There was a message of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), but, first, God’s people had to suffer seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10).
There is a glorious hope - “He comes to be glorified in His holy
people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10), but, first, we must endure “persecutions and trials”, suffering for “the Kingdom of God” (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5). There are difficult times - “My soul is weary with sorrow” (Psalm 119:28), but there is also strengthening - “Strengthen me according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:28). In each of these passages, there is a wholesome combination of realism and faith.
Psalm 48:1-14 Lord, we worship You in the place of worship – “Within Your Temple, we meditate on Your unfailing love.” Help us to go out from there, and play our part in seeing that Your praise “reaches to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 48:: 9-11). How will other people know of Your love, if we don’t tell them? How will they find their way to Your House, if we don’t invite them? When we share Your Word with others, help us to remember Your promise: “My Word … will not return to Me empty, but will … achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
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