Put Your Hope In God
(Irwin Seet, Steward, LCEC)
READ:
Zechariah 8 and Psalm 42 (NIV)
Psalm 42:11 “…Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.”
OBSERVE:
In Zechariah 8, we read of the Lord’s passionate love for Israel and how He would restore Jerusalem to be called the “Faithful City” or the “City of Truth”. The Lord envisioned Jerusalem as a thriving, safe place where the young and old enjoy the safety of the city. This vision would be hard to imagine at that time as Jerusalem’s walls were ruined and the city was not safe and secure. The Lord stated that not only would the city be restored but verse 12 states that “the seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew.” He went on to say that the people of Israel will also be brought back from exile to the Promised Land.
In verses 9-13, the Lord instructed His people to take courage, finish the work and He would bless them richly. All these blessings and promises will happen to an obedient Israel and he gives clear instructions how the nation and people should behave.
Finally, the Lord proclaimed that in the light of the glorious future that they would face, the people should adopt a posture of joyful and cheerful feasting which will be more appropriate than mourning and fasting. Nations and people will be drawn to Israel to seek the Lord because they witness His favour on the land.
APPLY
Since the pandemic started in 2020, we have seen over 5 million deaths and despite widespread vaccinations, we are still witnessing a tsunami of cases worldwide as cities go through their 3rd, 4th and 5th waves of infection. All this has resulted in a cloud of worry and concern as world leaders paint a dismal picture of the future. Through the gloom and doom, we can take heed of Psalm 42 which instructs us to put our hope in God and “by day, the Lord directs His love, at night, his song is with me.” From reading Zechariah 8 and Psalm 42, we know that we have a God who cares for us and that we can “cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for us” and He will carry all our burdens and concerns. As God’s children, we should also live in hope as 1 Corinthians 10:13 gives us the assurance that God is faithful and will give us strength and the ability to endure all trials and hardship.
DO
The Lord gives us clear instructions in Zechariah 8 how we should live our lives as an obedient nation and people:
- Speak the truth to each other.
- Render true and sound judgement in your courts.
- Do not plot evil against each other.
- Do not swear falsely.
PRAY
Dear heavenly father, we thank you that you are a God who meets all our needs. We pray that during this period of uncertainty, we will have hope and have hands that are strong to do your will. We know that you are a God who keeps your promises and that your righteousness is everlasting. Like the Psalmist, we pray that you will make your face shine on us and that we will follow your will and lead lives that are righteous and just. We pray that each of us will turn to you and put our hope in you for we know that you have plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. All this we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
