Thursday 15 October 2026

Psalm 144

Background
We’ve noted, over the last few days, that the overriding purpose of the letter to Hebrews is to encourage a Jewish Christian community to remain faithful and not give up. Today’s passage uses both examples and images to support that overall theme.

Abraham is our example. In Genesis 22 we read the story of Abraham believing that God wanted him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Terrible and devastating though this seems, Abraham was prepared to be obedient. It then became clear that God did not in fact want Isaac to be sacrificed but, because Abraham had been faithful, God promised, on oath, that Abraham would be blessed and through his many descendants all nations on earth would also be blessed. However Abraham had to be patient to see any of this come to pass. The Christian conviction is that in Jesus Christ this promise is being fulfilled, but we too must be patient. God can be trusted.

This hope is then pictured as an anchor. Much travel in the ancient world, particularly around the lands which bordered on the Mediterranean, had to be by sea but many Jewish people viewed the oceans as a place of chaos. When storms arose ships were in danger of being tossed about unless they were firmly anchored. Equally in the buffeting atmosphere of first century Jewish life, when there were many conflicting opinions on how one might know God’s ways, the Christian community needed to be firmly anchored in the faithfulness of God.

For many within Judaism, whatever their other disagreements, the Temple in Jerusalem and its sacrificial system was highly significant. Its destruction in AD 70 was devastating. We don’t know whether Hebrews was written before or after this date. Either way the point is made that Jesus is the true high priest (as we noted on Tuesday) and is the one who really brings us into the presence of God.

To Ponder:

• God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 22 was that through his offspring all the families of the earth would be blessed. Where we inherit that promise how does it affect our daily living and attitudes?
• “We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll” (Singing the Faith 645). How do these words reflect your experience?

Prayer
Faithful God, help me today to appreciate more fully your promise of life in Christ, and to trust myself to you. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Donald Ker
Donald Ker is a supernumerary minister, originally from Ireland where he served in a number of different appointments. He now lives in Solihull on the Birmingham Circuit.