Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 28:36-38.

“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the LORD.’  You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban;  it shall be at the front of the turban.  It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts;  and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.”  Exodus 28:36-38.

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God provided a gold plate for Aaron to wear on his forehead with the engraving “Holy to the LORD” which leads us to meditate on the fact that we too are chosen to be “a holy people to the LORD”.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;  the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”  Deuteronomy 7:6.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 28:31-35.

“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.  There shall be an opening at its top in the middle of it;  around its opening there shall be a binding of woven work, like the opening of a coat of mail, so that it will not be torn.  You shall make on its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around on its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:  a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around on the hem of the robe.  It shall be on Aaron when he ministers;  and its tinkling shall be heard when he enters and leaves the holy place before the LORD, so that he will not die.”  Exodus 28:31-35.

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God provided bells on the hem of the robe to produce the tinkling sound which served as a reminder of the reverence that Aaron (and us today) should have when we enter the presence of the LORD.  

We remember when the LORD appeared at Mount Sinai just before He gave the Ten Commandments to the people.

“The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain;  and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.  Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, or else the LORD will break out against them.”  Exodus 19:20-22.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” Psalm 5:4-6.

Yet, too often we enter church on Sunday boldly, stomping into church, as if we are doing God a favor.  We do not properly sense our unholiness and His holiness.  

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

As an analogy, think of when you were a freshman student in college and approached a Professor’s office. Did you knock loudly on his door?  Did you throw open his office door?  No!  You very respectfully softly knocked on the door and patiently waited in fear and trembling until the Professor opened the door and said that you could come into his office.

How much more should we show respect to the Creator of the Universe!

“Thus says the LORD,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:1-2.

But, such humility and repentance and reverence does not come to us naturally; it is a work of God’s grace!

Reformed Doctrine teaches us that man’s natural condition was corrupted by the fall of Adam (through Adam’s sin). Reformed Doctrine describes that natural condition as “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught by the Canons of Dordt.

We were “dead” in sin. Ephesians 2:1-5. We were hostile to God. Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21. We were in bondage to sin. Romans 7:14-15.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.

“13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Romans 3:13-18.

In conclusion, in briefest summary, it is only through God’s grace that we can stand in the presence of God. In the verse following the Scripture of Psalm 5:4-6 above, we read of such grace of God.

“But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.” Psalm 5:7.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 28:6-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2028&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“They shall also make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman. …  You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth.  As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel;  you shall set them in filigree settings of gold.  You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial.”  Exodus 28:6 and 9-12.    

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“3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4.

But, we see in today’s Scripture that God directed that the priests wear ephods with onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel as a memorial.

It is amazing that the Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, would care so much for His chosen people that He would want their names to be ever before Him.  

Later in Scripture, we also read:

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.” Isaiah 49:16.

And, there is much more!

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20 For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm chapter 139.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 27:9-17.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2027&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses,

“You shall make the court of the tabernacle.  On the south side there shall be hangings for the court of fine twisted linen one hundred cubits long for one side;  and its pillars shall be twenty, with their twenty sockets of bronze;  the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.  Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars with their twenty sockets of bronze;  the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.  For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten sockets.  The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.  …  The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze.  …”  Exodus 27:9-13 and 18.  

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Although we can think of churches when we think of God’s courts, we should not only think of churches as the following Scriptures talk more generally of God’s dwelling places which are not limited to churches.  

We may be able to be in a church for a total of 3 hours a week or so, but we can be blessed to “dwell” in God’s courts!  

Let us meditate on how we can dwell in God’s courts a/k/a dwelling places.

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.” Psalm 65:4.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:1-2.

“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 2:4-7.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  Hebrews 11:8-10. 

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”  Hebrew 12:22-24.

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2.

“How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
4 How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You. Selah.”

5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!
6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength,
Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.
9 Behold our shield, O God,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm chapter 84.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus chapter 26.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2026&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material;  you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.  …  

“Then you shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle;  you shall make eleven curtains in all.  …  

…  You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.

“Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.  …  

…  Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain.”  Exodus 26:1, 7, 14-15, and 30.

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What does the tabernacle look like?

People with long blue robes and gray hair and red caps standing upright, huddled close, facing inward together, like a football huddle.  

And although heaven and earth cannot hold God, there is hope!

“Thus says the LORD,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:1-2.

In other words, God is pleased to dwell in His people who are humble and contrite of spirit, and who tremble at His word.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:16. 

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:2-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:40.

“See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.”  Exodus 25:40.

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We remember God’s very precise instructions for the construction of the ark, mercy seat, table to hold the bread of the Presence, and lampstand under the first covenant.  

“Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.  For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread;  this is called the holy place.  Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat;  but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”  Hebrews 9:1-5.

This was done by God even though, these things were “only”  “… a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  Hebrews 8:5.

And, this was done by God even though “… the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Hebrews 10:1.

And, this was done by God even though the first covenant was to be taken away to establish the second covenant.

“But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.”  Hebrews 8:6-7. 

“then He (Christ) said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.”  He takes away the first in order to establish the second.”  Hebrews 10:9.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:14-17.

In summary, consider all that was accomplished by Christ’s sacrifice and offering through His blood on the cross.

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Therefore, considering everything above, if God gave such very precise instructions for the construction of the ark, mercy seat, table to hold the bread of the Presence, and lampstand under the first covenant, which were “only” “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” to be taken away, then how much more should we hold in awe and reverence what was accomplished by Christ’s sacrifice and offering through His blood on the cross?!   

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said:  “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”  And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.