Hope Held Out to Anxious Inquirers
Thomas Hitchin. Job 17:15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? I. THE INQUIRY. "Where is my hope?" 1. Is your hope in the world? This is the case with multitudes. Then your hope is set on that which is not good. 2. Is your hope in sin? Is that possible? The pleasures of sin are but for a season, the pains of sin are for eternity. 3. Is your hope in your works? This was the case with the ancient Pharisees. They "went about to establish their own righteousness," but failed in the attempt. All who are "of the works of the law" are under it as a covenant; and as such it requires perfect obedience, or there is no justification by it. 4. Is your hope in your knowledge? "Knowledge puffeth up." "The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 5. Is your hope in Christ? Then it is in the right place. The hope of Job was in him — the Redeemer; so was the hope of the primitive Christians. II. THE CASES IN WHICH INQUIRERS ARE WARRANTED TO HOPE. We are not warranted to hold out hope in every case. You must be made to feel your guilt, before you will give up your false hope. You must be made to feel your insufficiency before you will apply to Christ for relief. 1. If you repent you are warranted to hope. 2. If you believe, you are warranted to hope. 3. If you obey, you are warranted to hope. 4. If you love Christ, you are warranted to hope. 5. So you are, if you love the house of prayer. 6. And if you love the brethren. 7. And if you seek the Divine glory. III. THE QUALITIES OF THE HOPE WHICH THE GOSPEL INSPIRES. 1. It is a Divine hope. 2. A lively hope. 3. A joyful hope. 4. A liberal hope. 5. A permanent hope.In conclusion, let us consider the inquiry in the text in reference to ourselves, and thus endeavour to make a suitable improvement of the subject. Where is now my hope? (Thomas Hitchin.). Parallel Verses KJV: And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? WEB: where then is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?