The Hope of His Word

Psalm 119:49-56

Verse 49 Remember Your word to Your servant, for You have given me hope.

We have reached the seventh stanza of this song about the Word of God and the psalmist takes a turn in the direction of his prayer about the Word of God.

The psalmist’s tone of pleading seems to change slightly to awe of who God is. He has been seeing the Word more deeply and that has led to him seeing God in His holiness. This God of purity and love has given His law so that His people can follow in His path of holiness. This man of song asks the Lord to remember what He has told him, but what had He said that would bring the psalmist hope?

This hope comes from knowing what God has said about those that love Him and His law. God had told His people over and over that if they would obey His law they could stand before Him without shame. The psalmist remembered that promise and knew he had a part to play in it, if he didn’t obey he had no reason to think that he could stand in the presence of God with no fear. This isn’t meaning just holy in actions but holy in thought as well. This is the thing the helps bring hope to the man writing this elaborate love song to the Lord and His Word. He knows that the law, when embraced deeply, transforms our thinking.

When our thinking takes on this transformation, we will see things in the light of God and we will see the hope that is ours as we obey. A hope that speaks of a loving relationship with the God of the universe and the hope of eternity spent with Him. We will come to understand that while this world is hard, an eternity without God is hell. Our only hope is in Him. It isn’t what we do that makes us holy, it is only through the blood of His Son.

God’s word in the Garden of Eden was that He had a plan of redemption, a plan to give hope. The psalmist was asking God to remember that word that He would send One that would give hope. Our hope is in Christ alone, the fulfillment of the law and the hope of all the world.

Making It Personal

Is your hope in your keeping the law or God’s keeping His word? What does it mean to you that He wants you to live holy? Is your hope in the sacrifice of Jesus?

Making It Personal Kids

How would you describe hope? What do you hope for? Does knowing Jesus give you hope about Heaven?

Closing Prayer

Father, You are our only hope! Thank You for Your promises and the law You have given us. Please keep Your word and give us a desire to live in obedience to Your law. In Jesus’ name, amen.