‘Let Israel hope in the Lord’ (Psalm 130:7)

This title is applied to all of the Lord’s people. It sets forth their dignity – they are PRINCES; it refers to their experience – they wrestle with God in prayer and they prevail. Despondency does not befit a prince, much less a Christian.

Our God is “THE GOD OF HOPE” and we should hope in Him. Israel should hope in His mercy, in His patience, in His provision, and in His plenteous redemption. They should hope for light in darkness; for strength in weakness; for direction in perplexity; for deliverance in danger; for victory in conflict; and for triumph in death.

They should hope in God confidently, because He has promised; prayerfully, for He loves to hear from us; obediently, for His precepts are to be observed by us; and constantly, for He is always the same. Dear friends, do not let your hope rest on systems, or other people, or anything; rather put your hope in the Lord, in the Lord only.

Israel’s God is at all times Israel’s hope. The hope of Israel shall never be disappointed. Therefore, hope in God, for it is good that a person should both hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

The gospel bears my spirit up,
A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope,
In oaths and promises, and blood;
Then, O my soul, still hope in God,
And plead thy Saviour’s precious blood.

 

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘I have been passing through a series of trials, which I trust the Lord will sanctify to my soul’s good. I have had domestic affliction, and through incessant preaching, my throat has become disordered. Yet in the midst of all, I have many mercies, the place is filling fast, some are converted to God, and we are adding to the church. I baptized my eldest son on the day he was seventeen years of age, and yesterday he was received in the church. It was a solemn, and I trust, a profitable day. The Lord has tried me, may I now come forth as gold.’