“So, we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’…Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life” (Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 54:4).
Unlike Allah, the harsh taskmaster of Islam, who–like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day–binds heavy burdens hard to bear and lays them on his subjects’ shoulders but not move a finger to help with the load (Matthew 23:4), Jehovah is our helper (Psalm 54:4).
It was this characteristic of God that Moses emphasized when He spoke to the children of Israel on the verge of crossing the Jordan and conquering Canaan: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
It was this characteristic of God that Jehovah Himself reminded Joshua of after Moses had passed the mantle of leadership on to him: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). (1 Chronicles 28:20).
It was this characteristic of God that King David impressed upon Solomon as they discussed the daunting task of building the temple in Jerusalem: “Be strong and of good courage and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 28:20).
It is for this characteristic of Jehovah that the psalmist is joyfully thankful: “I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore, I shall see my desire on those who hate me” (Psalm 118:5-7).
Truly, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).
