Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 6:12-21.

“Then he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.  Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court;  and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.  He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;  who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him;  indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.  Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’  Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, let Your word be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant David.

“But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth?  Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You;  how much less this house which I have built.  Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You;  that Your eye may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which You have said that You would put Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.  Listen to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place;  hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven;  hear and forgive.”  2 Chronicles 6:12-21.

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As much as it makes perfect sense and the LORD would have every just right to only keep His covenant and only show lovingkindness to His servants who walk before Him with all their heart, we will not do so, because of the sin within us.

“So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11. 

But, there is hope!

The LORD chose certain persons to save and to show His lovingkindness toward them.  

“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.

For those whom the LORD chose, the LORD set His chosen ones apart from the rest and placed them in Christ.  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30.

And, for those whom the LORD set apart (a/k/a “sanctified” in the language of the following Scripture), Christ died for them.

“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
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:14-18.

“…  Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27. 

And, there is more hope!

In addition to be forgiven and cleansed, the LORD will hear our prayers. 

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22. 

“The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 6:1-11.

“Then Solomon said,

“The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
“I have built You a lofty house,
And a place for Your dwelling forever.”

Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.  He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a leader over My people Israel;  but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’  Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.  Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’  Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke;  for I have risen in the place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  There I have set the ark in which is the covenant of the LORD, which He made with the sons of Israel.”   2 Chronicles 6:1-11.

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Today’s devotion will focus on three points.  First, we see God’s choice dominate what was done and what was not done.  Second, we see that the LORD fulfilled His word.  Third, God has built a house for us to live forever.

Other doctrine presents a god who stands on the sideline and watches what man’s alleged free-will chooses to do or not do and then at best reacts to what man has done or not done.

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture, as the main Actor, Who chooses what He wants to do and not do and then promises and proclaims what He will do and then He fulfills His word.

“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.

“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

“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.

“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.

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

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:4.

“Do not let your heart be troubled;  believe in God, believe also in Me.  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.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3. 

“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.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.”  Revelation 21:10-11.

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”  Revelation 21:22-23. 

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 4:11 to 2 Chronicles 5:1.

“Huram also made the pails, the shovels and the bowls.  So Huram finished doing the work which he performed for King Solomon in the house of God:  the two pillars, the bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars, and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the pillars.  He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands, and the one sea with the twelve oxen under it.  The pails, the shovels, the forks and all its utensils, Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.  On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.  Thus Solomon made all these utensils in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze could not be found out.

Solomon also made all the things that were in the house of God:  even the golden altar, the tables with the bread of the Presence on them, the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary in the way prescribed;  the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold;  and the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons and the firepans of pure gold;  and the entrance of the house, its inner doors for the holy of holies and the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold.

Thus all the work that Solomon performed for the house of the LORD was finished.  And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.”  2 Chronicles 4:11 to 2 Chronicles 5:1. 

————–

There was no doubt, no uncertainty, no suspense as to whether or not Solomon would build the house of the LORD.  The LORD promised it.  In the following Scripture, Solomon testified as to the intent of his father David and what the LORD said, promised, and fulfilled His word.     

“Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.  Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he will build the house for My name.’  Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke;  for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.”  1 Kings 8:17-20.

“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 it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.

“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.

Usually, these precious trio of verses are quoted in opposite order, that is, from beginning to end.  But, today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on how great our LORD is.  This is like yesterday’s devotion where we noticed the paste tense in the words what the LORD has already accomplished for us!

Other doctrine preaches and teaches alleged man’s free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches God’s sovereignty and rule over all things.

“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’;” Isaiah 46:9-11.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 2:7-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%202&version=NASB1995

Here is a link to the following verses.

“Then Huram, king of Tyre, answered in a letter sent to Solomon:  “Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.”  Then Huram continued, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a house for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.

“Now I am sending Huram-abi, a skilled man, endowed with understanding, the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work with your skilled men and with those of my lord David your father.  Now then, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which he has spoken.  We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem.”  2 Chronicles 2:11-16.

———-

Was Solomon king over all people?  No.  Solomon was only king over Israel.  

Solomon was distinguished by the LORD.  The LORD chose Solomon to be king over Israel.  

Solomon was also distinguished by his father David who was the prior king over Israel.  David had many sons, yet he chose only Solomon to be king over Israel.  

Solomon was also distinguished by the “discretion and understanding” that the LORD gave him.   

Solomon was also distinguished by Huram, king of Tyre, who, in a letter sent to Solomon stated:  “Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.” Notice that Huram provided so much to Solomon.  Did Huram provide these things to all the kings?  No.  Solomon was distinguished by Huram.

Israel was also distinguished by the fact that Solomon was their king.

Even in our daily life, we see people and institutions distinguished.  So, this should not be a foreign concept.  

Certain universities are distinguished.  Certain groceries stores and financial institutions are distinguished.  We do not equally love them.  But rather, we chose certain ones of them to attend and do business.  

Certain people are distinguished.  A husband does not equally love all women.  But rather, he distinguishes his wife and only loves her.  

Every day we make choices.

Thus, today’s Scripture leads us to consider that the LORD does not love all people.  The LORD only loves His people a/k/a His chosen ones a/k/a His elect.  

“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.

How do we know that we are His people a/k/a His chosen ones a/k/a His elect?

Our names may be written in the Book of Life which we cannot now read, but our names are not written in the Bible which we can read.

Moses wondered and asked the LORD specifically:  “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?  Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”  Exodus 33:16.

More generally, over time, we learn and believe that we are the elect a/k/a God’s chosen people by God doing special particular goodness to us, particularly “distinguished from all the other people”. 

Everybody gets sunshine and rain, so when we experience such common good things, we do not feel “distinguished from all the other people”. But, when we feel that God is showing us special particular goodness to us, that all other people do not receive, we feel that we are distinguished from other people and we wonder and think we may be the elect a/k/a God’s chosen people. 

As stated in the Canons of Dordt that I will later quote in full, “The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election“.  

So, let us look at some Scriptures.

“But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.”’”  Exodus 9:4.

“But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’”  Exodus 11:7.

“And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them;  the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand.  Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed;  all came to pass.”  Joshua 21:44-45.

“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised;  not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.  May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers;  may He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.”  1 Kings 8:56-58.

“7 I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD,
According to all that the LORD has granted us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, “Surely, they are My people,
Sons who will not deal falsely.”
So He became their Savior.” Isaiah 63:7-8.

In regards to what I highlighted above, consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 12.  The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election, not by inquisitively prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.

God only shows “the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7. “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.

Just as a husband only distinguishes his own wife and only loves his own wife, not all women, “… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27.

“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” Malachi 3:17-18.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

In other words than the above-stated Romans 9:22-24, we appreciate more being “distinguished from all the other people” and what God has done for us when we can see and compare ourselves with others, both in the goodness that we receive (lovingkindness) and the punishment from which we were saved (mercy).

“10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!” Psalm 58:10-11.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 1:1-13.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%201&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.  

“Now Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him greatly.

…  

In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.  Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”  God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you.  And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.”  So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.”  2 Chronicles 1:1 and 7-13.  

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Today’s Scripture leads us to understand God and what pleases Him.

“It was pleasing in the sight of the LORD that Solomon had asked this thing.  God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words.  Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.”  1 Kings 3:10-12.

“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.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.