Unwavering Hope

In a world filled with uncertainty and pressure, it seems difficult to find hope. A lot of times we put our hope and security in things that have a limited capacity to fulfill that deep hope within us. The real question is who is our hope found in? We need to look to God as our creator, who is unchanging (Psalm 102:27). Even though everything around us changes, God never shifts or changes (James 1:17).

When we place our hope in God, we are not shaken by the circumstances and trials we face in this world. Psalm 33 is a psalm that is filled with encouragement and points us back to the character of God, who shows Himself as faithful.

In Psalm 33:4-5, the psalmist points us back to who God is and what He loves.

For the word of the Lord is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
 He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 
–  Psalm 33:4-5 

His word is upright, God’s work is done in faithfulness and His love is steadfast. Continuing we see how the psalmist emphasized God’s authority and identifies God as creator of all in Psalm 33:6-7.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
    he puts the deeps in storehouses.
– Psalm 33:6-7 

How can we respond to God for His love, righteousness, faithfulness, and authority over all?

Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
 For he spoke, and it came to be
    he commanded, and it stood firm. 
–  Psalm 33:8-9

The psalmist reminds us to live in fear of the Lord. Having a reverence or deep respect for God that is rooted on who He is.  He is not a distant God, but rather one who draws near to us as we draw near to Him (James 4:8).

We can respond back to God in our worship of Him, in our praise and thankfulness for who He is and what He has done.

Our foundation and hope cannot be on the things of this earth. It cannot be in our selves or our possessions. It cannot be in our accomplishments.

 The psalmist states,

The king is not saved by his great army: a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might, it cannot rescue.  
– Psalm 33:16-17

Rather, it is on the One who never changes and shows Himself faithful.

The psalm ends beautifully, once again as a reminder of where the psalmist puts his hope.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
 For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.”
– Psalm 33:20-22

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13