“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:6).
Paul is rapidly bringing his epistle to the Hebrews to its conclusion. This epistle was written specifically to Jewish believers in the first century. But we must never imagine that it was not also specifically written for us. It was. Paul’s personal intent was to minister to those earliest men and women among Abraham’s physical descendants who were born of God. But the Holy Spirit’s intent in all the Scriptures is to minister to the needs of all God’s people in this world, throughout this gospel age (Rom. 15:4).
Throughout these thirteen chapters, the Spirit of God is speaking directly to us (as he does in all the Word of God). He is encouraging those who have been saved by the grace of God to persevere in the faith of Christ. Though we are required to constantly engage in spiritual warfare, though the religious world we have left despises us and ridicules us, though family and friends forsake us, we cannot go back. We must run with patience the race that is set before us. We must follow Christ, who “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.”
The message to us is this: “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” In this chapter Paul admonishes us to faithfulness in all things. He urges us to be faithful in love to one another (v. 1) and faithful in hospitality, charity, and kindness (v. 2). We ought always to use what God has given us to minister to the needs of others. With open heart, open hand, and open doors, let us serve the needs of others. God never gave us anything, except that which he intends for us to use for others.
Be faithful in intercessory prayer for your suffering, tried, afflicted brethren (v. 3), and be faithful in your homes (v. 4). Let every man have his own wife and every woman her husband. And let them love, serve, and care for one another with tenderness and faithfulness in every aspect of life. Marriage is honorable among all and the marriage bed is undefiled.
Be faithful to Christ in all things (vv. 5-6). The word “conversation” means “manner of life”. Paul says, “Let your life be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you 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.”
Here is a word of promise from our great God. ― “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Here is a word from God that is full of spiritual meaning and instruction. This is bread for the Father’s children. This is a staff upon which weary pilgrims may lean. It will give us strength for our journey, comfort for our souls, and vigor for our hearts. This sentence is a chest full of rich treasure. May God the Holy Spirit graciously open it and cause our souls to be enriched by it. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The Lord our God promises his perpetual presence and care to every believer forever.
This is a quotation from the Old Testament Scriptures. How many times have you heard someone deny the application of a promise, a warning, or a doctrine by saying, “That is in the Old Bible,” or “That is in the Old Testament”? Many are of the opinion
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that only a very small portion of the Bible was really intended for us in this day. They say, “The Old Testament was for the Jews. The four Gospels are for the ‘tribulation saints’. The Book of Revelation is for the ‘Millenial saints’. The epistles of Peter, James, and John were for Jewish believers in the first century. And Paul’s epistles alone are really intended for the Gentile believers of this age.” Rubbish!
In this text the Holy Spirit led Paul to quote a promise from the Old Testament. In doing so, he is teaches us to honor the Old Testament Scriptures as the Word of God, just as we do the New Testament. And he is tells us that the promises of God made to his ancient people are the promises of God made to his people today (2 Cor. 1:20).
We find this promise given five times in the Old Testament. ― (1.) It was given to Jacob at Bethel when he was on his way to Laban’s house and fourteen years of great trial (Gen. 28:15). ― (2.) It was given to Moses just before the Lord took him up into the mountain to kill him, a promise by which God assured Moses that everything would be well with Israel after he was gone (Deut. 31:6-8). ― (3.) It was given to Joshua when he was commissioned to lead the people of God in Moses’ place and again just as he began the work to which God had called him (Deut. 31:7-8; Jos. 1:5). ― (4.) It was given to Solomon when he was about to assume the throne of Israel and was commissioned to build the house of the Lord (1 Chron. 28:20). ― And (5.) it was given to God’s afflicted people when they had to face their mighty enemies (Isa. 41:10-14; Isa. 43:1-5).
What are we to learn from the fact that Paul, by inspiration, gives us the same promise that God gave to Moses, Jacob, Joshua, Solomon and Israel? You will notice that Paul gives us the sense of the promise, not the very words of the promise, teaching us that the sense of Scripture, the spiritual message of Scripture, is the meaning of Scripture. Many know the Scriptures “by heart” who do not know the heart of the Scriptures!
I know there is a danger here. We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Holy Scripture. But we do not interpret the Scriptures in a strictly literal way. The Spirit of God gives us spiritual understanding to discern the message of Scripture. And the message is always a spiritual, Christ centered, Christ honoring message (Lk. 24:27, 44-47).
It is also evident that every word from God to any believer is the Word of God to every believer. God who made the promise never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea and amen (2 Cor. 1:20) ― conditioned on Christ alone! The promises made to one are made to all, for all believers in Christ are one body (Eph. 4:4).
This makes the Bible a Book written for me. It is a word from the Lord directed to me. “Every word of divine love and tenderness that he has written in this book belongs to me” (M’Cheyne). So this promise from the Lord is God’s promise to me particularly. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” And this, my brother, my sister, is the promise of God to you.