Hope in the Midst of Judgment
Notes
Transcript
Theme: Even when God’s people face consequences for sin, the prophetic message includes an enduring hope rooted in God’s covenant love and future restoration.
Theme: Even when God’s people face consequences for sin, the prophetic message includes an enduring hope rooted in God’s covenant love and future restoration.
Prophets and Hope
Prophets and Hope
• When you think of the prophets, do you think of judgment or hope?
• Why do you think God included both in their messages?
Point:
Though the prophets called out sin and warned of consequences, they always pointed toward restoration, Messiah, and a future filled with hope.
Though the prophets called out sin and warned of consequences, they always pointed toward restoration, Messiah, and a future filled with hope.
Hope in Exile
Hope in Exile
Context: Judah is in exile. False prophets said it would be over quickly. Jeremiah corrects this and says: settle in, but don’t give up hope.
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Discuss:
• What does it mean that God has plans for us even in hard seasons?
• How do we balance realism and hope like Jeremiah did?
Renewed Strength
Renewed Strength
Context: Israel is weary and discouraged in exile. Isaiah reminds them who God is.
Read: Isaiah 40:27–31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Hope is not passive—it’s trusting and waiting on God’s timing.
Hope is not passive—it’s trusting and waiting on God’s timing.
Ask:
• How is waiting an act of hope?
• What might it mean to “renew your strength” while waiting?
Hope After Ruin
Hope After Ruin
Context: Jerusalem has fallen. Lamentations is raw sorrow—but in the middle, a voice of hope emerges.
21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
God’s mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness is the ground of our hope.
God’s mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness is the ground of our hope.
Activity idea: Write your own short “lament” followed by a line of hope in God’s character.
Resurrection Hope
Resurrection Hope
The Valley of Dry Bones
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ”
10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.
14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”
Key Point: God brings life out of death. Hope is not based on what we see—but on what God can do.
Key Point: God brings life out of death. Hope is not based on what we see—but on what God can do.
Ask:
• What are the “dry bones” situations in your life or community?
• What does it look like to prophesy hope to dry places?
The Door of Hope
The Door of Hope
Context: God compares Israel to an unfaithful spouse—but promises to allure her back.
14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her.
15 I will give her her vineyards from there, And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; She shall sing there, As in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.
“I will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.”
Achor means “trouble”—God turns trouble into a gateway for hope.
Ask:
• Has God ever brought hope out of trouble in your life?
• What does this say about His nature?
What the Prophets Teach Us About Hope
What the Prophets Teach Us About Hope
Summary points:
• Hope in the Prophets is often spoken in the darkest moments.
• Hope is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not human goodness.
• Hope calls for endurance, trust, and looking forward to redemption.
Challenge:
Choose one prophetic promise of hope and meditate on it throughout the week. How might it shift your outlook?
