Never, Never, Never, No, Never!

2:53 pm God, promises, trust

The Scriptures declare, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5).  This is a sacred promise made to those who are the children of God.  This promise rests upon the faithfulness of God and brings peace to the soul.
The song, How Firm A Foundation, whose author is unknown, has a stanza that reads, “The soul that on Jesus leaned for repose I will not, I will not desert to its foes.  That soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”  It is obvious that the hymn mirrors the promise given in Heb. 13:5.
The Substance of the Promise
In the English language, two negatives nullify each other.  In the Greek, a double negative, intensifies.  In Heb. 13:5, there are two double negatives and one additional negative for a total of five negatives.  God will never, never, never, no, never forsake His children.  A double negative is the strongest form of negation in the Greek language. Two double negatives in the same passage increases the intensity of the expression.  That makes Heb. 13:5 one of the powerful passages of Scripture in the Bible!
The Basis For the Promise
The promise given in this passage of Scripture rests upon two important aspects of God’s nature.  The first is His veracity (truthfulness).  God cannot lie.  “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie n or repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent” (I Sam. 15:29).  “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2).  “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18).  When God speaks, whether by precept or by promise, His word is true.  The second, is His fidelity.  God is faithful. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).  The covenant keeping God promises to continually provide for His people.  The mercies of the Lord endure forever. God has never failed to keep a promise.  Our confidence is tied to God’s veracity and fidelity.
The Results of the Promise
The promise of God’s providential care reassures us and results in the following spiritual blessings.  First, we have peace.  The tension between covetousness and contentment is resolved.  Covetousness is the insatiable desire for more and more.  Contentment is satisfaction with God’s sufficiency (His grace) for our lives.  God’s promises gives us peace or tranquility of the soul as we trust in Him rather than uncertain riches.  Second, we have help.  God’s promise assures us that we will never stand alone.  The Lord is my helper!  “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
Third, we are supplied with courage.  “I will not fear what men can do to me.”  Fearlessness grows out of the precious promise that God will never fail us.  We have courage to meet the foe, to face temptations and trials, and to face death because God will always be with us.
A Christian never stands alone.  God has promised that He will never, never, never, no, never forsake His people.

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