The Hope Of The Righteous

The hope of the righteous will be gladness" (Prov.10:28) Hope and gladness are inexplicably connected, they are inseparable twins. When you see one the other is very close. Have you ever seen anyone who was genuinely hoping in the Lord that didn’t have a glad spirit. On the other hand, when you see someone filled with sadness or worry you can put it down their hope is not in the Lord. Hope in the Lord generates a spirit of gladness. I have said all this to say, our hope must be grounded on a sure thing and the only sure things are God and His Word. God has promised all believers eternal life. Rom.5:5 says we will never be disappointed if we hope in God’s promise of eternal life and this hope inescapably brings gladness. Hebrews 6:17-19 tells us this hope anchors our souls (mind, will and emotions). When the storms of life are raging we can know in our intellect that clinging to the “Rock,” Christ Jesus, is our only hope. The Rock is sure and firm and will not move so we can anchor our hope in Him and be glad to know it will hold although the winds of trouble are buffeting us. We “will” to hope in the Rock and this certainly affects our emotions – gladness erupts. Waiting is the "lion’s share" of hope. Waiting is probably the hardest part of hope. David said in Psalm 130:5-8, “I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His Word do I hope. I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. I say, more than watchmen for the morning. Hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem His chosen from all their iniquities.” (Amp.) That makes me glad just to read this scripture. We live in an “instant world.” The microwave gives us warm culinary delights in seconds or minutes. The freezer gives us instant ice. Even our air-conditioners give us instant cool or warm air. We can pick up the telephone and instantly talk with someone overseas. We ladies can get a quick hair curl, straightener or color, whichever we desire. Most of us have never developed the art of hoping while we are waiting patiently (this is called "faith." Only when we are hoping in God and His Word are we hoping in a “sure” thing. The government, politicians, the stock market and even our friends will disappoint us at times. Jesus never fails! Solomon tells us in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life,” and with that fulfillment comes gladness. Solomon had a lot of disappointments from hoping in the things of this world – women, children, riches, etc. At this point in his life is when he said in Eccl.1:2, “All is vanity (emptiness, falsity and vainglory),” but he ended his life when he gave this advice to his son (and to us) in Eccl.12:13, “All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God (revere and worship Him, knowing that He is) and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man (the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun) and the whole duty for every man.” (Amp.) We have hope for eternal life but we also are hopeful and full of gladness for the others we have helped to have this eternal life. They will be our victor’s crown of gladness (I Thess.2:19-20), (Amp.)