[One-Verse Meditation]

1 Samuel 12:22 (NIV) “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.”

[Meditation]

Before the thunder and rain that poured down like a bolt from a dry sky, Israel finally realizes the weight of their sin and trembles in fear of death. They plead with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die,” and they confess, “To all our other sins we have added the evil of asking for a king.” When one stands before the living Word of God, hidden sin is bound to be revealed. In this way, God sets His people honestly before His Word.

Samuel reassures them, “Do not be afraid.” And his following proclamation shows the very essence of the gospel, which is more than enough to cover all of Israel’s sins and fears. “For the LORD was pleased to make you his own…” It is astounding. The reason God does not forsake Israel is not because they repented. Nor is it because they were useful. The reason is one: because God Himself ‘is pleased’ with His own first choice to make them His people. For us, this would be impossible. That is the cause of our salvation.

This unchanging joy of God gives birth to a love and zeal that never gives up on His people. Sometimes He disciplines with a rod, other times He embraces warmly, and He tenaciously turns them back from “worthless things that cannot profit or save” (v. 21). He works in this way for the sake of His great name. For the sake of His overflowing joy.

That same God calls us today. He lets us know that our salvation is not due to our own qualifications or efforts, but solely for the glory of His name. In this way, He opens our eyes that want a worldly king, so that we may see that He alone is our true King. This is the zeal of God that holds onto us today.

[Prayer]

Lord, the glory of God, the very God-ness of God, how beautiful it is! To the zeal of God that calls me out of the world to Yourself, I open my mouth today and praise You thus: “Let it be a new day filled with the Lord’s life.” Amen.
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[Daily Meditation]

1 Samuel 12:19-13:10