Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 31:11-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2031&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them.  They faithfully brought in the contributions and the tithes and the consecrated things;  and Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them and his brother Shimei was second.  …  Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the eastern gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, to apportion the contributions for the LORD and the most holy things.  …  Also for the sons of Aaron the priests who were in the pasture lands of their cities, or in each and every city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically enrolled among the Levites.

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God.  Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.”  2 Chronicles 31:11-12 and 14 and 19-21. 

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“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”  Deuteronomy 29:9.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and it fell—and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 30:13-20.

“Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly.  They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem;  they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron.  Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month.  And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.  They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God;  the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites.  For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves;  therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the LORD.  For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed.  For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”  So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.” 2 Chronicles 30:13-20.

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We may worry and feel anxiety for different reasons.

In today’s Scripture, the people did not prepare themselves according to the law for Passover.

Likewise, we may not have prepared ourselves for worship, Christian service, or our other work for God in the area of our livelihood or outside the area of our livelihood.

But, whatever our weakness, whatever the reason for our worry and anxiety, there is hope!

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17.

“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 139:23-24.

“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.” Psalm 139:1-5.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27.

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:33-34. 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.

“Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:26-27.

“22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 29:12-36.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 2 Chronicles 29 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the Levites arose:  Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites;  and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel;  and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;  and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel;  and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;  and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei;  and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.  They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD.  So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out to the court of the house of the LORD.  Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley.  Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the LORD.  Then they consecrated the house of the LORD in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month.  Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils.  Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated;  and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”

Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of the LORD.  They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah.  And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.  …

…

…  There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings.  Thus the service of the house of the LORD was established again.  Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.”   2 Chronicles 29:12-21 and 35-36.

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Why does Scripture give such detail about the Levites?  There are three verses of their names along with the names of their fathers.

Verse 15 shows their unity and intention “to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD.”

This is all the more amazing when we consider the context of the wickedness under the recent prior reign of King Ahaz.

So, in summary, the LORD not only raised King Hezekiah, but all these Levites to do this work!  Praise be to the LORD for His sovereign power and intention to raise up individuals all throughout history to accomplish His purpose when there seems to be no hope!  

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.  Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people:  “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them;  behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.  “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.  I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them;  and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
6 “In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
‘The LORD our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 46:9-11.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 28:16-27.

“At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.  For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives.  The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.  For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the LORD.  So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.  Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the LORD and out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD.  For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.”  But they became the downfall of him and all Israel.  Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces;  and he closed the doors of the house of the LORD and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.  In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger.  Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel;  and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.”  2 Chronicles 28:16-27.

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Even in this Scripture where it seems like there is no hope, there is hope!

“…  Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.”  Verse 27.

Tomorrow, God willing, in the next devotion, we will cover what Hezekiah did in the next Scripture and the hope.  But, in today’s devotion, we will meditate on the hope that another Son brings to us.

“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 28:1-15.

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem;  and he did not do right in the sight of the LORD as David his father had done.  But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals.  Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel.  He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

Wherefore, the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus.  And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties.  For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.  And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters;  and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.  But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded;  and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has even reached heaven.  Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves.  Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the LORD your God?  Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the LORD is against you.”  Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against those who were coming from the battle, and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against the LORD adding to our sins and our guilt;  for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.”  So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly.  Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil;  and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers;  then they returned to Samaria.”  2 Chronicles 28:1-15. 

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We read of the sins of Ahaz king of Judah and the punishment of Judah through both Aram (occupying present day Syria and surrounding countries) and Israel.  But, the theme of today’s devotion is the action of Israel to their enemy Judah in verse 15 highlighted above.  It leads us to meditate on the following Scriptures.

“21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22.

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.  “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK;  FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:19-21.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;  for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48.

Who can do these things?!  

But, there is hope!

“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8.

So, let us go back to the “Therefore you are to be perfect” verse.  You will be perfect, because “your heavenly Father is perfect” and He will provide everything that you need to be perfect.  “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.  

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:2-3.

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 5:10-11.

“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.