Devotions Based on Hymns from Glory to God and Their Scriptural Allusions

READ: Joshua 1:9

I hereby command you. Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

It is good that we have a number of reminders of God’s constant presence with us in the scriptures. In our previous reading from the Old Testament book of Joshua, God’s new leader for His people was just beginning without the aid and support of the Hebrew people’s leader, Moses. God now tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. God instructs Joshua not to be frightened or dismayed. Why? Because the Lord God will be with Joshua wherever he goes!

And if Joshua became frightened or dismayed, all he needed to do was to hang on one minute longer … to be strong and courageous than others might see. Joshua could do this because God would be with him wherever he went.

In the second verse of How Firm a Foundation, we find this scriptural allusion.

Fear not I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.

Prayer

 O Lord, in the musical The King and I, Miss Irma sings a song with these lines, “Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect and whistle a happy tune, so no one will suspect, I’m afraid.” While that may work sometimes, the 100% remedy is knowing that You are with us when we are afraid or dismayed. Thank You for giving us courage and strength. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.