Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that YHWH has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it."
#deuteronomy 31:7 #vayelech
The people are the power and purpose of their leaders, and leaders are guides, exemplars, and judges of the people. Neither is ever complete without the other. When a leader forgets that the good of the people is his sole reason for existing, he becomes a tyrant.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of [the wicked], for it is YHWH your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
#deuteronomy 31:6 #vayelech
Like all of God's promises of material blessing, this promise was spoken to the nation of Israel under the presumption that they would live within God's laws. The loss at the battle of Ai because of the sin of Aachen proves the point.