The worth/this observation is (as in any observation) greatly heightened by the circumstances in which it is spoken
WIf it were  spoken in days/pleasantness and tranquillity, then many people would find little comfort in it,
for man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward (Job 5:7)
But David's observations are coupled here
[i] With affliction (v50)
[ii] After being derided by the proud (v51)
[iii] Feelings of great horror which had taken hold of him (gripped him) when he saw the lawlessness of the wicked (v53)
Therefore our text should encourage us when we find ourselves in similar situations
Note: The third named trial here did not directly concern David
If any foolish believer should say… "Well, I have never been afflicted, nor have I never been the butt/proud men's sneers…"
then let him observe the lawlessness/wicked around about him and contemplate what happens to those who so defy God
It must be considered a sign of a cold, merciless, hardened heart to see people march onward to hell and not have any feelings of grief?
David was gripped by the horror of it

Our text therefore should be a relevant text to any child/God
4 main points:
 
1) OUR TEXT  IS FULL OF HOPE:

A/ Despite the darkness round about him, David saw light at the end/tunnel
It was not all doom/gloom

B/ Needful/remember: Hope/Bible is always a sure hope
Word now means less and has different levels/expectation.
Little hope means much reason to doubt
Great hope means little reason to doubt
But in the Bible…any hope means no reason to doubt
Best illustrated from Titus 2:11
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
His return is not touch/go. Not almost certain. Absolutely certain
Jesus said: I WILL come again (John 14:3)  
Yet it is described as a blessed hope. Hope/Bible is certain.

C/ Even though things were awfully dark for David, both personally (v50-51) and in relation to others (v53)
 yet He believed all would work out well in the end
God's will (which is good/perfect) would be done
When all is said/done…the child/God will look back over every last event/life and bless God it ever happened
Might not understand why - might never even be capable of so understanding - but he will come to see that not only were all of God's ways perfect (Psalm 18:30) but that God made his way perfect also (Psalm 18:32) And he will bless God for it

D/ So David here, despite all his troubles, was full of hope
Turn your eyes away from your troubles as David did
Not a form of denial - but to abandon God in the midst of trouble is to only dig deeper into the darkness

2) THIS HOPE  IS GOD GIVEN IN TWO WAYS:

A/ OBJECTIVELY: Founded on the declarations of God's word
Not a delusion in David's brain where the wish fathered/thought
Not some pietistic/mystical feel good feeling David occasionally felt and managed to keep alive/cultivate
Such would be a false hope
Ultimately: better to be hopeless than to entertain a false hope
Better to face the facts than entertain the delusions

[i] This word is revealed to us in the Bible
Bible reveals itself as a Book: exceeding great/precious promises
Bible is God's cheque book
It reflects God's riches and also His willingness to part with those riches esp. to those who stand in the greatest need

[ii] We should therefore familiarise ourselves with the Bible
Nothing worse than having the resources there and yet not
accessing them because of ignorance

B/ SUBJECTIVELY: Hope is something born within us
Although founded on the objective (Bible) yet is grips the heart
Does not remain in the field/academic thought as if it were a mere mathematical equation or scientific fact
 It is something that is felt and enjoyed

Picture David as he is the midst/sorrows
[i] As he has been afflicted (v50) he had winced with pain
His joy has gone. No peaceful countenance. He hurts.
Again, he winces when proud men greatly derided him
[ii] Those mocking words/sneers (v51) robbed him of his joy
He went through several emotions which expressed themselves in the way he thought/spoke/conducted himself
[iii] Likewise when he observed the sinful deeds/the wicked (v53)
He was horrified. He blanched and was emotionally upset
This is all subjective…because man is an emotional creature
He has floating feelings as well as fixed principles
It is not an either/or situation - it is both

But as the thought/Bible and its promises etc., came into David's mind - any doom-laden thoughts were pushed out of the picture - and David's countenance would have changed
His fears for himself  etc., would have subsided
His afflictions would have been put into context (Cp. v67/71)
The sneers of proud men seen to be what they were - the laughter/fools and like thorns under a pot (Ecclesiastes 7:6)
And while there is nothing/Bible to lessen any feeling for the wicked (v53) yet personally David could know that they could not harm him, unless specifically permitted by a Sovereign God

As this hope dawns upon his soul - David becomes more encouraged and subsequently more confident and cheerful

3) THIS HOPE IS ACTIVATED BY PRAYER:

A/ We referred to Bible being "God's cheque book" (CHS) and so cheques need to be cashed to be of any use.
Otherwise dormant.
B/ Notice how our text is actually addressed to God (as much, though not all/Psalm is)
David asks God to remember the word, and by implication, to act upon it.
David was cashing the cheque.

C/ David cannot go wrong here, nor know any disappointment.
Sure ground. Holding God/His own word. God cannot deny Himself
We will only know that same hope in God's word when we plead it in prayer.
Such hope, and especially the feelings that accompany it, do not come automatically to the Believer.

There were times when David felt totally hopeless:
"I will one day at the hand/Saul" (1 Samuel 27:1) is hardly faith in action!  
May think also of Elijah and others who came to the end/tether

D/ Isn't it wonderful that even such hoping in God starts with God Himself?
Thou hast caused me to hope… (text)
All men have not faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2)
Not something which we can work up ourselves, nor is it to be associated necessarily with a strong, outward going, character.
Faith is not bluster nor eloquence/speech or a never say die - happy go lucky way/thinking
The flesh can produce that. Faith is God originated.
It is God working in us both to will and to do of His great pleasure (Philippians 2:13)

E/ This is why we are to cry out to God  -even through the densest darkness - Lord increase our faith (Luke 17:5)  
Only then will we through patience and comfort of the scriptures have hope (Romans 15:4)

4) THIS HOPE IS SPECIFICALLY FOR GOD'S SERVANTS:

A/ This is how David describes himself. It is the evidence that the hope we profess/God is actually Bible based/God originated.

B/ This is a very practical thing.
We can strip away much of the mystique about this subject, for such mystique often clouds what should be very clear.
God doesn't grant us such faith/hope that we might enjoy our lusts more…
but that we might be found doing His will and bring honour/glory unto Him.
May you seek and then enjoy such hope!  Serve the Lord!