Investing Hope – Hope Wins – Day 12

This Psalm was written by someone after Israel’s captivity and exile – possibly Nehemiah. The reason we know this is that it refers to the Babylonian captivity in the first few verses. Other details about this period of time can be found in Isaiah 56 – 66. They were prisoners for 70 years and then God set them free. This is a hymn sung by the people as they rejoice at how their Creator has also sustained them. They are celebrating the rebuilding of the gates and walls to protect Jerusalem. They return to their land but they come back broken physically and emotionally. God secures the city, gives them peace and even works on their behalf with the elements. Most importantly, he gives them hope of a bright future.

Imagine the hurt from being held in captivity. There was no hope left because there was fear to dream of the future. It is in this environment that Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would one day heal all of their sorrow. Nehemiah was one of the ones who experienced the captivity. He was a cup-bearer to the King. He used his position of influence to help the Israelites return to Jerusalem. He knew that he needed to invest his hope in the future rather than to give up like so many of his peers who settled for an easy life in the camp of the enemy.

Don’t ever settle for the easy life when God has called you to do great things for Him. It’s easier to follow what others do and take our cues from them. That’s where Nehemiah was different. He returned to Jerusalem and worked tirelessly to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It was not easy but so worth it. How do you need to invest in your future? What difficult assignment has God given you that others pull away from?

Shining With the Stars

You can feel insignificant when you find yourself in a hopeless situation. I could imagine that Nehemiah learned a lot about the stars during his captivity. He knew that God had created all of them and numbered their position and gave them a name. I have felt that at times yet know that the Lord is very concerned about the details of my life. That seems hard to imagine yet, throughout the Scriptures we have so many verses that tell us how passionate He is about it all.

In Verses 10 we see what does NOT bring God pleasure. The horses are a symbol of winning battles in their own human strength. The speed of the runners does not make Him happy. Those who captured the people of God thought they did it because of their superior military prowess. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But the Eternal does take pleasure in those who worship Him, those who invest hope in His unfailing love. vs 11

It seems like an impossibility but there are many instances where the Bible tells us that God delights in us. I believe that when we give Him praise in the midst of a dark time – such as the captivity in Babylon – He is pleased when we trust in Him completely when we have no reason other than our confidence in Him. Make an investment in speaking hope over your situation and your family. Invest hope in future generations by recounting the miracles of the Lord and expressing your confidence for a bright future. When you do this, you bring Him great pleasure.

Thank You, Lord, that You bind our wounds and heal our hearts. We can trust You to know where we are hurting and to provide us the comfort that will heal these wounds. We are not left alone in our pain. Instead, you care for us so completely and lovingly. I choose to put my confidence in You, Lord, rather than in the work of my hands. I choose to worship You in the midst of dark times knowing that by doing so I am investing hope in Your unfailing love. You always have a plan and I want to wait to see it fulfilled. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

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