May 12

He Remains Faithful

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 68:28-35 | 1 Samuel 12:1-13:22 | John 7:1-29 | Proverbs 15:4

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 12-13

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

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 1:13 TNIV).

The children of Israel proved themselves unfaithful again and again. Yet God remained faithful to them.

Samuel reminds them of their pattern of unfaithfulness. While they had cried out the LORD for help in Egypt (12:8), when they got to the Promised Land, “they forgot the Lord their God” (9). A time of judgment led to them once again to repent: “they cried out to the Lord” (10). He delivered them again.

Despite God’s protection and blessing, the people of Israel wanted a King they could see. They wanted an earthly King. Once again, they proved less than loyal; less than faithful.

Yet God proves faithful to his people over and over again. They may be unfaithful but he is always faithful.  Why?  Samuel tells us: “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.”

His faithfulness is rooted in the glory of his name. He had by his own good pleasure chosen these people and made them his own.  For the sake of his glorious name, he would not abandon them or forsake them. He would show them and all the world the greatness and glory of his name (and the character it reveals) as one who is loving, good and faithful even to those who prove unfaithful. His chosen people may not always be a glorious reflection of his character and name, but the perfections of his character must never be doubted. His faithfulness is made all the more glorious as it is revealed in his dealing with imperfect, unfaithful Israel.

How often the same thing is true in our lives. We prove unfaithful. Yet for the glory of his name, he will not forsake those he has chosen and made his own. We are his holy, chosen and dearly loved ones and he will remain faithful to us for the glory of His name. Indeed we proclaim with Jeremiah, “Great is Thy Faithfulness!”

Dear Heavenly Father, we rejoice in your faithfulness. Thank you for your relentless lovingkindness–for not giving up on your children. You always treat us better than we deserve with abundant grace and mercy. We come again to your throne asking for the grace and mercy we need for this day and trusting in your faithfulness to give us all that we need. Amen.