Deuteronomy 31:6, commentary and pictures

Moses urged Israel to be strong and courageous and unafraid, because God himself goes with them and will neither fail them nor forsake them. Trust in the Lord gives courage, because his abiding presence means help is at hand in every emergency and under every burden. Those who commit their way to him and seek to do his will can rely wholly on him as counselor and guide rather than on human strength and wisdom. When the cause is just and duty calls, even before powerful judges and enemies or in the face of martyrdom, he goes with the one who stands for truth and will not leave him. In personal danger, trouble and difficult missions, his people need not fear being left alone, for he who has brought them safely thus far will hold, sustain and deliver those who cling to him.

Moses' Promise of Presence

Moses spoke the words to Israel as an exhortation to be strong and of good courage and to fear not nor be afraid, because the Lord their God goes with them and will neither fail them nor forsake them. It stands among the repeated calls to choose the way of life and to trust in God's presence.

The Lord is the helper of His servants, staying with them and never abandoning them, and this must be remembered so as not to be deceived about what is coming upon the world. Of themselves servants can do nothing, and without the Spirit they are utterly helpless. Their strength lies in hiding in Jesus and holding fast to the arm of Omnipotence and leaning upon Him, and in that way they will grow strong to do His will. God can do more in one moment to convict people than they can do in a lifetime.

The promise assures those who commit their ways to God and trust in Him and seek to do His will and put their trust entirely in Him that He will not leave them or forsake them and will not fail them. In perplexity they are to rely wholly on God rather than on human strength or wisdom. They are to look to Him as counselor and guide rather than taking matters into their own hands. Trust in the Lord gives courage because He will not abandon or forsake His people but is present to help in every emergency, even amid great burdens. Believers are therefore to cling to God and remember His promises, trusting Him for strength and help in their work and putting complete trust in Him.

Courage for Truth and Duty

The promise is that God goes with the person whose cause is just and does not leave him, so he can be strong and unafraid when standing for truth before powerful judges. To be sure of the right is to be able to go forward in God's name without fear. That courage for a stand of conscience is nobler than the stand of captains in bloody battle, as seen when Luther was urged to enter his trial without fear. When God's cause is in great danger from powerful enemies, his people must be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be afraid, and stand firm to the gospel. They can trust their cause with God because the Lord their God goes with them and is faithful and will not fail nor abandon them, and that promise encouraged the Reformers to trust God while confronting the dangers surrounding their defense of the gospel.

The one who holds the truth is called to stand fast without fear even when martyrdom threatens, because God goes with him and does not abandon him. Applied to Luther on his perilous journey to Worms, this means going forward in the face of condemnation and gloomy forebodings with courage, trusting that faithfulness to the truth secures God's abiding presence. The same call to courage because God is with his people and will not abandon them applies when believers face temptation and opposition. Then God sends angels to help, and Jesus, who died to make a way of escape and lives to intercede, provides mighty help through which they can conquer. God is with those who stand at their duty and will not leave or forsake them, and his workers are sustained and will not fail when they trust in him, for his presence, grace, and power sustain them even when people reject the message they bear.

Strength for Personal Trials

The verse assures God's people that they need not fear because God goes with them and will not fail or forsake them. It is applied to trusting God to hold and preserve them through danger, for He who has brought them safely thus far can be trusted to continue doing so. Courage in the Lord is thus grounded both in His past help and in His promise to continue preparing the way.

The verse assures believers that God remains with them and will not abandon them. This gives confidence that God is a present refuge in trouble who will act to deliver those who cling to Him and trust in Him. When facing difficulty, Jesus is the only hope, so God's promises should be held fast. It shows that God stays with and sustains those who trust Him, so they need not fear being left alone. That assurance meets May in her long journey and difficult trial ahead, urging her to seek wisdom from God and to speak the truth in that setting.

The verse assures that the Lord will not leave or forsake those who rely on Him. To Mary it brings comfort to rest in the Lord rather than take on a burden He does not want her to carry. To those sent on a difficult mission it assures that courage need not fail because God will not forsake them, calling them to humble themselves before God, trust in His help, and willingly go where He leads. The same assurance that God will not abandon or forsake His people comforts the wife who is often separated from her husband.