Words of Hope

A Word Study on the Biblical Word "Hope"

Study #36 - A Sure Hope

This is our last study on the Hebrew synonym "batah" which is used to express that "hope" which results in a sense of well-being, safety, and security.  This word and its derivatives are often used to express a calm feeling of confidence that results from the absence of all fear and danger. Isaiah wrote: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust (batah), and not be afraid ..." (Isaiah 12:2).  Zophar told Job, "...thou shalt take thy rest in safety (betah). Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid ..." (Job 11:18b-19a).  Israel was promised by God that if they would keep His commandments then "... ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety" (Leviticus 25:18,19).  In both places the word "safety" is the Hebrew word "betah".  This was a promise made over and over to Israel but was forfeited by them through unbelief and disobedience. This is the theme of many of our Christian hymns as well.  Elisha Hoffman wrote in the hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" the familiar words:  "What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms! I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms!  Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms ..."  But unfortunately the unbeliever often seems to dwell in a false sense of hope and security not realizing that his soul is in eternal danger!  And so this word is also used of those who live without care or caution even though danger may be all around them.  Gesenius notes that "batah" is used "in a bad sense, of men who set all their hope and confidence in worldly things, and do not fear God and the Divine displeasure."  Proverbs 14:16 says, "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident" (batah).  One of the reasons the armies of Israel were able to conquer certain cities so easily was because the inhabitants were living in a sense of false security (see for example Judges 18:7, 10, 27).  Isaiah warned the women of his time that their feelings of safety and attitude of carelessness would be overthrown by God's judgment upon the land (see Isaiah 32:9-11).  And so, as we noted in the last post, our feelings of security and well-being are only valid when there is a good reason and foundation for them.  Our last passage brings out this concept very clearly:  "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth (betah) in man, and maketh flesh his arm (source of strength), and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath (shrub) in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth (betah) in the LORD, and whose hope (mibtah) the LORD is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:5-7).  "Mibtah" translated as "hope" in this passage is a derivative of "betah" and bears the same meaning of confidence and security.  There is a clear difference between the two types of individuals described here.  One bases his sense of hope and security in man, whether himself or others; the other bases his sense of hope and security in the LORD.  The one ends up spiritually destitute (living like a desert shrub); the other flourishes, grows and bears fruit.  The one is full of trouble and care; the other is freed from anxiety and fear.  All of this is set in the context of the deceitfulness and wickedness of the heart of man.  Why should we trust our own heart when it is so inherently evil?  As J.S. Baxter wrote:  "The heart of man's problem is the problem of man's heart"!  The only sure hope and true sense of security and safety is found in trusting the LORD.  That is a hope that can carry us safely through this world and into eternity without any fear of death or condemnation.  In the LORD alone the believer dwells secure.