12-17-2025 PART 1: God Is Our Living Hope and Unmovable Rock

Section 1

This passage centers on Psalm 71 and immediately draws attention to the heart of David’s confidence: God Himself is the source of hope. David does not place his expectation in outcomes, relief, or circumstances, but in the Lord God directly. Hope is not presented as something God gives apart from Himself; God is the hope. That distinction is essential because it shifts trust away from temporary solutions and anchors it in a living, active relationship with God. The Psalm emphasizes that this hope is not stagnant or theoretical. It is present, personal, and ongoing. God is described as the rock of salvation, a foundation that is complete, secure, and unshakable. While life often feels like standing on sinking sand surrounded by shifting opinions and unstable philosophies, those who belong to God stand on a foundation that cannot be moved. This rock is not built on human effort, emotion, or moral systems, but on God’s faithful and perfect work, which remains constant regardless of external pressures or internal doubts.

Section 2

A key movement in this teaching is the shift from memory to active faith. David recalls God’s faithfulness from his youth, but he does not speak of God only in the past tense. Instead, he declares that God is his hope and trust now. This is a crucial transition for believers, because it unites remembrance with present confidence. God’s past deliverance fuels current trust, rather than replacing it. Many people remember what God has done yet struggle to trust what He is doing. David refuses that separation. He understands that the same God who delivered him before is actively sustaining him in the present. This truth is reinforced by the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Faith is not nostalgia for former miracles but confidence in a living God who continues His work. When believers move into the present tense of faith, hope becomes durable, grounded, and resilient, even in uncertain or painful seasons.

Section 3

The Psalm also affirms God as the giver and sustainer of life, from the womb onward. David acknowledges that God upheld him from birth, underscoring the Lord’s intimate involvement in human life and His identity as the God of life and refuge. This understanding leads naturally into a life marked by continual praise. Gratitude, thanksgiving, and worship are not optional expressions but essential responses to God’s goodness. Scripture consistently teaches that giving thanks aligns believers with God’s will, while persistent complaining reflects resistance to His goodness. Praise becomes both an act of obedience and a declaration of trust. Finally, this section reminds believers that while they are called to witness and share, salvation itself belongs to God. The power rests in the gospel, not in human performance or persuasion. Faithful availability, honest testimony, and trust in God’s work are sufficient. God takes what is spoken and accomplishes what only He can do, remaining forever the unmovable rock and living hope of His peopl