1 Samuel 12:22

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For the LORD {H3068} will not forsake {H5203} his people {H5971} for his great {H1419} name's {H8034} sake: because it hath pleased {H2974} the LORD {H3068} to make {H6213} you his people {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the sake of his great reputation, ADONAI will not abandon his people; because it has pleased ADONAI to make you a people for himself.

Berean Standard Bible

Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

American Standard Version

For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 12:22 stands as a profound declaration of God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereign grace, delivered by the prophet Samuel during a pivotal moment of transition for Israel. Despite the people's recent sin of rejecting God's direct rule by demanding a human king, this verse assures them that the Lord's commitment to His chosen people remains steadfast. This fidelity is not based on Israel's merit or obedience, but solely on God's own character, His great name, and His benevolent, unmerited pleasure in having chosen them as His own. It underscores that God's covenant promises are secured by His immutable nature, offering a foundational truth of divine constancy amidst human failing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Samuel's farewell address to the nation of Israel, found in [1 Samuel 12](/1_samuel/12 "1 Samuel 12 - Samuel's Farewell Address and Warning"). Having served as judge and prophet, Samuel is formally stepping down as Israel transitions from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy under King Saul, whom God has reluctantly allowed the people to choose. Samuel's speech serves as a final plea and warning, recounting God's faithful acts throughout Israel's history ([1 Samuel 12:6-11](/1_samuel/12-6 "1 Samuel 12:6-11 - God's Past Deliverances")), rebuking their sin of demanding a king ([1 Samuel 12:12-19](/1_samuel/12-12 "1 Samuel 12:12-19 - Israel's Sin in Demanding a King")), and then offering both encouragement and a stern warning about the consequences of disobedience. Verse 22, therefore, provides a powerful and comforting assurance of God's enduring commitment, even in the face of their profound spiritual rebellion, setting the stage for his concluding exhortations to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully ([1 Samuel 12:20-25](/1_samuel/12-20 "1 Samuel 12:20-25 - Samuel's Final Exhortation")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the judges was marked by a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, with no central human king. Israel's demand for a king, as detailed in [1 Samuel 8](/1_samuel/8 "1 Samuel 8 - Israel Demands a King"), was a rejection of God's direct rule, motivated by a desire to be "like all the nations" ([1 Samuel 8:5](/1_samuel/8-5 "1 Samuel 8:5 - Israel's Desire for a King")). This shift represented a significant cultural and political upheaval. While God permitted the monarchy, He viewed their request as a rejection of Him ([1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's View of Israel's Request")). Samuel's address, delivered at Gilgal during a dramatic thunderstorm that confirmed his words ([1 Samuel 12:17-18](/1_samuel/12-17 "1 Samuel 12:17-18 - The Thunderstorm as a Sign")), aimed to impress upon the people the gravity of their sin and the enduring nature of God's covenant, despite their unfaithfulness. The cultural context emphasizes the tension between human desire for visible leadership and divine sovereignty.
* **Key Themes:** The primary themes interwoven in this verse are **God's Unwavering Faithfulness**, **The Significance of God's Name**, and **Divine Election and Grace**. God's faithfulness is highlighted by the declaration that He "will not forsake his people," underscoring His enduring loyalty and reliability, which are central to the [covenant relationship established at Sinai](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5-6 - The Sinai Covenant"). This faithfulness provides hope even when His people are disobedient, demonstrating His unfailing love. The phrase "for his great name's sake" is crucial, indicating that God acts not based on human merit, but because His own character, reputation, and glory are at stake. His actions uphold His promises and demonstrate His nature to the world, a concept echoed throughout Scripture, such as when God declares He will act for His holy name in [Ezekiel 36:22](/ezekiel/36-22 "Ezekiel 36:22 - God Acts for His Holy Name"). Finally, the concluding phrase, "because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people," emphasizes God's sovereign choice and unmerited favor (grace) in selecting Israel. Their status as God's people was not earned but was a result of His divine pleasure and purpose, underscoring that their relationship with God was initiated and sustained by Him, as reiterated in [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Unmerited Choice of Israel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Forsake (Hebrew, _'azav'_):** This verb (עָזַב) carries the meaning of abandoning, leaving, or deserting. In this context, it powerfully conveys the idea that God will not withdraw His presence, support, or covenant relationship from His people, even when they are undeserving. It implies a steadfast commitment that transcends their performance.
* **Name (Hebrew, _shem'_):** The term (שֵׁם) refers to more than just a label; it encompasses God's entire character, reputation, authority, and essence. When God acts "for his great name's sake," it means His actions are motivated by the preservation of His own holy character, His integrity, and the demonstration of His power and faithfulness to the world. His honor is intrinsically linked to His covenant promises.
* **Pleased (Hebrew, _chaphets'_):** This verb (חָפֵץ) denotes delight, desire, or taking pleasure in something. It highlights God's benevolent and intentional will in choosing Israel as His own. It underscores that His election of them was not out of necessity or obligation, but out of His sovereign, uncoerced, and gracious will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the LORD will not forsake his people":** This opening clause serves as a direct, emphatic assurance. Despite Israel's recent sin in demanding a king and their historical pattern of rebellion, Samuel declares God's unwavering commitment. The phrase "will not forsake" is a strong negation, promising divine constancy and presence. It speaks to God's enduring covenant faithfulness, a core attribute of His character, which stands independent of human merit.
* **"for his great name's sake":** This crucial phrase reveals the *reason* for God's unfailing commitment. It is not because Israel is worthy, but because God's own honor, reputation, and holy character are invested in His relationship with them. To forsake them would be to dishonor His own name, to contradict His promises, and to diminish His glory in the eyes of the nations. God's faithfulness is thus an expression of His self-consistency and His commitment to His own divine integrity.
* **"because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people":** This concluding clause provides the ultimate ground for God's enduring faithfulness: His sovereign, gracious choice. Israel's status as God's people was not achieved through their own efforts or inherent greatness, but was a result of God's unmerited, benevolent will and divine pleasure. This emphasizes the concept of divine election and grace, where God initiates and sustains the relationship purely out of His own good purpose, solidifying the idea that His commitment is rooted in His eternal decree and not in their fluctuating obedience.

#### Literary Devices
1 Samuel 12:22 employs several impactful literary devices. **Emphasis** is achieved through **Repetition** of "his people," underscoring the enduring relationship despite their actions. The verse functions as a **Divine Oracle** or **Prophetic Declaration**, delivering God's immutable truth through Samuel. It utilizes **Covenant Language**, reinforcing the foundational relationship between God and Israel, drawing on the terms and concepts established in the Pentateuch. The structure moves from a declarative statement of God's action ("will not forsake") to the *reason* for that action ("for his great name's sake") and finally to the *ultimate ground* of that reason ("because it hath pleased the LORD"), creating a logical and rhetorically powerful argument for God's steadfastness. This structured argument serves to both comfort and instruct the people, assuring them of God's faithfulness while simultaneously reminding them of the unmerited nature of their election.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding God's covenant faithfulness and the nature of divine grace. It teaches that God's commitment to His people is rooted in His own character and sovereign will, rather than in their performance. This truth provides immense comfort, assuring believers that even in their failures, God remains true to His promises because His integrity and glory are at stake. It shifts the focus from human merit to divine initiative, highlighting the unmerited favor that undergirds God's relationship with humanity. This principle of God acting for His own name's sake is a recurring theme throughout salvation history, demonstrating that His ultimate purpose is the display of His glory through His redemptive acts.

* [Psalm 106:45](/psalms/106-45 "Psalm 106:45 - God Remembers His Covenant")
* [Isaiah 43:25](/isaiah/43-25 "Isaiah 43:25 - God Blots Out Transgressions for His Own Sake")
* [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "Romans 11:29 - God's Gifts and Call Are Irrevocable")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 12:22 offers profound comfort and a call to humble gratitude for believers today. In a world where relationships are often conditional and commitments can waver, this verse declares that God's faithfulness to His chosen ones is absolute and immutable, anchored in His own divine character and sovereign pleasure, not in our fluctuating obedience or worthiness. This truth liberates us from the burden of earning God's favor and invites us into a secure relationship founded on grace. It should inspire deep gratitude for our election in Christ and motivate us to live in a manner that honors the "great name" for which God has acted on our behalf. When we inevitably stumble, this verse reminds us that God does not abandon us, but remains steadfast, calling us back to repentance and renewed trust in His unfailing love. Our response to such grace should be a life of worship, obedience, and confident reliance on Him, knowing that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that God's faithfulness is "for his great name's sake" change your perspective on your own failures or shortcomings?**
* **In what ways does understanding God's "pleasure" in choosing you as His people deepen your sense of identity and security in Him?**
* **How might remembering God's unwavering commitment, despite Israel's rejection of Him as king, encourage you to trust Him more fully in your own life's uncertainties?**

### FAQ
**Why did God not forsake Israel despite their sin of demanding a king?**

Answer: God did not forsake Israel, as stated in [1 Samuel 12:22](/1_samuel/12-22 "1 Samuel 12:22 - God Will Not Forsake His People"), primarily "for his great name's sake" and "because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." This means God's faithfulness is rooted in His own character and sovereign choice, not in Israel's merit or obedience. To abandon them would be to dishonor His own covenant promises and diminish His glory in the eyes of the nations. His commitment was based on His eternal purpose and unmerited grace, demonstrating that His love and election are irrevocable, even when His people are disobedient. This principle is consistent with other passages, such as [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "Romans 11:29 - God's Gifts and Call Are Irrevocable"), which states that God's gifts and call are irrevocable.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 12:22 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The unwavering faithfulness of God, declared by Samuel, is perfectly embodied in the person and work of Christ. While God would not forsake His people Israel for His great name's sake, the New Covenant reveals how God's name is most fully glorified and His people are truly secured through the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), providing the ultimate atonement that allows God to remain just and yet justify the ungodly ([Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "Romans 3:26 - God is Just and Justifier")). Furthermore, the "pleasure of the LORD" that chose Israel is now extended to all who believe in Christ, for it "pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief" ([Isaiah 53:10](/isaiah/53-10 "Isaiah 53:10 - The Suffering Servant")), so that through His suffering, a new people might be made righteous. Believers in Christ become God's people, not by national election, but by spiritual adoption through faith in Him ([Galatians 3:26-29](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26-29 - Children of God Through Faith")). Thus, God's promise never to forsake His people is ultimately guaranteed by the finished work of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that [nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord](/romans/8-38 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Deuteronomy 14:2

For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.

Psalms 106:8

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Deuteronomy 7:7

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:

Deuteronomy 7:8

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

1 Kings 6:13

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.