Christmas Hope

 

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When this breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 146:1-10 ESV).

 

We use the word “hope” in so many contexts that the meaning of hope is often lost in our modern culture. However, there are many times when hope is all we have left. If you are a believer, hope is not just hope for its own sake, but hope in something and hope in someone. We are not invited to hope by our own strength nor by the strength of anything in the world around us. Rather, we are invited to hope in the character and integrity of God. God makes and keeps promises, which means we can have hope for the future because of the Lord our God.

 

Our reading today points out the futility of trusting in earthly rulers and other leaders. Although we might like to put our hope in princes of industry or in political leaders or in our own good efforts, this psalm makes clear that all those things will fade away. Even our most respected human heroes have their limits. The only true, remaining source of hope is the Lord God. As we focus on hope this month, we’ll be learning about the God in whom we hope.

 

Unlike the princes of ancient Israel and many political leaders today, the Lord cares for more than just the wealthy and powerful. The Lord makes promises in Psalm 146 to people who are oppressed, hungry, imprisoned, and blind. No matter who you are or how hopeless you may feel at times, God is the one true source of hope. In times of despair and difficulty, look to him as your help for today and your hope for tomorrow.