The Centrality of Hope / David Jeremiah

The Centrality of Hope But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14   The late Canadian educator and philosopher, Marshall McLuhan, coined the expression “the medium is the message.” He meant that the way a message is delivered (the medium or media) has a significant impact on the message being delivered.

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 6:19-20

When reading the biblical psalms in English, it is easy to miss “the medium”—the way the psalms were composed in Hebrew. Psalms were often structured with a verse being put in the middle of the psalm to express a central theme. Psalm 71, a prayer for God’s help as advancing age makes life more trying, is a good example of this. The psalm has 24 verses in English, but in Hebrew at the very center of the psalm are these summary words: “But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” In spite of the trials the psalmist faced, his hope was in the Lord. The more his troubles multiplied, the more he multiplied his praise. Hope in God was his anchor during troubling times (Hebrews 6:19). It’s impossible to avoid troubles in life. But it is possible to praise God “yet more and more” for the hope we have in Him.   Why shouldest thou be afraid to die, who hopest to live by dying? William Gurnall