Faith, Hope, and Love

INTRO

The Messiah has shown up in almost every chapter of Psalms. The Psalms have been an emotional roller coaster of expressing gratitude for when God works, alternating with the psalmists’ thoughts of trying to do things themselves. MacArthur noted that in today’s reading, Psalm 31 “contains more of David’s problems, prayers, and praises. David will again walk a road that takes him from anguish to assurance.”¹

TEACHING

Psalm 31:1-5: Wiersbe noted when others do evil, we can trust God for His strength.² David delighted in the Lord, so he was confident nothing could go wrong. As he walked with the Lord, David’s purposes became the Lord’s, so his confidence could not be shaken. Even if the Lord led him to a difficult place, David was confident God was working His purposes through David. First Peter 4:19 says, “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”

Psalm 31:6–8: David expressed his hatred for “worthless idols,” especially when they were compared to the true God (v. 6). David rejoiced because God delivered him from his enemies and “set my feet in a spacious place” (v. 8). Wiersbe emphasizes, “When others cause pain, ask God for His mercy.”³ David knew that as he trusted God, God would make His mercies new every morning.

Psalm 31:9–18: David described the negative consequences he experienced “because of my iniquity” (v. 10). David was distressed (v. 9), in deep grief (v. 10), ridiculed and feared (v. 11), forgotten (v. 12), and conspired against (v. 13). In spite of all of this, David expressed his trust in the Lord (v. 14). Wiersbe observed that “when others see the victory, God gets the glory.”⁴

Psalm 31:19–24: David expressed that God had never failed to show His love to him, even when it seemed like he was under attack. David ended the psalm by encouraging us to have faith in the Lord because of His faithfulness (vv. 23–24).

Throughout the entire psalm, David expressed faith, hope, and love:

• Faith: Verses 1, 6, 14, and 19 all emphasize faith. “Lord, I seek refuge in You; let me never be disgraced. Save me by Your righteousness” (v. 1). “I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord” (v. 6). “But I trust in You, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God’” (v. 14). “How great is Your goodness that You have stored up for those who fear You and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in You” (v. 19). This faith was all under the umbrella of trust in the Lord.
• Love: “Love the Lord, all His faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant” (v. 23).
• Hope: “Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord” (v. 24).

CLOSING

Where are you in the aspects of faith, hope, and love? Jesus said, “‘If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,’ the Lord said, ‘you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you’” (Luke 17:6). Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by it our ancestors won God’s approval.” Kyle Blevins noted, “The purpose of faith is to lead us to know the heart of God.”⁵ Hebrews 11:6 says, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Blevins elaborated, “Faith is the belief that there is something better to seek, while hope is the expectation, or certainty, that it is there. Hope is the fuel that keeps faith alive in our quest to find love.”⁶ Proverbs 24:14 says, “Realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.”

First Corinthians 13:13 says, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” Love displayed is the clearest picture of God that humanity has. Paul’s description of the church at Thessalonica remembered that “your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Because of the Thessalonians’ faith, hope, and love, they “became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:7–10).