Hope for the Soul

In just a few words, this verse paints a rich word picture to comfort us. “This hope” refers to the verses before where God secures His promise by swearing by Himself, giving us two trustworthy things to place our hope in, His Word and Himself.

Anchors are also a symbol of hope. During a storm, a strong anchor locked into a solid foundation keeps the boat from being blown off course or onto the rocks. Sailors’ hope during a storm is the anchor.

“The inner sanctuary behind the curtain” would be familiar to these Jewish Christians—the audience of the book of Hebrews—as the Holy of Holies where the high priest went once a year, after the sin sacrifices were offered, to enter the presence of God. When Christ died on the cross, the curtain separating the two areas tore from top to bottom, symbolizing direct access to God for all believers. So instead of anchoring into any solid foundation, like a ship would, we anchor our hope directly to God.

Our hope is founded in the unshakable character of God, who loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. His Word is true. He will do what He says He will do.