PATIENT HOPE

Lamentations 3:3

A. "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord" 1. The immediate context shows:
  1. That the man that spoke the above words had long been in deep trouble and great perplexity
  2. But the trials of his life taught him to patiently hope in the salvation of the Lord
  • That again shows that our trials and perplexities can do no particular harm:
    1. They tend to lead us to put our trust in God - hoping faithfully for the fulfillment of God's promises to us
    2. They are permitted to develop in us that patient hope that will never fail us, no matter how dark the outlook may be B. Hope, patience, and childlike faith in God are the secrets of spiritual triumphs
  • Hope, what is it?
    1. Hope is the spark of life that keeps man alive
    2. To hope ins to cherish the fulfillment of one's expectations
    3. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" - Prov. 13:12
  • Center of the Christian hope:
    1. Jesus Christ is our only rewarding hope - 1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:21
    2. The second coming of Jesus Christ is the blessed hope of the saints - Titus 2:13; 1:2; 3:7
    3. Resurrection of the saints is another anchor of our hope based upon God's promises - Acts 24:15; Rom. 8:11
  • Patience, what is it?
    1. "Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk" - A Chinese Proverb
    2. Patience is the capacity to endure trials, hardship, or injustice with perfect self-control - 1 Cor. 13:4
    3. Patience is forbearance under stress, or provocation and indignities - Is. 53:7
    4. Finally, patience calm self-possession in the face of adversity or disappointments - Job 2:10 C. Summary
  • It is by waiting upon God that we come to know god with that knowledge which is the foundation of all character:
    1. The life story of Job demonstrates the point that we are attempting to make - Job 42:10-12
    2. Abraham became a sojourner in the land of promise patiently waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises - made to him when He called him to leave his home and relatives - Gen. 13:14-18; Heb. 11:8-10
  • Patiently waiting upon the Lord:
    1. Is an expression of our faith in Him who promises and who cannot lie
    2. We are confident that, He who knows best will never fail us even though our hope may be deferred for a time
    3. Patiently waiting in expectation keeps the flame of our hope undimmed
  • Patiently waiting for the consummation of all God's promises:
    1. Is a definite mark of our complete confidence in what god has promised; Examples: Abraham - Rom. 4:16-22; Joseph had his bones moved to the land of promise - Gen. 50:24-26
  • It is most significant that the remnant people of God are identified as those:
    1. Who are possessed of the patience of the saints - Rev. 14:12
    2. But patience does not come easily; it is developed in trial, hardships, and adversity - Rom. 5:1-7
    3. This truth makes it clear that trials await God's people and that means that God will allow them to develop patience in the lives of the people that are to pass through the seven last plagues - Rev. 12:17; Dan. 12:1


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