to explain how the connotation of this "fatness" could be either good or bad depending on the context.  In fact we could have suggested the idea of a fat hope if it were not for the largely negative association we have with the word "fat" in English.  For example, when we speak of a "fat chance" we mean it in a very ironic or sarcastic sense to convey the opposite of fullness: a chance that is practically non-existent!  So we have chosen the more positive description of "fullness" for this type of hope in order to avoid any negative misconceptions.  However we must recognize that the Bible uses these words for "hope" in both positive and negative contexts.  We may say that there is such a thing as a fat hope or foolish hope described in the Scripture as well as the full hope we have been speaking of.  This is evident from the fact that kesel and kisla are translated in the KJV three times by the word "hope", twice by the word "confidence" and three times by the word "folly".  Of the three times it is translated as "hope" two of the three are in a negative context!  We may categorize these verses as follows:
A False Hope:

Job 8:14 - "Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web." (Referring to the unsubstantial "hope" of the hypocrite mentioned in the previous verse).  Job 31:24 - "If I have made gold my hope, or have said to fine gold, Thou art my confidence;"  (A declaration by Job denying that he had ever made his wealth an object of trust or regarded it as the source of his well being and security).  The Bible contains numerous warnings to the rich not to trust in their riches but in God alone (see for example Proverbs 11:28; Jeremiah 9:23; Mark 10:23,24; I Timothy 6:17,18).  Job even associated such misplaced trust with idolatry as did Paul in the New Testament (Job 31:28; Colossians 3:5).

A Foolish Hope:

Psalm 49:13 - "This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings." (This refers to the foolish confidence the wicked may have in thinking that they will never face death or will be forever immortalized in their wealth or lands they leave behind - vs. 6-12).  Delitzsch very accurately captures the meaning here when he translates: "This is the lot of those who are full of self-confidence ..." and refers to such thinking as a "foolish delusion" (emphasis mine).

Psalm 85:8 - "I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." (Here is a warning to the nation of Israel who were delivered from captivity that they do not return to the cause of their captivity - principally the folly of idolatry which led them to foolishly place their hope in false gods;  see also Ezra 9:9-15).

Ecclesiastes 7:25 - "I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:"  (Here is the sad confession of King Solomon who in his quest for satisfaction and fulfillment in this life satiated himself with all this world had to offer).  Yes there is a "fullness" that is wicked and foolish.  Solomon found out experientially that filling his life with such things was mere "emptiness" and "vanity" - it brought no satisfaction in the end.

A Full Hope:

Job 4:6 - "Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?"  (We have looked at this verse before.  The word translated "hope" here is "tiqwa"- see our post on 2/15/2013).  Job could have full confidence because of his worshipful reverence (fear) of God that had produced a testimony of righteousness in his ways.  This was in spite of his outward sufferings and troubling circumstances.

Psalm 78:7 - "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;"  (Here is a prayer for the next generation expressing the responsibility of God's people to leave a legacy of faith to their children; vs. 1-6).  Too many of today's children are being raised to have self-confidence rather than God consciousness!

Proverbs 3:26 - "For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." (We quoted this verse and its context at the end of the previous post).  Here is the crux of the matter.  Here is the difference between a full hope and a foolish hope:  A full hope results from placing our confidence in the Lord; a foolish hope results from placing our confidence in our self!  The one is full of self, the other is full of God.  Is your hope full or foolish?