“My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law. All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.” – Psalm 119:81-88
Have you ever been in a place similar to what’s described in this passage? The psalmist says his soul faints and his eyes fail. He has people pursuing him for persecution without cause. He seems to be fighting tooth and nail for his life, but astoundingly still holds strong to his hope in God.
The “Enduring Word” commentary had an interesting note about this scripture. “This place of desperate, yet not despairing, is known to the followers of God. The Apostle Paul related something of this in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: ‘We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.’”
Have you experienced this type of hope in God that no matter if all else falls away, you’re still able to hold unswervingly to the truths laid out for us in scripture? Paul tells us in Philippians 4 that He had learned the secret to being content in any and all circumstances, and it was because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus His Lord (Phil. 3:8). The psalmist and Paul both had this contentment and hope in God, no matter what was surrounding them, and we are called to the same.
Read back over the scriptures from this morning. Have you experienced this hope in God? Have you been through circumstances or situations in your life that result in your ability to relate to these scriptures? How did you feel God’s nearness through them? How did God strengthen your hope? How is God calling you to hope in Him today?