Today’s devotion comes from Numbers chapter 2. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%202&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab, and his army, even their numbered men, 74,600. …
“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur, and his army, even their numbered men, 46,500. … The total of the numbered men of the camp of Reuben: 151,450 by their armies. And they shall set out second.
“Then the tent of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; just as they camp, so they shall set out, every man in his place by their standards.
“On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud, and his army, even their numbered men, 40,500. … The total of the numbered men of the camp of Ephraim: 108,100, by their armies. And they shall set out third.
“On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, and his army, even their numbered men, 62,700.
… The total of the numbered men of the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall set out last by their standards.”
… Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father’s household.” Numbers 2:1-4 and 10-11 and 16-19 and 24-26 and 31 and 34.
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For what do you stand? What are your standards?
Too often, people drift away from their standards. Too often, people are embarrassed by their standards. Too often, people hide their standards.
We see too many churches change their signs from identifying which denomination they belong to signs by which they call themselves a community church or fellowship or Grace Church or other name that sounds good but tells the reader very little about what they believe.
We see churches which have web sites which show all kinds of beautiful scenery and beautiful, happy people on the Home Page, but the web sites do not show the standards of what they believe. You really have to dig into the web site to find it. But, even if they do have a standard a/k/a creed a/k/a confession, you will hear very little quotes from it during the sermon.
In today’s Scripture, we see how important standards were. The tribes camped or rested by their standards. The tribes move out by their standards.
“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14.
The Protestant Reformed Churches do rest by their standards. The Protestant Reformed Churches do proclaim their standards. The Protestant Reformed Churches do move out by their standards.
You see it in their name and signs: Protestant Reformed Churches.
You see it in the cover to their publication: Standard Bearer. You read it inside every issue.
You see it on the Home page of their web site. Here is a link to the Home page of the Protestant Reformed Churches by which you can so easily read their standards –
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Philippians 3:14-16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 