The psalmist’s confidence does not rest in himself. It rests in the promises of God. He hopes for the Lord’s salvation, not as a vague wish, but as a settled expectation grounded in God’s word. For those who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ, salvation is secure. Our confidence is not anchored in personal merit, but in the finished work of our Savior and the unbreakable promises of God. Because his hope is rooted in God’s word, it produces obedience. How foolish it would be to claim hope in God’s promises while refusing to walk in his ways. Spurgeon writes, “In times of trouble there are two things to be done, the first is to hope in God, and the second is to do that which is right. The first without the second would be mere presumption: the second without the first mere formalism. It is well if in looking back we can claim to have acted in the way which is commanded of the Lord. If we have acted rightly towards God we are sure that he will act kindly with us.” So we hope in his salvation, and we obey his word. We trust his promises, and we walk in his commands.
