You Asked For It: Hope and a Future
July 6, 2025Pastor Patrick presented today's message, "You Asked For It: Hope and a Future." A video of today's message is here on YouTube. This series started with folks being asked to submit scriptures that they would like explained/explored. So, it's quite literally: "You asked for it!"
Today's scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." While you're there, read all of Jeremiah 29:5-14.
I thought I'd focus on the "extra" scripture offered as a footnote at the end of the message: Romans 8:28 (NIV), "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This may have been cut from the video, but it doesn't matter in that I wanted to look at a couple specific Greek words rather than hook it to the message.
I made a note to myself to check the Greek when I got home just to see if there was anything interesting. Sure enough, two words/phrases became interesting quickly.
The first was agape. If you're not familiar with the eight Greek words that express forms of love (eros, philia, agape, storge, mania, ludus, pragma, and philautia), I'd encourage you to do some searching. It's fascinating. I remember learning the basics of this way back in teenage days. It did strike me even then that there were all kinds of love.
I would bet most of you recognized a couple of those, perhaps: agape, eros, and philia. I'm going to focus on agape (ἀγαπῶσιν, "loving" in this verse) through the lens of the Old Testament (OT). Is there a similar Hebrew word in the OT with similar meaning(s)?
Turns out the answer is no, but also yes. There is no direct correlation between agape and a single Hebrew word. However, agape love is certainly described in the OT in passages such as Exodus 34:6-7a, "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.'" Also, King David shows agape love to Jonathan (in the Book of Samuel).
There is a Hebrew word that comes close, hesed/checed (חֵסֵד). It's usually translated as love, faithful love, or lovingkindness. It is used to express God's love for His people. It's a love both promised and owed, as in a covenant. It is also used to express human to human love in the sense of fidelity and commitment. Check out this article: IS "HESED" THE SAME AS "AGAPE"?. This article describes several meanings and provides scripture references as well.
Bonus
Railroad Man's Prayer
I've been a railfan all my life. I've done modeling (HO, G, and 7.5"), tourist trains, train museums, Amtrak's short and long distance trains, and even served as a conductor and trainmaster on a shortline freight railroad for a few years, the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.
Despite all that, I don't remember ever seeing this prayer before. The following is the text of a "railroad man's prayer" pasted on the lineman's side of a switch engine in the Northern Pacific yards in Spokane. It's been in print as early as 1895.
"Now that I have flagged Thee, lift up my feet from the rough road of life and plant them safely on the deck of the train of salvation. Let me use the safety lamp of prudence, make all the couplings with the link of love, and let my hand lamp be the Bible, and keep all switches closed that lead off the main line into the sidings with blind ends. Have every semaphore [signal] block along the line show the white light of hope, that I may make the run of life without stopping. Give me the Ten Commandments as a working card, and when I have finished the run on schedule time and pulled into the terminal may Thou, Superintendent of the Universe, say: 'Well done, good and faithful servant; come into the general office and sign the payroll and receive your check for eternal happiness.'" — Milwaukee Sentinel.
Pictured above is an HO model of a Pennsylvania Railroad steam switch engine similar to one my Dad and I ran on our layout(s) many moons ago. I took the photo in November of 2024 at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greeley, CO.
Bonus2
Free, to Serve
God didn't set us free to do whatever we want."Let My people go, so that they can serve Me" (Exodus 7:16).
And when you understand that serving God ultimately means serving others, you've got the picture of freedom founded on Judeo-Christian values.
The core word in "that they may serve Me" is the verb serve, (ah-VAHD, עָבַד). It's interesting to note that there's a notion of bondage or enslavement in this word as well. It also can carry a notion of worship.
I'm publishing this page on July 8, 2025. On July 8th in 1776, just 4 days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Declaration was read to the public in the town of Easton, Pennsylvania. The odd-looking flag pictured here is called the Easton Flag as it purportedly was flown the day of the reading in Easton. It remains the flag of the City of Easton to this day.