“And Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.” 1 Samuel 12:20-22
In the context of this prayer, Samuel intercedes on behalf of the children of Israel, who have just demanded that Samuel anoint a king to rule over them. Samuel, the high priest, acknowledges the sin that Israel has committed in asking for a king; not that the request was wrong, but the heart behind it was wrong, because Israel was seeking to be like other nations around them; wicked, pagan nations that the LORD had commanded Israel not to follow.
So in this context, its even more surprising and even shocking that verse 22 states: “It has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.” In spite of Israel’s sin, it pleased the LORD to make them His people. In spite of all the sins that He knew that would commit against Him in the future, it still pleased Him to do this.
Thinking about that further and in the context of Scripture as a whole, there are many amazing things that the Bible says are pleasing to the LORD. Here is a short list. I have edited them to make them personal, and I hope that whoever is reading this can also read and believe that these promises are true for you, too.
It has pleased the LORD to make me His child, and that means I am co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
It has pleased the LORD to give me Jesus, my perfect older brother, who did not despise his inheritance like Esau, but for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame. Genesis 25:34, Hebrews 12:2
It has pleased the LORD to give me some of the hidden manna, which is the Word of God; the white stone, which is real victory; with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it, which is real intimacy. Revelation 2:17
It has pleased the LORD to give me garments of pure white, which means I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Christ became sin for me, so that because of His death, burial and resurrection, I would have the same righteousness as God. This was done to show God’s righteousness, not my own. Romans 3:25, Revelation 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21
Though I have but little power, it has pleased the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the key of David, to open a door for me which no one can shut. He gives me the crown of life, and makes me a pillar in the temple of God. Revelation 3:7-8, 11-12
It has pleased the LORD to make me a part of His Kingdom of priests, who sing a new song to the King, who shall reign on the and over the earth to worship Him forever. Revelation 5
It has pleased the LORD to have compassion on me, to run toward me, to kiss me, to give me a robe and a golden ring, to kill the fattened calf and prepare for me a sumptuous wedding feast to celebrate, and I will sit on the King’s throne with Him to rule and reign with Him forever. Luke 15:20-24, Revelation 3:20