Abandonment (see Rejection)
King Saul kept stubbornly insisting on doing
things his way until finally the Lord quit answering him and helping him.
- 1 Samuel 28:6,15 He inquired
of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or
by the prophets… "Why have you
disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in
serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting
against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me any more,
either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me
what I should do."
King Rehoboam made the same mistake and reaped
the same consequences.
- 2 Chronicles 12:5 Then
Shemaiah the prophet went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were
gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: "This is
what the LORD says: 'You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned
you into the hand of Shishak.'"
When we disobey God to the
point where He does have to abandon us to our sinful wills, we lose our ability
to overcome life’s issues.
- Deuteronomy 32:30 How could
one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their
Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
- 2 Kings 21:14 I will abandon the remnant of My
inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will become plunder
and spoil to all their enemies
- Jeremiah 12:7 I have abandoned My house; I have
deserted My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hand of
her enemies.
We need to earnestly desire
and pray for a healthy, humble relationship with our King so that we can truly
enjoy His continued presence.
- 1 Kings 8:57 May the LORD our God be with us as He
was with our ancestors. May He not abandon us or leave us.
When we maintain a
reverential awe of our Lord, what the Scriptures refer to as a “godly fear” and
seek His will so that we can obey it, He will be our God, our King and will
lead us to victory. Disrespect and disobedience will always result in
abandonment.
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went
out to meet Asa and said to him, "Asa and all Judah and Benjamin,
hear me. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He
will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.
All those sinners we thought
would be our friends and would empower us will abandon us to the consequences
of our sin.
- Lamentations 1:2; 5:20 She weeps
aloud during the night, with tears on her cheeks. There is no one to offer
her comfort, not one from all her lovers. All her friends have
betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
This stems from God’s
supreme holiness.
- Job 8:20 Look, God does not reject a person of
integrity, and He will not support evildoers.
- Isaiah 1:15 When you lift up your hands in
prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless
prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Sometimes, we will be
abandoned by those we previously considered to be friends – even spiritual
leaders.
- Job 13:24 Why do You hide Your face and
consider me Your enemy?
Sometimes, we will go
through spiritually dry spells where it will seem like God has abandoned us,
even though we know of nothing wrong that we did.
- Psalm 13:1 For the choir director. A Davidic
psalm. LORD, how long will You continually forget me? How long will You
hide Your face from me?
- Psalm 22:1 For the choir director: according to
"The Deer of the Dawn." A Davidic psalm. My God, my God, why
have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from my deliverance and
from my words of groaning?
- Psalms 42:9 I will say to God, my rock, "Why
have You forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the
enemy's oppression?"
- Matthew 27:46
At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud
voice, "Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?"
that is, "My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?"
- Mark 15:34 Mar 15:34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud
voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?"
which is translated, "My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me?"
When you feel alone and unloved, it is important
to remember that Adonai never abandons those who love and follow Him.
- Deuteronomy 4:31 He will not
leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He
swore to them by oath, because the LORD your God is a compassionate God.
- 1 Samuel 12:22 The LORD will not abandon His people,
because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His
own people.
In those solitary moments, cry out to Him for
help.
- Psalms 38:21 LORD, do not abandon me; my God, do
not be far from me.
- Psalms 71:12 God, do not be far from me; my God,
hurry to help me.
Even when family and friends
abandon you for Hashem’s sake, the Lord God never will.
- Psalms 27:10 Even if my father and mother abandon
me, the LORD cares for me.
Though you may go through
trying times, God will always end up providing for your needs.
- Psalms 37:25
I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the
righteous abandoned or his children begging bread.
When you have sinned and
there is a wall between you and the Lord, be quick to confess your sins and ask
for Him to return to you.
- Psalms 89:46 How long, LORD? Will You hide
Yourself forever? Will Your anger keep burning like fire?
- Lamentations 5:20-22 HCSB
Why have You forgotten us forever, abandoned us for our
entire lives? (21) LORD, restore us to Yourself, so we may
return; renew our days as in former times,
(22) unless You have
completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us.
When we humbly turn to Him,
forsaking our sinful, rebellious ways, He will return to us.
- Isaiah 54:7
"I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back
with great compassion.
Though persecutors may
question God’s existence or His ability to save, at some point Nathan N’Qamah
(God our Avenger) will have His way.
- Psalms 115:2 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
- Psalms 79:10 Why should the nations ask,
"Where is their God?" Before our eyes, let vengeance for the
shed blood of Your servants be known among the nations.
In times of persecution,
pray like David.
- Psalms 119:121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
Take hope in the power of
the Lord. Remember the many times that He has come to our people’s rescue in
the past and be strengthened in that knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong
and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD
your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you."
- Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against
you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I
will not leave you or forsake you.
In times of persecution and
when we see all the injustice of the world, it is easy to think that God has
abandoned us – leaving us as sheep among the wolves of this world. However, the
Master assured us of His return.
- John 14:18 I will not leave you as
orphans; I am coming to you.
Let’s not put our hope in
money, power or fame which are fleeting. Let’s be content with the ultimate
gift: the presence and love of our God.
- Hebrews 13:5
Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with
what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or
forsake you.
Never abandon your love for
the city and the mountain that Adonai holds most dear on Earth.
- Psalms 137:5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my
right hand forget its skill.