January 18, 2023

O Israel, hope in the LORD
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 131:3

Hope seems like a funny word in the context of this Psalm. Inevitably, whenever I read and pray through this text - my mind plays a trick on me and where I anticipate the word “trust” I am surprised to find the word “hope.” I occasionally describe myself as a “high functioning cynic” so, on that point it makes sense that I instinctively lower the ceiling of this text, and why it has been so powerful in my life. Trust can occur exclusively in our heads, but hope requires much more of us. Hope grabs our trusting (or not so trusting) heads and fires them with yearning hearts. Hope leans forward, resting on the promise of something that has yet to happen.

Considering this in light of the Psalms, we see Israel called to lean forward through any number of fearful things: invasion, exile, siege, occupation, apostasy, sinful leaders and the like. But as Israelites sang this Psalm on their approach to the Temple Mount they heard the voice of God calling them away from false hopes: allies, chariots, might, and works-righteousness to rely on God, and rest in his presence.  As we ourselves heard during the call to worship “Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress!”