Day 362

Zechariah 12:1–13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7

HAVE YOU EVER noticed that at this time of year, the whole world seems to get reflective? Many hours of programming offer us opportunities to look back at all that’s happened during the past twelve months, while magazine articles at checkout stands the world over sketch biographies of those we’ve celebrated and lost. We’ve been reflecting, too, over the past few days about what will inform our resolutions for the new year. The book of Psalms today gave us something rather powerful to contemplate: “The LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11).

Obviously, questions arise. Who are “those who put their hope in his unfailing love”? And why is that important in considering our priorities for the imminent New Year?

The word hope here is referring to an expectant waiting for a desired outcome. Think of it like this: If we invest a portion of our income into a retirement fund, we wait in expectation that it will grow and produce the desired outcome of financial stability in our later years. The kind of person being described in the psalm is one who has invested all of their hope in the unfailing love of God. And what was the desired outcome?

That the Lord might delight in them.

Most of our New Year’s resolutions are self-focused —whether inward or outward. This is normal. After all, we are resolving to make changes about ourselves for the better. However, a wholly self-focused posture leaves little room for things that matter most —things like becoming the delight of the Lord.

Invest all of your hope in God, and fear Him. Wait expectantly in His unfailing love, and the Lord will delight in you. You are offered a path and an outcome. Write it down, and resolve to live into it in the coming New Year.

MEDITATION:

He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.