Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 19:9-18.
“Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:9-18.
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The primary and most clear points from today’s Scripture is that the LORD exercises both lovingkindness and justice.
We see the lovingkindness of the LORD in verse 18. “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.” Verse 18.
The LORD could have put to death all the sons of Israel. Elijah himself bore witness against them twice in verses 10 and 14. “… for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Verses 10 and 14.
But, the LORD saved a remnant according to His gracious choice.
“… Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT FOR MYSELF SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.” Romans 11:2-5.
We see the justice of the LORD in verse 17, and we better understand the reason for the justice of the LORD when we consider the actions of the son of Israel stated above. “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.” Verse 17.
We often hear about the lovingkindness of the LORD in church. But, how often do we hear about the justice of the LORD in church? How often do we meditate on the justice of the LORD? Jesus Himself said: “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” Luke 12:5.
“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
The secondary and more obscure points from today’s Scripture teach us how to respond to the sovereignty of the LORD in establishing and accomplishing all of His purpose and His good pleasure, including but not limited to exercising lovingkindness and justice on earth.
We may not understand why the LORD sent Elijah to go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD, particularly considering that the LORD was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire. The LORD did not talk to Elijah in the wind or in the earthquake or in the fire. But, the power of the wind, the earthquake, and the fire could remind Elijah of the power and sovereignty of the LORD.
Likewise, for us today, we may not understand how the LORD “exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”, but we see the power and sovereignty of the LORD throughout Scripture and His creation. We can trust the LORD and His word that He will establish and accomplish all of His purpose and His good pleasure, including but not limited to exercising lovingkindness and justice on earth.
“… I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24.
“… ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;” Isaiah 46:10.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 