Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil” (v. 20). Stop right there and be amazed. “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil.” Isn’t that a misprint? Shouldn’t it say, “Be afraid; you have done all this evil”? But it says, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil.” That is pure grace. God’s grace treats us not the way we deserve: “Be afraid; you have done all this evil.” But better than we deserve: “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil.” How can this be? What is the basis of this grace? Not us! We have done evil. What then? We’ve seen it already. Verse 22: Don’t be afraid, “for the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake.” God’s allegiance to his own name is the foundation of his faithfulness to us. If God ever forsook his supreme allegiance to himself, there would be no grace for us. If he based his kindness to us on our worth, there would be no kindness to us.
Piper, John (2008-09-12). Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ (Kindle Locations 1314-1322). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition.
