… ⁶ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Confidence is that which we must have to enter God’s presence (Heb 4:16, 10:19). To draw near to God is not for the timid or reticent, but for the bold in faith. If there is one thing on which we must never waver, it is this truth. If we are not confident that the Lord accepts us, then we can never “rest” in the Lord, but we’ll be always fearful. That is no way to live; it is no way to have victory over sin and the temptation to fall back into a works-based religion, of always trying to gain God’s acceptance, but never gaining it. Why would we want that, instead of the confidence God says we can have already? The supreme irony is that God has already made the way by grace, through the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Christ for us. There is nothing standing between us and God, except the supreme manifestation of God in Christ. God has spoken to us in His Son (Heb 1:1), who is “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). And He, as the superior High Priest, offered Himself as the superior sacrifice, once-for-all-time. What is there then, for us to do? To enter boldly!

Likewise, we need this same confidence that the Lord will also help us in whatever we need. After all, “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb 2:18). That is why we, “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). His presence is what gives us confidence, so we must continually draw near to Him.

Is this not the confidence Moses exhibited, after God threatened the people with His absence? The Lord said, “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way” (Ex 33:3). Moses pleaded with God, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Ex 33:15). What’s the use of continuing in life if we are not sure of God’s presence with us? Without Him, we don’t have His help. But God “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,” and through Him has given us free access into His presence. Therefore, we need not fear any problem, temptation or person who opposes us. He is our Helper, our Jehovah-Jireh (Gen 22:14)! As He provided Abraham with a sacrifice, He has provided for us His Son, the Lord Jesus.

Lord, I come into Your presence boldly, for there I find all my help.