Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deut. 31:6).
Between St. Giles Cathedral and the Parliament House in Edinburgh is a stone with the letters "J. K." on it, marking the spot where the dust of the great Reformer John Knox reposes. Knox was fully worthy of the verdict of the Regent Morton, who, as he saw him laid in the grave, exclaimed, "There lies he who never feared the face of man." Why was John Knox so fearless before people? Because by faith he had looked upon the face of God.
In any warfare what a wonderful promise is our text! Israel was about the cross over Jordan and meet seven enemy nations. They would need courage, and more than that, they would need the help of the Lord. This was promised to them and gloriously fulfilled. We need to be strong and of good courage. Why should we ever be afraid while obeying God's Word?
Notice, there is a threefold promise in this text: (1) The Lord will go with us; (2) He will not fail us; (3) He will not forsake us. Jesus knew that His Father was with Him. "I am not alone," He said, "because the Father is with me" (John 16:32). No one will be lonely or afraid when they realize that God is with them.
Last, and most important of all, He will not forsake us. Human helpers may forsake us in a crisis or leave us through extreme weariness. But never God! He is "the Lord thy God." He is the ever-present helper who never fails, never forsakes. "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isa. 26:4).
Courage, brother, courage!
Turn not back, nor fear;
God will not forsake us,
He is ever near.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength" (Ps. 18:1).
Between St. Giles Cathedral and the Parliament House in Edinburgh is a stone with the letters "J. K." on it, marking the spot where the dust of the great Reformer John Knox reposes. Knox was fully worthy of the verdict of the Regent Morton, who, as he saw him laid in the grave, exclaimed, "There lies he who never feared the face of man." Why was John Knox so fearless before people? Because by faith he had looked upon the face of God.
In any warfare what a wonderful promise is our text! Israel was about the cross over Jordan and meet seven enemy nations. They would need courage, and more than that, they would need the help of the Lord. This was promised to them and gloriously fulfilled. We need to be strong and of good courage. Why should we ever be afraid while obeying God's Word?
Notice, there is a threefold promise in this text: (1) The Lord will go with us; (2) He will not fail us; (3) He will not forsake us. Jesus knew that His Father was with Him. "I am not alone," He said, "because the Father is with me" (John 16:32). No one will be lonely or afraid when they realize that God is with them.
Last, and most important of all, He will not forsake us. Human helpers may forsake us in a crisis or leave us through extreme weariness. But never God! He is "the Lord thy God." He is the ever-present helper who never fails, never forsakes. "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isa. 26:4).
Courage, brother, courage!
Turn not back, nor fear;
God will not forsake us,
He is ever near.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength" (Ps. 18:1).
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