What, then, can I hope for Lord? I put my hope in you. Psalm 39:7, GNT)

 

One of the ministers in my church had a very good sermon on hope one Sunday. The same Sunday during lunch hour, I listened to one of the last few broadcasts of a music program by Nic de Jager called "Nic se goed". Nic played part of Verdi’s Requiem and quoted a line from it.

 

Later in the day I found the original lyrics and the English translation on the internet, part of which was as follows: “O God, you who absolved Mary Magdalene and heard the prayer of the criminal on the cross, have given me hope as well”. These words started me thinking about the real meaning of hope.

 

Without hope life becomes meaningless. Without hope people sink into the depths of depression. The poet of Psalm 39 experienced this feeling of hopelessness where nothing seemed worthwhile anymore. This feeling was not just malaise, but something much more serious.

 

His words unveil his inner feelings: “What, then, can I hope for Lord?” This question tells us that he was actually asking that age-old question about the meaning of life that many of us ask. In verses five to seven he is confronted by a fact that we all have to face, namely the knowledge that we have to die eventually. “Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind, no more than a shadow. All they do is for nothing; they gather wealth, but don’t know who will get it.” (Psalms 39:5b-6)

 

To change our perspective, we can rephrase his question and say – ‘is life still worth living?’ There is a turning point when the psalmist realises that he can “put my hope in you.” This is also the message in the words of the Requiem. If Jesus could forgive Mary Magdalene and the criminal on the cross, why not us? Being absolved by God makes life worthwhile. I can put my hope in him entirely.

 

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that my hope is not anchored in myself or other people, but in you alone. Amen

 

 

Is daar nog hoop vir my, Here? U is my enigste hoop. Psalm 39:8, 1983-vertaling

 

'n Dominee van die gemeente waar ons lidmate is, het 'n baie goeie preek oor hoop gehad. Daardie Sondagmiddag luister ek op RSG na Nic de Jager se musiekprogram “Nic se Goed”, wat ongelukkig nou ook tot 'n einde gekom het. Hy speel 'n gedeelte uit die Requiem van Verdi en vertaal 'n reël daaruit.

 

Later in die dag het ek op die internet die oorspronklike woorde asook die Engelse vertaling daarvan gekry. Kortliks kom dit op die volgende neer: “U kwytskelding van die sonde van Maria Magdalena en die misdadiger aan die kruis, het ook vir my hoop gebring.” Dit het my baie laat dink aan wat hoop werklik is.

 

Sonder hoop raak die lewe onleefbaar. Sonder hoop val mense in die dieptes van depressie. Die digter van Psalm 39 het ook op moedverloor se vlakte beland, maar nie sommer net oor iets uit die daaglikse lewe nie. Sy gevoel van sonder hoop te wees lê veel dieper.

 

Daarom die woorde van ons teks “Is daar nog hoop vir my, Here?” Hy beleef 'n bestaanskrisis, 'n vraag na die sin van die lewe. In verse ses tot sewe kom hy voor die feit te staan dat ons sterflik is: “Kyk, U het bepaal dat my dae min sal wees, in u oë is my lewensduur byna niks. Ag, alle mense is maar verganklik. Die mens leef soos in 'n droom en hy sloof hom af vir niks. Hy gaar op, maar weet nie wie sal dit kry nie”.

 

Sy vraag is eintlik of die lewe nog die moeite werd is. Dan kry hy die insig: “U is my enigste hoop.” Hierdie hoop wat die lewe sinvol maak kom ook na vore in die woorde uit die Requiem. As Jesus die sondige Maria Magdalena en die misdadiger kon vergewe, hoekom nie ook vir my nie? Om deur God vergewe te word, gee sin aan die lewe en maak alles die moeite werd. Hy is waarlik ons enigste hoop.

 

Gebed: Dankie dat ek nie my hoop op menslike bronne hoef te vestig nie, maar soos die psalmdigter, net op U alleen. Amen