Hope, Pt. 3

Scripture does nearly all the talking. The lyrics string passages together without a chorus: the promise of "plans to give you hope and a future," the command "do not fear for I am with you," and David's prayer to "create in me a pure heart, O God." Each reading hands off to the next with almost no commentary.

The middle turns toward confession and worship. "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit" sits beside the plea to restore the joy of salvation, then a short pair of lines about being fearfully and wonderfully made leads into "Taste and see that the Lord is good." The arc runs from reassurance, through repentance, to delight in God's care.

The closing passage looks back on rescue: lifted from the slimy pit, feet set on a rock, a new song put in the singer's mouth, and many who will see and put their trust in Him. Michael W. Smith leaves the verses largely as written, so the hope here is the hope of the texts themselves.