Week 8 The Story of Your Father
1 Sam 12:20-25
And Samuel said to the people, “Fear not. You have indeed done all this evil; YET turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve Him with all your heart. And turn not aside after vain and worthless things which cannot profit or deliver you, for they are empty and futile. 
THE Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake, for it has pleased Him to make you a people for Himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only FEAR the Lord and SERVE Him faithfully with all your heart; for CONSIDER how great are the things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king shall be swept away.”

Back story: In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel has just finished crowning the new king, Saul. The man Israel chose over God to lead them. He then asks the Israelites to consider all the great things God has done for them and their ancestors, proceeding to remind them of all the awful ways they have betrayed God.

Samuel is not judging them, instead he is painting a picture of their history of repentance before God and God’s ‘chesed,’ everlasting kindness and mercies. You see, it is impossible for the Father to reject His children. His very name is marked upon them.

The word for ‘name’ in Hebrew means much more than something to be called. It speaks of identity and nature. Because of who He is, because of the very essence of His nature, He will not, even cannot, abandon you. That is the relentless affection, or CHESED, of your Father. Wow, this gives me such hope for some who have strayed from the faith. He will never stop waiting for their repentant hearts.

Your Father’s heart has always been for you and not against you. His promise silences a deep fear in us that we could be left alone, lost or forgotten. Only seek Him.

Psalm 136 …for His steadfast love (chesed ) endures forever.
CHESED…This steady, persistent refusal of God to wash his hands of his wayward children is the essential meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated loving-kindness or mercy. (http://www.bible-researcher.com/chesed.html)

Psalm 24 …He prepares a table before you… His goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of your father forever.

John 5:22, 24, 27, 30, 45 …For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son…Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does NOT come into judgment, but has passed from death to life…And he (God) has given him(Jesus) authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man…I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me…Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: MOSES, on whom you have set your hope.