Job 14:1-14, Faith – Love – Hope

The recent days of “pandemic” and the rioting in our cities move us again to consider the issue of HOPE.  Statistics tell us that, in relationship to the locking down of people, suicide has been on the rise.  That speaks of a loss of hope.  It also could be said that the lashing out in our country is linked to a loss of hope; some people, it seems, cannot count on Western Civilization. 

What both situations illustrate for us is the hopelessness of hope in this life.  I am not saying we cannot have hope or be hopeful in this life.  Instead, we are saying there is nothing that has its roots in this life that can give us hope.  Money, social standing, connections with powerful people, health, intellect, rights: all of these and more have been shown to be increasingly ineffective in recent days.

The primary issue is that we tend to define “hope” in terms of a better life now, in this world.  We see it as deliverance from present afflictions rather than joyful endurance through present afflictions.

The New Testament is, of course, filled with words of hope.  It is, after all, a record of the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He predicted His death and resurrection.  And then He fulfilled what He predicted.  The Apostles were chosen to be witnesses of His resurrection, as we see in The Acts of the Apostles.  From Romans to Revelation we see the effect of the gospel (death and resurrection of Christ) on people now as well as in eternity.

Our purpose today is to meditate briefly on passages of hope in the Old Testament.  While the doctrine is not as fully developed as in the New (of course; that is the nature of the Bible), we need to know that there are many reason to have hope in the OT. 

·       Hope and Eternity, from Job.  In the beginning of Job’s discourses, he noted that in himself there was nothing worthy of hope. What strength do I have that I should hope (6:11)?  Instead, Job put his hope in God: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him (13:15).  In professing “hope” in the context of God taking his life, Job was affirming the life to come.  He did this strongly in today’s passage, First he says, if you cut down a tree, it can still grow back (v7).  But when a man dies, he cannot return to life (v10).  But then he affirms: If a man dies, shall he live again?  All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes (v14).  This connection with eternity is what makes it possible for Job to endure.

o   Here is one additional thought.  In the above references, the word “hope” (6:11), trust (13:15) and wait (14:14) are all the same Hebrew term, yachal.  Hope is a matter of faith/trust, but it is faith that awaits what is hoped for.  Job awaits his “change” (14:14). 

·       Hope and depression.  Many people (I say this not as a general statement but because I have heard “many people”) have been moved to discouragement by the events of recent days.  It is hard not to see older loved ones in nursing homes.  It is hard seeing the freedoms many Americans died to gain and keep seemingly being swept away almost overnight.  Many are “cast down” and “disquieted” (Ps. 42:5,11; 43:5).  But the Psalmist in these two Psalms asks, “why” are you cast down and disquieted, almost as if he believes his soul has no reason to have these feelings.  In fact, that is what he believes!  Where, we ask, does his hope rest, if he thinks we should not give way to discouragement?  The answer is: Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, for the help of His countenance.  He does not specifically say what God is going to do for him; he only says, He will help!  And when He does, I will praise Him. 

o   Again, what do we see here?  There is the element of “waiting;” I shall yet praise Him.  But since he cannot specifically say what God’s answer is, he simply tells his soul to HOPE IN GOD!  This is not simplistic; but it is simple.  Hope in the One who is sovereign, good and eternal.