Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 10. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%2010&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly. Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.” Ezra 10:1-2.
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Today’s Scripture details the sin but then states: “yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.”
A common theme and motto of my Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions is “But, there is hope!”
Yes, as stated in today’s Scripture, and yes to us today, “We have been unfaithful to our God …”. “But, there is hope!”
This hope is not for everyone. This hope is for God’s chosen people. In today’s Scripture, this hope was for Israel, specifically for the remnant, the exiles. More generally, this hope is for God’s chosen people including some Jews and some Gentiles, whomever God chooses and calls to be His people.
This hope is not based on man nor based on man’s works nor based on man’s wisdom nor based on man’s will.
This hope is based on God and God’s total and perfect sovereignty and God’s works and God’s wisdom and God’s will.
“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.
“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 LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:1-2.
“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.
God accomplishes all of His good pleasure in exercising lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth. Total Perfect Triumph.
In part, God accomplishes His good pleasure by demonstrating His lovingkindness by choosing whom He will save (“Unconditional Election”) and by providing all that the His elect need for salvation: from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.
“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16. In other words, salvation does not depend on our works. Our salvation does not even depend on as little as our will. God saves whom He wants.
God saves all those, and only those (the elect), whom He has chosen to save. In sharp contrast to the wise, mighty, and noble who proudly thought they deserved salvation by their will or by their works or by their position, God saves only those whom He has chosen as we see that the following Scripture pounds the table three times on what is the basis of salvation: “God has chosen”.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
We don’t rejoice in our works nor in our wisdom nor in our will. We boast in the LORD.
“9 … I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” Isaiah 41:9-14.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.
“For by one offering He (Christ) has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.
“… He preserves the way of His godly ones.” Proverbs 2:8.
“… for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” Hebrews 13:5.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.
“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.
“Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.” Psalm 111:1-6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 