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What would you say if I asked you to tell me the Biblical meaning of courage? We have a desperate need to be courageous, especially in this day and time. Between nations in unrest, natural disasters and economic issues we have to learn about courage, whether we want to or not. And what better place to learn that than in the Bible? But how would you give the definition?
In the Bible courage is defined as “good cheer.” It means to have courage and confidence. The Bible tells us not to worry or to have the courage to take action. Courage is listed over and over in Scripture.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” 7 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 the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
1 Chronicles 22:13
David speaking to his son about building the temple of the Lord…
Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.
When David charged his son Solomon with the building of the temple…
David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
Joshua 1:6-8
The next few verses are when Moses has died, and the Lord is charging Joshua to take his place.
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:18
Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.
Joshua 10:25
(now we see Joshua saying what God said to him) And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.
2 Chronicles 15:7,8
A prophecy from Azariah to Asa… But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”
Ezra 7:28
Ezra, in a prayer thanking God for what had happened that day…
I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 56:3,4
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
Isaiah 41:10-13
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. 13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 54:4
Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
Daniel 10:19
And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
John 14:27
Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
What is the spiritual meaning of courage?
Courage is defined by Dictionary.com as the mental or physical qualities enabling one to deal with difficulty, danger or suffering without fear. Courage is necessary to live a good life. In Joshua 1:6 of the Bible God tells Joshua: Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
What is the definition of true courage?
A physical strength to survive, to endure the fear and to survive.
What does the Bible say about spiritual courage?
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
This theme is repeated over and over in the Bible. Be strong; be courageous; the Lord will not leave you nor forsake you.
What is an example from the Bible of someone showing courage?
King David is the perfect example. There were many times when he showed courage in confronting difficult conditions, but here’s one from when he was just a child:
While king Saul and the Israelite soldiers were fighting the Philistines, they were dismayed at the daily threat from the giant enemy, Goliath. David had courage to go up in battle against Goliath, and he fought him and won (1 Samuel 17). David showed true courage.
