Because of Who He is

"Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself... Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." -1 Samuel 12.20-22, 24

The people have done evil in the sight of God. Samuel has opened his life up for inspection so that he can show them how they have failed to live righteously before God. The people have demanded a human king, and in so doing have rejected God as their king. They come to realize their sin, but Samuel assures them that God will not abandon His people because of who He is.

The people, though they now have a king, must still be faithful to God. Though they have a king to rule over them, God is still in charge. They are to follow Him diligently, serving Him with all their hearts. If they do not, they will pursue futile things that bring no lasting benefit or satisfaction. God will not abandon those who follow Him because of His name. Those who seek Him are His people, and God is pleased to make them his people. He will not discredit His name, a name of holiness and righteousness, but abandoning those He has promised to protect and provide for.

With this promise of God's presence is the repeated command, issued to the people since the time of Moses, fear the Lord and serve Him with all your heart. There is the call to think of everything that God has done if they need a reason to follow Him. Because of who God is, He will not abandon or forsake His people. It is not because they people are righteous, but because God is.

Men, do you faithfully serve God, or have you turned aside to futile things? Have you forsaken the pursuit of righteousness in pursuit of the next promotion? Have you given up attaining holiness in order to obtain material possessions? Do you seek to advance yourself in the world, or to grow into Christlikeness? It is because of who God is that the holy option is possible. It is because of who God is that you can forsake selfish living and seek holiness. Consider all that God has done and see if serving Him is not the best option.

Let us be men who live for the glory of God. Let us be men who live in humble gratitude for all that God has done. Let us be men who consider the great things God has done.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor