God of Hope

¹ …. We must not just please ourselves. ² We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. ³ For even Christ did not live to please Himself…. ⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.... ¹³ I (Apostle Paul) pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.... ³³ And now may God, who gives us His peace, be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:1-3, 5, 13, 33 (NLT)

A New Year always brings hope! Hope for a better tomorrow, hope for new beginnings, and hope for a fresh start! For believers of God, we realize that a New Year brings a better tomorrow and new beginnings because the living God’s tender mercies and committed love are renewed every morning (see Lamentations 3:21-23, 25). Even more, believers of God look forward to a New Year because the living God is our hope for a better tomorrow and new beginnings (Romans 15:13; see also Psalm 33:22; Psalm 130:5, 7; Lamentations 3:21; Micah 7:7).

The living God is faithful, and He will continue to be faithful into the New Year and eternity (e.g., see Deuteronomy 7:9; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 117:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18-20; 1 John 1:9). The Holy Scriptures were written long ago to teach us about God’s unending love (e.g., see Exodus 34:6-7; John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-8, 16), and the Holy Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled (Romans 15:4; see also Psalm 119:49-50; 2 Timothy 3:16). With God’s help and guidance, believers can always expect a favorable and good outcome.

More specifically, biblical hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future (e.g., see Hebrews 11, great chapter of faith and hope). The living God is the Author of hope, and He alone is the ultimate object of hope (see Romans 15:13). Therefore, we can always trust in the living God for a better tomorrow and new beginnings (see Lamentations 3:24, 26, 32). Even more, everyone who looks to Him can absolutely count on His help, forgiveness, and compassion (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 7:13-14; Joel 2:13; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:6-7; James 4:8).

For example, the prophet Jeremiah saw hope in all the sin and sorrow surrounding him and his fellow Jews (see Lamentation 3:21-27). Unfortunately, the prophet Jeremiah saw the downfall and destruction of God’s people living in Israel and Judah after their disobedience and unfaithfulness to the living God and His righteous commands (e.g., see Jeremiah 7:9-11, 30). Yet, the prophet Jeremiah also saw hope for the future and restoration (e.g., see Jeremiah 29:11-14; Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 32:37-41; Jeremiah 33:17-18). The prophet Jeremiah discovered, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning” (see Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT). Therefore, the prophet Jeremiah knew he could always trust in the living God (see Lamentations 3:24), and he rightfully called the living God the “Hope of Israel” (see Jeremiah 14:8; Jeremiah 17:13). The living God secures the futures of all who trust and hope in Him (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Another example is continual hope in the living God is Job. Job was a righteous and noble man that faithfully loved and obeyed God (e.g., see Job 1:1, 8; Job 2:3). Because of Job’s love and faithfulness to God, Job was a wealthy and blessed man with a loving family filled with happiness and joy (Job 1:2-4; see also Psalm 128:1-2). Despite Job’s faithfulness and obedience, the living God allowed the evil one to test Job, and the evil one brought upon Job a series of disasters on his health, family, and wealth (see Job 1:9-12; Job 2:4-7). Despite Job’s testing and troubles by the evil one, Job never lost his faith and hope in the living God – His Redeemer (see Job 13:15; Job 19:25). Job valued his faith in the living God even above his own life! Because of Job’s continual hope and faithfulness to the living God, God blessed Job with twice the wealth, twice the possessions, and twice the family and Job died an old man with full of days (see Job 42:10-17).

The prophet Isaiah is one more example for trustful hope in the living God. The prophet Isaiah predicted the coming destruction of Israel’s southern kingdom Judah that eventually occurred 586 BC. Around 586 BC, the land of Judah was devastated by the Babylonian army, and the Jews were taken captive. Jerusalem lied in ruins (see 2 Kings 25:1-21) just as Israel northern kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians around 722 BC (see 2 Kings 17:7-23). However, the prophet Isaiah saw hope for Israel’s future! Beginning at Isaiah 40, the prophet Isaiah predicted future hope and joy for God’s people. The prophet Isaiah predicted Cyrus would arise to defeat the Babylonians and allow the Jews to return home to begin a fresh start (Isaiah 40 through Isaiah 48; see also Ezra 1:1-4). Even more, the prophet Isaiah predicted two further hopes for the future. The prophet Isaiah predicted the coming Messiah – the Lord Jesus, who would come as a Suffering Servant to bring redemption, forgiveness, and deliverance not only to the Jews but to the nations (see Isaiah 49 through Isaiah 55). Finally, in conclusion, the prophet Isaiah predicted a coming peace for all people in a new heaven and new earth when the Holy One of Israel – the living God – will rule as God of the whole earth.  

Therefore, the prophet Isaiah encouraged everyone to always hope in the everlasting LORD God, who is the Creator of all the earth (Isaiah 40:28; see also Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 42:5).  The everlasting LORD God never grows tired, weak, nor weary, and He graciously gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:28-29; see also Genesis 18:14; Psalm 68:35; Jeremiah 31:25). The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that everyone who hopes and trusts in the LORD God will renew their strength and will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31; see also Psalm 37:9; Psalm 40:1).

The living God graciously gives everyone His eternal love, life, and mercies who humbly and patiently seek, depend upon, and love Him (Jeremiah 3:23, 25; e.g., see also Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 7:9; Nehemiah 1:5; Daniel 9:4; Amos 5:4-6). Even more, the faithful and loving God graciously responds with help and rescue when we wholeheartedly seek and ask Him (e.g., see Jeremiah 17:5-8; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13; Luke 18:1-8). That is why the Lord Jesus Christ teaches that we should always pray and hope in the living God and never give up (Luke 18:1-8; see also Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Even during seasons of difficulty and hardship, the living God brings His discipline to produce right behavior, true living, and genuine worship that pleases Him (see Lamentations 3:38-42). The living God will never abandon nor leave you (Lamentations 3:31; see also Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 37:25; Matthew 28:20; 2 Corinthians 4:9 Hebrews 13:5-6).

For this reason, it is useless to place our hope in wealth (e.g., see Psalm 49:6-12; Psalm 52:6-7; Proverbs 11:4, 28; Jeremiah 9:23; Jeremiah 48:7); houses and possessions (e.g., see Isaiah 32:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:17-19); government leaders (e.g., see Psalm 118:9; Psalm 146:3; Jeremiah 17:5); empires and armies (e.g., 2 Kings 18:19-24; Isaiah 31:1-3); or even the Jerusalem Temple (e.g., see Jeremiah 7:1-7). The living God is our only hope, refuge, and strength (e.g., see Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18; Psalm 14:6; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 61:3; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 73:28; Psalm 91:9; Psalm 119:49-50; Isaiah 26:4; Romans 15:13). Even more, the living God has given believers hope in His Son, Jesus Christ (see 1 Pet. 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope (see Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 2:13). Because in Jesus Christ the living God reconciled the world to Himself (see 2 Corinthians 5:19), hope in the Lord Jesus Christ is one with hope in His Father, the living God. Therefore, believers of God and His Son Jesus Christ can live in the present with confidence and face the future with whatever trials may come with courage and hope (e.g., see John 16:33; Romans 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Hebrews 6:19-20). Our hope is sure: we are on the victory side!

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

J.I. Packer. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993).

Butler, Trent C. Holman Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1991).

New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).