My Hope Is In The Lord

Put your hope in the right place

Psalm 146:1–10

Many today put their hope in the wrong place. They trust in wealth, or a successful career, or a long-term relationship, or in their image or status. There is nothing necessarily wrong with any of these things – but none of them are a firm enough foundation upon which to build your life.

It really matters where you put your hope: ‘Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing’ (v.3–4).

The psalmist proclaims the right place to put your hope: ‘Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God’ (v.5). If you put your hope in the Lord, this hope is ‘an anchor for the soul, firm and secure’ (Hebrews 6:19).

The psalmist has this firm hope in the Lord. He praises God continuously (Psalm 146:1–2). He recognises that he is ‘the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them’ and that he ‘remains faithful forever’ (v.6).

The God of hope gives new hope to those who seem to have little hope, and he calls you and me to do the same.

The psalmist lists some of those to whom God especially gives hope: the oppressed (v.7a), hungry (v.7b), prisoners (v.7c), blind (v.8a), marginalised (v.9a) and bereaved (v.9b).