There is Hope 'In Deed'

Aim: To always remain hopeful in Jesus—no matter what.

Doctrine: Despite the sins and pessimism of the faithless, there is always hope—in Jesus. If this was not true, the world would have ended long ago. Hypocrites use hopelessness as a cloak for personal sin.

Exegesis: The ways hope works, in the life of the church: first, sin brings on trouble, misery, and injustice (vv. 1-5); then, God introduces the oddest tokens of encouragement (vv. 6-12); lastly, grace assures that the benefits of Christ will come to His people (vv. 13-15).

Further application: How to think about life in ''the real world'': recognize that what passes itself off as reality probably is not, and see that our faith is in God—and not in the evaluation of men.

Key verse: v. 15 ''For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.''