PRÉCIS ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD TOWARD HIS TRUE ONES IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

SCRIPTURE. “Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, to deliver them from death and keep them alive famine.” – PSALM 33:19-19, AMPC

KEY TERM: “HOPE.” ‘Yachal’ [יָחַל]: “A primitive root, ‘To wait expectantly;’ to be patient, to hope; to be pained [yet] stay, tarry, trust [and remain faithful]; a [sustained] desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it.”

QUOTATION. “The world is indeed full of Peril, and in it there are many Dark Places; but still there is much that is Fair, and though in all lands Love is now mingled with Grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” ― J.R.R. TOLKIEN, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Behold the eye of the Lord, &c. — Whosoever therefore would have safety must expect it only from the watchful eye and almighty hand of God. ‘Is upon them that fear Him’ — These are the chief objects of His care and favour. ‘Upon them that hope in His mercy’ — That place their hope, and trust, and happiness, not in any creature, but only in God and in His mercy and blessings. 

‘To deliver their soul from death’ — That is, their life, when He sees it to be expedient for them: For sometimes it is better for them to die than to live, as both good and bad men have declared; and when it is so, it is known to God, but not to us. And, therefore, the constant accomplishment of this and the like promises, in a literal sense, is not to be expected nor simply desired, ‘except with submission to God’s wise and gracious will.’” – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

DK. When things are dark and diminished in our lives for a period of time as with Kelly House on occasion, we normally and naturally fall into despair. The old Sages and Prophets experienced this, and the Apostles, and even Jesus Himself. Neither is there any easy way to repair it save for one, exercised by King David any number of times when he fell into fear or discouragements, or both.

“Further, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the Lord his God.” – 1 SAMUEL 30:6, AMP

Once again, Benson explains it this way: “By believing that this all-wise and all-powerful Lord was his God by Covenant and special Promise, and fatherly Affection, as He had showed Himself to be in the whole course of His Providence toward him. It is the duty of all good men, whatever happens, to encourage themselves in the Lord their God, assuring themselves that he both can and will bring light out of darkness.”

CODA. To be clear: When we are surrounded by difficulty so much that it feels overwhelming at times and we can take no more, the Psalmist (likely David) went straight to prayer and God’s Words of Promise. ‘So are we to go first to Him,’ asking for comfort, or redirection, or affirmation. And in so doing, as for a specific Scripture and then:

‘Wait for His Reply.’

He may answer right away, as He did with me today, or speak to you a bit later. But the Point and the Promise is: ‘He WILL answer you with encouragement, beloved! He shall not leave you in confusion or silence forever. Selah.