Sticky hope

Hope is sticky.

“This is what the Lord says: 

In this place, which you say is a ruin, 

without man or beast — that is,

in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets 

that are a desolation without man, 

without inhabitant, and without beast — 

there will be heard again a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the groom and the bride, and the voice of those saying, 

Praise the Lord of Hosts, 

for the Lord is good; 

His faithful love endures forever 

as they bring thank offerings to the temple of the Lord. 

For I will restore the fortunes of the land 

as in former times, says the Lord.

“This is what the Lord says: 

If you can break My covenant with the day 

and My covenant with the night 

so that day and night cease to come at their regular time, 

then also My covenant with My servant David may be broken so that he will not have a son reigning on his throne, 

and the Levitical priests will not be My ministers.

This is what the Lord says: 

If I do not keep My covenant with the day 

and with the night and fail to establish the fixed order of heaven and earth, 

then I might also reject the seed of Jacob 

and of My servant David — not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Instead, I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.”

Jeremiah 33:10-11, 20-21, 25-26

Jeremiah is in the Pit of desolation. 

"there will be heard again a sound of joy"

How sweet are the words spoken like that when you're in the Pit! 

But what if you never fell into despair?  Then would those words still sound as sweet?  Or would they sound "normal" or maybe nonsensical.  Would the sound of hope even have a sounding effect at all? 

The only person who finds hope is the one who is desperately looking for and wanting it.  The trouble with that is that you risk a big disappointment.  Have you ever wanting something so badly, maybe a certain job or meal, only to have your desires crushed within you when you didn't get it?  It feels miserable to have desired so much only to lose so much in return.  And that is the risk we take in experiencing real hope. 

God speaks about His promises to Jeremiah and gives him the assurance of hope by comparing the sureness of it with the sureness of day and night happening.  

"If I do not keep My covenant with the day 

and with the night and fail to establish the fixed order of heaven and earth, 

then I might also reject the seed..."

As surely as you see day or you see night--which is surely seen!--unless and until you stop seeing what is considered day and what is considered night, you can rest assured that My promises are intact.  But if you wake up and there is neither day or night in its proper order then--even then!--it's a maybe that He will forget about His promises.  

"Instead, I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them."

There is hope in the day and hope in the night if we will not be afraid to desire it. 

This circumstance, feeling, or reality in time is not the final outcome.  This, too, is like the place where Jeremiah heard the voice of God saying "I will restore..." to Israel.  And if He is the God who says that to Israel, how much more will He now say that to us who have been given adoption through the blood of Christ?  We are God's children on a different level than Israel.  Israel was God's chosen people group or nation to make Himself known to the world, but we are God's chosen children by the choice of God to send His one precious and beloved Son to die and give us the blood that cleanses and reconciles us back to God. 

God's character is revealed in the Old Testament, because He is doing things in relation to His chosen people (Israel).  We may not be His chosen nation (as Koreans, Swedes, Afghani's, Chinese, or Dutch, etc) but we are His chosen children!  And how much more will His character keep His promises toward His very own children?   

In other words, let not this world deceive you little children.  The hope you have let it increase with the day and increase with the night, for no other word is true aside from what our God says.  

If you forget how sure you can be about God and His love, joy, peace and glory for you

"there will be heard again a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the groom and the bride, and the voice of those saying, 

Praise the Lord of Hosts, 

for the Lord is good; 

His faithful love endures forever 

as they bring thank offerings..."

Look outside.  

Do you see the day and know the night is soon to follow or vice versa? 

Then know that God's promises are more sure than that which you see outside. 

If you're in the pit of ruin and desolation, then let hope be harvested to its highest potential.  Let it grow large and terrifying because God will not disappoint.  

Though much in this life will, God has His perfect ways that have you sitting by still waters in the end.  

"God may not spare us from calamities in this life, but He will bring us safely Home to everlasting joy in Him." -John Piper

Remember this life has been bought by the blood of Christ.  You are not your own. 

"for you were bought at a price. 

Therefore glorify God in your body."

(1 Cor. 6:20) 

We are learning to see,

We are learning to hear,

And we are in turn now being made new into the image of Christ.  

This is our great hope, so let it be epic. 

Jmegrey