The writer of Hebrews included in his so-called Hall of Faith many well known Old Testament saints, and some not so well known (Heb.11). After writing of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and even Rahab the harlot, he gives a few more an honorable mention though he does not have time to go into any great detail about the expressions of their faith. He writes, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32). All of these are worthy of note and are examples of what it means to live by faith (10:38).
As we come to the end of this chapter, there are a number of things we should note about this great cloud of witnesses (12:1). All of them lived by faith and by it obtained a good testimony (vss.2, 39). It is also notable that those included in this chapter not only lived by faith but died in faith (vs.13). They believed God till the end of their lives enduring many trials and troubles. It is also true of those included here that they did not receive the promise (vs.39). The promise is the one concerning the coming of their Messiah. The perfect, complete, and eternal salvation that Christ provided they did not receive in their lifetimes. But now that He has come and died for them and rose again, they have been made perfect or complete. They have been saved to the uttermost! They lived by faith enduring persecutions and trials though they never received the promise. How much more should we who received the promise of life in Christ persevere in faith till the end!