Title: What is True Hope?
Contents
▒▒ Main text: Lamentations 3:8-25
In the Bible, even those who believe very well in God can see their hopes completely destroyed and shattered. A prime example is Job. According to Job 1:1, it is said that Job was a man from Uz in the eastern land, and he was honest and innocent, and he lived a godly life that feared God. But all of a sudden he lost all his wealth and lost all his children. Job, the man who served God, all of his worldly life was shattered.
You can see through the text that all Jeremiah's wishes were fulfilled. What is our true hope in this situation where our hopes are completely shattered and all gone? Today we are going to take a look at this important issue through Lamentations of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was a prophet who prophesied for 40 years from 627 B.C.E. The situation in Israel at the time of prophecy was a disorderly society without order, a society in which mutual respect had disappeared and trust was broken. At a time when Israel had abandoned the fear of God and idolatry was widespread, Jeremiah began to bear witness to the words of prophecy.
With a hardened heart, Jeremiah cried out to the stiff-necked people, the Israelites who had turned away from God, and those whose order was broken just before they were destroyed, to abandon their idols and return to God. But the hardened Israelites did not listen to Jeremiah at all.
When Jeremiah was prophesying, Israel was completely occupied by Babylon, and even worse, the temple in Jerusalem collapsed. How could the Holy of Holies where God dwells, the temple in Jerusalem where the ark is located, be destroyed like this by Babylonians who do not know God? This fact was not easily understood by the Israelites. Even Jeremiah could not understand.
It was because Jeremiah had hope that he did not give up in the midst of such despair and continued his prophecy. There was a hope that one day the stiff-necked people would hear the word of God and return to God. Because of this personal hope, Jeremiah did not stop preaching the gospel even in the midst of difficulties.
However, in today's text we see that all of Jeremiah's personal hopes and dreams were completely shattered. Jeremiah said, “God, my life is so bitter, it hurts, it hurts, as if it were eating bitter bile. In saying this, Lamentations 3:18 says, “My hope in the Lord has been completely destroyed.” He is saying that his wish is over.
However, the important thing is that when Jeremiah's worldly hopes are cut off and he is really struggling at the bottom of his life as if he is eating bitter bile, Lamentations 3:21 says, “I see hope in God springing up in my heart.” You can see that he does not give up hope while confessing. This is the truth, and it is an important fact.
When our good goals, good dreams, and good visions are all broken and crumbling, when we are in a situation where we have no choice but to protest against God, strangely, mystical things in which hope for God springs up again in my heart. Believe it will happen.
The Apostle Paul said, “God, take away the thorn that stings on me.” I prayed so earnestly, but the thorn did not disappear, so I was disappointed and frustrated, but only then did the Apostle Paul realize the wonderful and mysterious truth of hope that God's grace will come strongly when I am weak. Jeremiah today is the same. When all your human hopes are broken, you will see a new hope for God springing up in the center. When Jeremiah's personal dreams and personal hopes are completely shattered and shattered, he makes an important discovery. Jeremiah discovered that God's mercy, mercy, and long-suffering were coming upon the people of Israel.
Who is our hope? is it wealth? The material disappears. Is your wish healthy? Health disappears. Is it honor? Fame is lost. Who is your hope? Believe that Jesus Christ is our only hope. Jesus is my only hope.
When Israel settled in the land of Canaan, they gave all the land to each tribe. The tribe that did not receive land at that time was the tribe of Levi. However, he sent all the tribes out of the tribe of Levi to go into each tribe and do the precious work of serving God. Then God said to the tribe of Levi, “Tribe of Levi, God is your portion. God is your property, and God is your hope.” You have made an important point.
Matthew 28:18 “Disciples, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” These are the words of Jesus right before his ascension into heaven. After leaving the boat, net, and home for three years and parting with the disciples who had followed him, Jesus said, “Peter, wherever you are, take your land.” you didn't say Finally, Jesus said, “I will be with you to the end of the world.” In other words, “Jesus will be your portion and your hope.” gave the word. May Jesus be your hope.
Hanshin Church members, I pray in the name of the Lord that only Jesus will be my hope.
2007-07-13 18:16:25