Courage, its source and necessity.
I. Its source. You can scarcely fail to observe the broad sense of the Divine presence and aid which is expressed by the figures of the promise we have read, "I will hold thy right hand." The grasp of the hand is significant of close and present friendship, of the living nearness of the Deliverer. And that sense of God's presence, so near that our faith can touch His hand and hear the deep still music of His voice realised as it may be in Christ, is the source of a courage which no danger can dispel, no suffering exhaust, and no death destroy. The clearest way of illustrating this will be to take the higher forms of courage among men, and observe what states of soul are most conducive to it. (1) Beginning with the courage of active resistance, we find its great element in the fixed survey of the means of conquest. Fear rises from the contemplation of difficulties, courage from the perception of the thing to be done. Rise now to spiritual courage, and the same principle holds true. It is by the aid of God that we conquer in spiritual battle; our reliance is on the constant influence of His strengthening grace. And while our gaze is fixed on that, fear vanishes. (2) Passing on to the courage needful for passive endurance, we find that its great feature is self-surrender to the highest law of life. The Christian endures, because the law of his being has become resignation to the will of God.
II. Notice the necessity for this courage. It is essential to Christian life for three reasons. (1) It requires courage to manifest the Christian character before men. (2) It requires courage to maintain steadfast obedience to the will of God. (3) It demands courage to hold fast to our highest aspirations.
E. L. Hull, Sermons,3rd series, p. 157.
References: Isaiah 41:14. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. iii., Nos. 156, 157; Ibid., Morning by Morning,p. 16. Isaiah 41:17; Isaiah 41:18. Preacher's Monthly,vol. x., p. 353.Isaiah 41:22. W. M. Punshon, Old Testament Outlines,p. 205.