THE LORD AND HIS PEOPLE

"For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." - 1 Samuel 12:22

Every person wants to know that he or she is special.  When we are young, we seek such affirmation from our parents.  At school, we long for teachers and peers to show us that they care.  As adults, we find it very difficult to find others who will befriend us and show genuine concern. 

It is glorious to discover that the One who loves us most has been there for us all along.  He showed mercy to us when we ignored Him.  He was patient with us when we treated Him badly.  He was kind to us when we were so unkind to Him.  When we finally admitted our offenses and sought His forgiveness, He accepted us. 

What a precious God we serve!

In 1 Samuel chapter 12, Israel asked for a king.  They wanted to "be like other countries" and have a ruling king.  Samuel rebuked the people, telling them that their request symbolized a rejection of God's rule.  Despite their rebellion, Samuel still conveyed a message of grace to a sinful nation. 

Look at the words that Samuel shared:  "For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." 

From this verse, I want you to notice four precious things:

1.  THE LORD'S PROMISE

First of all, note the Lord's promise:  "For the LORD will not forsake his people..."  What a glorious truth!  These words were spoken to a stiff-necked, sinful, rebellious nation. 

For God's people today, we have a similar promise:  "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  We may fail to keep our promises, but God always keeps His promises.  We may disappoint Him, but He will never disappoint us.  We may do Him wrong, but He never does us wrong.  The Lord's people find comfort in His promise, "... I am with you always..." 

Friends may forsake us.  Loved ones may die.  But God ever remains with us.  He is with us all the way --- even through the experience of death.  David wrote, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 

2.  THE LORD'S PURPOSE

Secondly, note the Lord's purpose.  The Lord will never forsake His people, "... for his great name's sake."  There could be no higher purpose than this.  When it comes to keeping His promise, God's honor is at stake.

Everything God does is accomplished for His glory.  God is glorified when He keeps His promises.  It is sad that we tend to bask in God's blessings without rendering praise to Him.  It is a greater thing to bask in the radiance of God's glory than to only enjoy His blessings. 

3.  THE LORD'S PLEASURE

Next, we learn about God's pleasure:  "... because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people."  Israel was the apple of God's eye.  He found great pleasure in blessing His people.

It pleasures a father to do something good for his children.  When a good father gives his child a special gift, he stands back with pleasure as he watches his child enjoy the gift.  Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11).  Meditate on these words and be blessed!

4.  THE LORD'S PEOPLE

Finally, we learn about the Lord's people:  "... it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people."  Some think that they made a decision to be a child of God --- and thus it was so.  However, the Bible makes it clear that His children are chosen of the Lord.  He looked through all the junkyard of this sinful world and saw you and me.  He wanted us long before we wanted Him.  He sought us before we began to seek Him.  He loved us before we loved Him.

Furthermore, when we became His children, we became His possession.  Think about it.  You were once living in the cesspool of sin.  Yet the clean, pure hand of Jesus reached down into the sewage of sin and pulled you out.  He made you His prized possession.  He washed you.  He made you new.  You didn't do this, He did.  You belong to Him.  He loves you with an everlasting love. 

The world may think you are worthless.  Family members may treat you with scorn.  But to the Lord, you are precious.  You are His.  You are His child. 

The verse we have looked at was spoken to Israel.  However, the basic principles are true for the child of God today.  We have a heavenly Father who loves us ... and we don't deserve it.  He loved us so much that He willingly gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us.  On that cross, Jesus purchased us with His blood.  Because of Calvary, we belong to Him. 

Yes, He loves us ... and we don't deserve it.  Let us love Him with shameless affection and devotion!