“And the LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
(Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
God’s many promises, those expressions of His free grace that originate from His eternal love and sovereign choice, are bestowed without any expectation of repayment from or worthiness of those who receive them. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 makes this abundantly clear. Israel was not chosen to be God’s special people because of numbers, strength, or greatness, but solely because the Lord loved them and was faithful to His covenant. The foundation of God’s dealings with His people is love, not merit; grace, not works.[1]
Human nature longs to imagine that God’s favor is due to something admirable within us. Yet the Word of God strips away this illusion: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). Every promise—whether in Eden after the fall, to Abraham and his seed, to David and his house, or to the Church in Christ—is rooted in God’s benevolent grace.
Consider what this means for the redeemed. Before God chose to love, we were wretched sinners, enemies of holiness, and spiritually bankrupt. Our condition merited wrath, not blessing. That He would set His affection upon such undeserving creatures testifies to a love beyond measure. As one commentator has said, “the love and favor of God, the especial grace of God toward him; this is the foundation of all his happiness.” Every stream of comfort and every promise of glory flows from this fountain. Isaiah 55:1-3 and Revelation 22:17 both declare that eternal life and covenant blessings are to be received freely, “without money and without price.”
It is possible, however, to abuse God’s mercy, treating it as license to sin. Paul confronts such thinking in Romans 2:4 and again in Romans 6:1, warning that despising God’s kindness leads not to salvation but to greater condemnation. To misuse the promises is to trample on the very grace that saves. Hebrews 10:29 speaks of those who “do despite unto the Spirit of grace.” We must remember that God’s love and mercy never cancel His truth and justice. His promises are free, but they are also holy; abundant, yet never divorced from His righteousness.
The believer, then, must approach God’s promises with reverence, gratitude, and faithful obedience because each promise is a reminder that God’s love is unconditional and unearned, demonstrating His steadfast love toward the unworthy, mercy that forgives, grace that sustains, and faithfulness that never fails.
Contemplations:
- God’s love. Reflecting on Deuteronomy 7:7-8, I am reminded of God’s unconditional love. He didn’t choose us because of anything in us but simply because He loved us. How often do I recognize and appreciate this love in my daily life, especially when I am tempted to measure His favor based on my performance?
- The freely given promises. Isaiah 55:1-3 speaks of buying without money, emphasizing God’s generosity. How can I make sure that I don’t take these promises for granted but treat them as treasures, responding with joy and obedience?
- My role in fulfilling promises. While God’s promises are free, their fulfillment often requires action on my part. This means I must remain diligent in prayer, steadfast in faith, and active in obedience if I expect to experience His favor and blessing.
- Misusing God’s mercy. God’s promises are not to be misused as an excuse for sinful behavior. His mercy should draw me to repentance, not recklessness. I want to make certain that I respect and honor God’s grace in my life, using it as motivation for holiness and gratitude instead of as an excuse for indulgence in sin.
Prayer (thanksgiving)
Almighty God, I come before You, grateful that every promise You’ve given is a marvel of grace. You did not set Your love upon me because of anything in myself, for I had nothing to commend me. My sins testified against me, my weakness exposed my unworthiness, yet You loved me. You chose to redeem me, to call me by name, to make me a recipient of mercy. I thank You that Your promises don’t depend on my strength, my wisdom, or my works, but on Your eternal love and unchanging faithfulness.
I’m so thankful, Lord, that Your gifts are never given with demand for return. You are all-sufficient, needing nothing from me, yet You give grace in abundance. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, the greatest promise fulfilled, who by His death and resurrection secured every other blessing for me. Thank You that forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and eternal life are all mine because of Christ’s finished work.
I thank You that even now Your promises sustain me in daily life. You feed me, clothe me, and keep me under the shadow of Your wings. When I pray, You hear, not because my voice is strong but because Christ intercedes for me. When I stumble, You restore, because Your mercy is everlasting. Every promise draws my heart to hope and trust in You.
I also thank You for the warnings that come with Your promises. Thank You that Your Word teaches me never to abuse Your mercy, never to presume upon Your patience, never to turn grace into license. Thank You that You keep me mindful of Your justice, so that I may fear to grieve Your Spirit. Your promises both comfort and sober me, lifting me up with joy while humbling me under Your holiness.
Lord, I give thanks that Your love is steadfast and unchanging. Though I stumble, though I fail, though I am small in the world’s eyes, still Your promises hold me fast. I am secure because You cannot lie, and You will not forsake the covenant sealed in blood. Thank You that Your goodness leads me to repentance, Your mercy compels me to obedience, and Your faithfulness assures me of everlasting life.
May my heart be ever filled with gratitude, my lips quick to praise, and my life a living testimony to the wonders of Your promises. I thank You, Lord, not only for what You have given but for who You are—the God of truth, the fountain of grace, the keeper of covenants.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Deuteronomy 7:7-8:
Job 7:17, 1 John 3:1, Deut. 10:15, Isa. 43:4
[1] Nicholas Byfield, The Promises of God, (Coconut Creek, FL: Puritan Publications, 2013), chapter 3, eBook.
