Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 23:1-8.

“1 The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations -My appointed times are these: 3 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation.  You shall not do any work;  it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.   4 ‘These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them 5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.   6 ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD;  for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 ‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation;  you shall not do any laborious work.   8 ‘But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.  On the seventh day is a holy convocation;  you shall not do any laborious work.’ ”   Leviticus 23:1-8.

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The theme of today’s Scripture is complete rest.  But, we are not inclined to rest.  We are like anxious and skittish sheep.  We need a Good Shepherd.  “He makes me lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside quiet waters.”  Psalm 23:2.

By our “Total Depravity” nature, we are also neither obedient nor grateful.  We may receive a command to rest, but we will not do it.  We also will not feel grateful that could have helped us have peace and joy and thereby be inclined to rest.

If only we would trust God!  We would follow the Good Shepherd and rest.  We would obey God.  We would be content and even grateful.  We would be inclined to rest.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.”  Jeremiah 17:7.

But, our trust cannot be based on our corrupted and shaky free-will such that we will try to trust God based on our wisdom and will.

Our trust needs to come from God as a gift.  That is what is meant by the phrase “And whose trust is the LORD” in the prior Scripture.

“Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;  You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.'”  Psalm 22:9.