Love Hopes All Things
It was over. David’s line had ended. Not only had the king died, but Ahaziah’s enraged, power-hungry mother, Athaliah, slew all of the royal household of Judah. David’s Judah would be no different from Jeroboam’s Israel — idolatrous, disordered, and doomed to exile. Worse — God’s promises seemed unreliable. For he had promised David an eternal throne for his Son.
Athaliah, wife of wicked Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:6-7), Ahab’s niece and Omri’s granddaughter, a counselor of wickedness, ruled from David’s throne (2 Chronicles 22:9). Her idolatrous ambition nearly snuffed out the light of David’s line of promise.
But when all hope was lost, Jehoshabeath, granddaughter of righteous Jehosaphat stole away her nephew Joash, son of foolish Ahaziah, son of wicked Jehoram, son of David. Down to the promise in an infant’s cry, Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada the priest hid David’s line in the house of the Lord for six years. Then, after Athaliah fell, David’s son reigned again.
“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” (2 Chronicles 24:1–2, ESV)
Despite all the wickedness of David’s sons, the steadfast love of the Lord never lost hope.
“Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.” (2 Chronicles 21:7, ESV)
Love Hopes All Things
Love is like that, Paul says. In all circumstances, every situation, when the light is so dim it seems that darkness wins, love hopes. Love does more than “bear all things” by putting up with whatever difficulties arise in the pursuit of patient kindness. Love does more than “believe all things” with a firm grip on what’s true, no matter what. More than bearing and believing, love — genuine love — is confident of victory. The love of Christ we imitate is despair-proof. We aren’t despair-proof, but love in its purest form never gives over to futility. In all situations, love hopes.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul plainly has interpersonal conflict in Corinth in mind. He’s prescribing love as the antidote to their venomous boasting, quarreling, fleshly indulgence, and one-upmanship. Love is more excellent than lofty speech or the highest wisdoms.
More yet, a love that never loses hope never gives up on a brother. Though he be caught in immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1), requiring excommunication (1 Corinthians 5:11-13), if he repents, he’s welcomed home (2 Corinthians 2:7-8) with comfort, forgiveness, and reaffirmed love.
Jesus Hopes All
Remember yourself. Apart from Christ, you were marked by unrighteousness, unworthy of the kingdom of God. But… Jesus didn’t give up, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Like Joash, hidden in the temple as the flickering hope of David’s line. David’s Son would not be abandoned in Sheol (Psalm 16:10). Jesus is the hope of David’s line, and our hope as well. Jesus, who wrapped himself in humanity, that he might perfect it. Jesus, who died under God’s wrath for mankind’s sin, that he might atone for it. Jesus, hidden in the grave for three days, rose victorious in glory, giving new life to Adam’s dying race. When all hope seemed lost for our hopeless lives… David’s son emerged, the radiance of the glory of God Himself.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4–5, ESV)
Jesus loves you, he didn’t give up on you, nor will he, and his victory is sure. Love is like that — it always hopes, for God never fails.