This week we are exploring biblical hope. Yesterday I shared a great word study by The Bible Project that defined the two uses of the word hope in the Bible; Yakhal = to wait for, Qavah = tense expectations.
The word advent itself is defined by Wikipedia as “a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning 'coming'."
This season we celebrate hope - the tense expectation of waiting for the Messiah to come.
Today, let’s imagine what that tense expectation must have looked like for the Israelite's who were waiting for their promised seed.
Up until this point in the great redemption story, the Israelite's had been hoping for their savior to rescue them for awhile. In fact, some Bible commentaries say that it was about 400 years that the Israelite's went without hearing from God (from the book of Micah - ending the Old Testament - to the beginning of Matthew - where we prepare to meet our Jesus).
To be honest, I’m not sure I could have held onto the hope the way the Israelite's did. We have to remember all the persecution, cruel kings, and exiles that they had experienced. But, with that always came God’s faithfulness. He was always there to rescue His chosen and special people, fulfilling the promises He made long ago to Abraham.
That is what they were waiting for and expecting - God to intervene and fight for them.
What they were not expecting was the way in which God would fulfill His promise this time.
As we celebrate hope this season, let us also hold onto the living Hope we have been gracious given.
Daily Scripture:
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord . Psalms 31:24 NIV
love in Christ,
Nicole