HOPE
Hope is a word that shows up in human discourse whenever there is a situation that is unresolved, unknown or holds the possibility of undesirable results. Here are a few examples:

In conventional usage, hope is like a desire or wish for something that is out of our control. Hope is both something we have (i.e. a noun) and something we do (i.e. a verb).

We should not be surprised to know that our conventional definition of hope is different from the way God sees it. For God, hope that an event will, or will not, happen is not applied to a variety of human situations or circumstances. For God, hope is applied to only one spiritual condition: Hearing his spoken voice/word.

The verb of hope expresses the desire to hear God’s spoken word. And the noun of hope is what people have (i.e. possess) when they hear God’s spoken voice. Expressions of these verbs and nouns are found in these scriptures:

Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Psalm 119:81  My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 

Psalm 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 

Psalm 119:49  Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 

Psalm 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 

Psalm 119:147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 

Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 

Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Psalm 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

STUDY TIP: See Gods at War for more about God expanding his kingdom to the hearts and minds of his people. Also see the HEART IS THE PLACE and Kingdom of God/Heaven for understanding of God’s kingdom.

We see then that hope, along with Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, and Joy, is one of many ways that God symbolically refers to his spoken voice.