Jehovah "Will Not Leave His Loyal Ones"

Jehovah has time and again demonstrated his loyalty. Since Jehovah is perfectly consistent, the loyalty he shows toward his faithful servants never wanes. The psalmist wrote: "A young man I used to be, I have also grown old and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread. For Jehovah is a lover of justice, and he will not leave his loyal ones." (Psalm 37:25, 28) True, as the Creator, Jehovah desert our worship. (Revelation 4:11) Still, because he is loyal, Jehovah treasures our faithful acts. - Malachi 3:16, 17.

In his loving-kindness, Jehovah repeatedly comes to the aid of his people when they are in distress. The psalmist tells us: "He is guarding the souls of his loyal ones; out of the hand of the wicked ones he delivers them." (Psalm 97:10) Consider his dealings with the nation of Israel. After their miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea, the Israelites proclaimed in song to Jehovah: "You in your loving-kindness [or, "loyal love," footnote] have led the people whom you have recovered." (Exodus 15:13) The deliverance at the Red Sea certainly was an act of loyal love on Jehovah's part. Moses therefore told the Israelites: "It was not because of your being the most populous of all the peoples that Jehovah showed affection for you so that he chose you, got you were the least of all the peoples. But it was because of Jehovahs' loving you, and because of his keeping the sworn statement that he had sworn to your forefathers, that Jehovah brought you out with a strong hand, that he might redeem you from the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh the king of Egypt." -Deuteronomy 7:7,8.

Of course, as a nation the Israelites failed to demonstrate appreciation for Jehovah's loving-kindness, for after their deliverance "they kept sinning still more against [Jehovah] by rebelling against the Most High." (Psalm 78:17) Over the centuries, they rebelled again and again, leaving Jehovah and turning to false gods and pagan practices that brought nothing but defilement. Still, Jehovah did not break his covenant. Instead, through the prophet Jeremiah, Jehovah implored his people: "Do return, o renegade Israel . . . I shall not have my face drop angrily upon you people, for I am loyal." (Jeremiah 3:12) As noted in Chapter 25, however, most of the Israelites were not moved. Indeed, "they were continually making jest at the messengers of the true God and despising his words and mocking at his Prophets." With what result? Finally, "the rage of Jehovah came up against his people, until there was no healing." -2 Chronicles 35:15, 16.

Next time: Conclusion of Jehovah"Will Not Leave His Loyal Ones"

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002