Today’s devotion comes from Romans 9:22-24.
“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” Romans 9:22-24.
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God endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order to better make known His love upon His elect (“vessels of mercy” a/k/a the righteous).
God accomplishes making His love better known to His elect by sharply contrasting it with His wrath upon the others (“vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” a/k/a the wicked).
Consider that if God destroyed all the wicked before the righteous were even aware of the wicked, then the righteous would not know in comparison how much God loved them.
But, before we review examples of the sharp contrast comparison, let us remember Ephesians 2:3-7 in order to help prevent us from being proud and to also help us appreciate even more what God has done for us.
“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:3-7.
We see many examples of this sharp contrast between what God has done for the righteous (His elect, “vessels of mercy”) and what God has done for the wicked (“vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” in the book of Proverbs.
“The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33.
“The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.” Proverbs 10:3.
“Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” Proverbs 10:6.
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” Proverbs 10:11.
“What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.” Proverbs 10:24.
“When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” Proverbs 10:25.
“The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.” Proverbs 10:28.
“The righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.” Proverbs 10:30.
“The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.” Proverbs 10:32.
“The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.” Proverbs 11:5.
“The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.” Proverbs 11:8.
“Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.” Proverbs 11:21.
“The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” Proverbs 11:23.
“A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.” Proverbs 12:3.
“The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.” Proverbs 12:5.
“The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Proverbs 12:6.
“The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.” Proverbs 12:7.
“A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” Proverbs 12:10.
“The wicked man desires the booty of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.” Proverbs 12:12.
“An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.” Proverbs 12:13.
“No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.” Proverbs 12:21.
“The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26.
“Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.” Proverbs 15:6.
“The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves one who pursues righteousness.” Proverbs 15:9.
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” Proverbs 15:28.
“The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29.
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” Proverbs 24:16.
“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1.
“The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.” Proverbs 29:7.
“When the wicked increase, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their fall.” Proverbs 29:16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 