How to nurture hope in despair

In the Harry Potter stories, there are hooded shadowy creatures called the Dementors who feed on human happiness and suck joy and hope out of people’s lives. The only defence against them is to think of a happy time and thereby summon one’s Patronus, a silvery guardian who represents a positive force, a projection of hope and happiness that can shield the person from despondency. This is a wonderfully evocative image, but without God, it is only a human solution. It is essentially the story equivalent of what self-help books advise about finding hope through positive statements repeated to oneself to dispel despair. The issue with such an approach despite its potential effectiveness is that it can only manage or control negative feelings. It cannot resolve its root cause: our hopelessness without God. What then should be our Christian approach to nurturing hope?

God’s promises fulfilled

Reflecting on their history, the exiles would have known all about despair and dejection. Their land divided and then lost, their king a prisoner, what hope was left to them? Yet, our chapter points us to what God can do when He made a promise. Solomon rules over a united Israel (1 Kings 4:1) and the long list of officials is a down-to-earth reminder that the country has grown significantly so that it now requires a complex administration that involves 12 districts each with a governor (NASB ‘deputy’; 1 Kings 4:7-19). Although it was a long time coming, God promised Abraham that Israel would become as numerous as sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:20; Gen 22:17). Now it has happened. He also committed to give the land to Abraham’s descendants from the Euphrates River to the border of Egypt and it was done (1 Kings 4:21; Gen 15:18; Exod 23:31). Solomon’s wisdom promised in the previous chapter is now recognised not only in Israel and in judicial matters (1 Kings 3:28), but in the whole known world (1 Kings 4:34). Riches and honour have also been added, evident in the lavish provision at Solomon’s table (1 Kings 4:22-23) and in his worldwide fame. God has been and will continue to be faithful and this is what Israel must remember.

Fallible humanity and a different king

Yet, there is also realism in Solomon’s portrayal. Trust should not rest in human figures because they are fallible. The worrying aspects of this glorious king’s reign are already present here. Royal power is tempted to take, take, take (1 Sam 8:11-17) and Solomon demonstrates this in requiring his governors to provide for the royal household (probably by taxing people in their district; 1 Kings 4:7). Solomon’s accumulation of chariots and horsemen (1 Kings 4:26) goes against the requirements placed on the king (Deut 17:16) and raises the question of trust: will the king rely on the Lord or on his own power? Nevertheless, the idyllic images of Solomon’s reign also point to a different kingdom, one that lived in Israel’s hope when Messiah will establish his reign and people will live in peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:20, 25 cf. Mic 4:4). As Christians we know that that Messiah is God Himself come to be King in human flesh in Jesus Christ, yet never to succumb to the temptations of power.

How to nurture hope

Our chapter teaches us that hope comes from remembering the faithfulness of the Lord. It may take a long time or it may be quick, but He who promised never to abandon or forsake us (Deut 31:8), will not leave us stranded. Neither is our hope pinned on any human being, others or ourselves, it is not based on our abilities or worth. On the contrary, we know how weak we are, how susceptible to sin. Rather, our hope grows out of trusting our promise-keeping God. He is our true Patronus, our guardian and protector. We do not magically conjure Him up like a genie out of the bottle, but we humbly call to Him in our need and look to Him with trust to dispel our despair, to renew our strength and open the way for the future.   

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