Have you ever read the book of 1 Samuel? This is the book in the Bible that introduces us to the boy who would kill Goliath and eventually become Israel’s greatest king – David. It is a story of faith, failure, triumph and tragedy. King Saul is on a collision course with disaster and David must cling to God’s promises if he is to experience them coming to pass.

For me, there is one message that rings out throughout the book loud and clear: God will do what he has said he will do.

God gave the people of Israel a king. God told him through the prophet Samuel that he will appoint him leader over Israel and, of course, he did, but after King Saul failed to obey God, he was informed that the royal line will no longer continue through his family. In fact, another king will be chosen. David was secretly appointed and anointed half-way through the book.

In contrast to Saul, David understood the certainty of God’s promises and he sought to trust God and obey him. Even at his lowest point in the Cave of Adullam when the armies of Israel were hunting him down, led by a jealous and angry Saul, David declared that God is the one who ‘fulfils his purposes for me’ (Psalm 57:2)

In other words, God will do what he has said he will do.

And that’s a promise for us today. If you are a follower of Jesus like me, then you stand at the other side of the cross to David – forgiven through repentance and faith, and now with a whole new set of promises.

Jesus told us that he will never leave us, he will never drive us away because we belong to him (John 6: 37). If we take prayer seriously, developing our relationship with the Father in the secret place, we will be rewarded (Matt 6: 6). If we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, then all our needs will be met (Matt 6: 33), and so much more.

I have a pinboard on the wall of my study and over the years I have attached verses that have spoken to me, helpful thoughts that have come through prayer and prophetic words spoken over me by others. I consider them promises from God and every now and then I will read them afresh and cling to them.

Why? Because, like David, I believe God is the one who fulfills his promises for me.

When the tough times come, when there are Goliaths still to kill and when there is nothing we can do but just sit in the secret place and wait, one thing is sure: God will do what he has said he will do.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1: 46 – 55)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, composed these words while staying with her relative, Elizabeth. She had only just received the mind-numbing news that she was pregnant without any physical contact with a man. A baby will be born to you, someone great, a king, the son of the Most High, said the angel who had visited her, one who has been supernaturally placed in your womb.

Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth prophesied, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! (Luke 1: 42). The mother-to-be must have felt so overwhelmed that all she could think to do was break out into spontaneous worship.

The song Mary sang, tells us a lot about God - she clearly wants all praise to go to him. But her words tell us important things about her too.

Mary is humble, in the sense that she knows she is blessed among women, but she is also aware that she doesn’t deserve it. When she refers to “humble state of his servant” she is describing what some might call her “lowly state” – in other words, she is not from a wealthy or influential family.

Second, even though Mary had no choice but to face the enormity of what lay ahead, there is no sense of complaining in her song. “the Mighty One has done great things for me” she sings, giving praise and declaring the holiness of his name.

And finally, Mary’s worship reminds her soul that she is a just a part of God’s much bigger plans. It’s not all about her. God’s mercy extends to all generations, no ruler can stay in power if they are against him. He is the Lord of Israel, faithful to their father Abraham and all descendants after him. The Lord lifts the humble and scatters the proud.

This is humility at its best. Mary doesn’t deny the importance of her calling. She knows all generations will call her blessed. But she knows she hasn’t earned it, has done nothing to deserve it and so she places herself as a simple servant within God’s great power and purposes.

“So, Moses chiselled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Ex 34: 4 – 7)

This is God, speaking of himself. Verses 6 – 8 are not the words of a human, but the recorded words of Almighty God. This is what God wants us to know about him. Whatever questions we may or may not wish to ask him, these are the truths The Lord wanted Moses to hear, and therefore the truths he wants us to take on board.

First, he is the LORD. He repeats it: “The LORD, the LORD…”. No-one or no thing is more powerful than he. He is the sovereign creator of the entire universe. In wisdom and authority, he is above all other things.

Yet, perhaps paradoxically, he is also compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. His greatness and strength never drive him to selfishness or cruelty. He sees our weaknesses and responds with compassion and grace. He hates the wilful sin that occupies the human heart but chooses to slow his anger and act in love instead.

This portrait of the living God is vibrant with love and forgiveness. Despite the darkness that stains the human condition, The Lord is quick to offer new life, sins forgiven, and rebellion paid for by the mercies of God. He will even forgive wickedness.

The Lord wanted his people to know that his love abounds. Anything that abounds exists in large amounts. It is rich and overflowing. The Lord’s love for us is beyond measure, impossible to count or quantify, too big to fully grasp.

But the Lord also punishes. He is a God of justice. The guilty cannot escape him and their punishment even affects their children and grandchildren, a strong encouragement towards genuine repentance.

In just a few short words, God revealed his sovereignty but also his love. He let Moses know of his unwavering commitment to justice, as well as his deep desire to forgive and bless. He spoke of his faithfulness, in order that we might be faithful to him.

What an amazing picture we have here of God.