Where Are You Placing Your Hope? | The Bible Project Word Study On Hope | CFL Podcast Ep77

What is hope? Hope is a choice to wait on God and His promises. Join me in exploring this word study on “hope” using The Bible Project as a resource.[0:00] Intro[2:00] The Bible Project word study on “hope”[6:55] Practical application of “hope” in our lives[14:20] Final thoughtsBible verses:Ephesians 4:11-12Isaiah 8:17 Psalm 130:1-7 Psalm 39:7Proclaim Ministries Advent series   The Bible ProjectBiblical hope is rooted in God's faithfulness rather than our circumstances. I will be using the Bible Project as a resource in this podcast episode. I find their content to be beneficial in understanding the details of “hope.” Let’s dive in.Defining Hope and Its Importance in the Old TestamentFrom The Bible Project Advent seriesHope is the anticipation of a better future and is crucial for human existence. In the Old Testament there are two main Hebrew words for hope: yakhal (to wait for) and qavah (to wait with tension and expectation).The concept of hope in the Bible is often tied to waiting for God, as seen in the Old Testament and the book of Psalms. Biblical hope is different from optimism as it is based on God's character and past faithfulness, not on circumstances.“At this moment, the Lord is hiding his face from Israel, so I will qavah for Him.” - Isaiah 8:17“I qavah for the Lord…and let Israel yakhal for the Lord, because he’s loyal…and will redeem Israel from all its sins.” - Psalm 130:5-7“And now, O Lord what else can I qavah for? You are my yakhal.” - Psalm 39:7The New Testament and Christian HopeThe New Testament concept of hope, uses the Greek word elpis, which describes anticipation based on the risen Jesus. The apostles believed that Jesus' resurrection opened a new door of hope for humanity and the universe.Christian hope is about waiting for humanity and the universe to be rescued from evil and death, based on God's character and promises. This kind of hope is not based on the odds but is a choice to wait for God to bring about a future as surprising as the resurrection.Personal Reflections on Hope and Biblical TeachingsLearning about the biblical terms for hope (yakhal, qavah, and elpis) gives a whole new perspective on the biblical accounts.For instance, in the story of Noah and the ark, you better understand the importance of waiting on the Lord with trust and expectation (yakhal). Noah had no idea how things would turn out, but he did have experience with God’s past faithfulness and he placed all is trust in Him.This account and so many others in the Bible highlights hope being placed in God, not in circumstances.Watch the Bible Project video with your families or small groups and have discussions about the content.You may use additional resources like coloring sheets and word searches to engage with the material. You can find those on our Advent page. Hope is a choice to wait on God and His promises. Put your hope in the right place - the person of God through Jesus Christ.We’d love to hear from you! "Live for God by connecting faith and life."Download our app to get notified every time we upload new content https://proclaimministries.com/appSupport the ministry https://proclaimministries.com/giveFollow Proclaim Ministries:https://www.facebook.com/proclaimministrieshttps://www.instagram.com/proclaimministries/