LIGHT OF HOPE AND HELP (7)

“For YOU ARE MY HOPE, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been UPHELD from birth…” – Psalm 71:5-6a

God releases a strengthening and upholding dimension of His Power through the LIGHT of HOPE and HELP: “For YOU ARE MY HOPE, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been UPHELD from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb...” (Psa.71: 5-6a). This psalm is the prayer of an elderly man threatened by his enemies (vv.9,18). He began with his petition (vv.1-4). Then, he expressed his lifelong trust in the Lord: “You are my HOPE… my TRUST” (v. 5), “You are He” (v. 6); and “You are my strong refuge” (v.7).

From his youth, David had always trusted in God as his Helper. He had proved his faith in God’s Faithfulness through notable exploits as a ruddy youth. In this cheering recollection, he felt persuaded that the God of his youth would not forsake him in his old age (v.9). Essentially, David prayed that he might stand and never be ashamed of placing his hope in God. With implicit trust in God, he petitioned for Help for himself and judgment on his enemies (vv. 9-13). Then, he expressed his hope of receiving positive answers to his requests (vv. 14-18).

Our Ground of Hope in God can never be a false ground! We can come boldly to His Throne of Grace to obtain Mercy and find Grace to Help in time of need (Heb.4:16). He Who was our Help from birth, will be our Hope in our youth, and till grey hair. The Lord will not cast us off in old age, nor forsake us when our natural strength wanes. Hope is the cord that connects us to God, and provides the atmosphere for Him to work in our lives. Hope is God’s Gift for obtaining His Help: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to GIVE YOU HOPE and a future’” (Jer. 29:11, NLT).

Hope boosts Healing and Strength. Just as the body requires rest to recover, so does a weary, wounded spirit. When life’s troubles encircled him and the future looked bleak, David declared: “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Psa.62:5). Hope attracts the fulfilment of God’s Promises! Hope enables us to develop spiritual muscles to combat life’s battles: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isa.40:30-31a); “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who HOPEe in the LORD.” (Psa.31:24). David prayed: “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your STREGTH to this generation, Your POWER to everyone who is to come” (v.18).