It is well to remember this. Second-hand faith will never do. There must a living link connecting the soul with God. We must have to do with God for ourselves, individually, else we shall give way when the testing time comes. Human example and human influence may be all very good in their place. It was all very well to look at Joshua and the elders, and see how they followed the Lord. It is quite true that, “As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend.” It is very encouraging to be surrounded by a number of truly devoted hearts; very delightful to be born along upon the bosom of the tide of collective loyalty to Christ—to His Person and to His cause. But if this be all; if there be not the divinely formed, and the divinely sustained link of individual relationship and communion, then when the human props are removed; when the tide of human influence ebbs, when general declension sets in, we shall be, in principle, like Israel following the Lord, all the days of Joshua and the elders, and then giving up the confession of His name, and returning to the follies and vanities of this present world—things no better, in reality, than Baal and Ashtaroth. 

   But on the other hand, when the heart is thoroughly established in the truth and grace of God; when we can say—as it is the privilege of each true believer to say—“I know whom I have believed; and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day;” then, although all should turn aside from the public confession of Christ; although we should find ourselves left without the help of a human countenance, or the support of a human arm, we shall find “the foundation of God” as sure as ever; and the path of obedience as plain before us as though thousands were treading it with holy decision and energy.  

Notes On The Book Of Deuteronomy (Vol. 1) - C.H. Mackintosh