Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Micah chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“And I said,

“Hear now, heads of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel.
Is it not for you to know justice?

…

9 Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who abhor justice
And twist everything that is straight,
10 Who build Zion with bloodshed
And Jerusalem with violent injustice.
11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests instruct for a price
And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the LORD saying,
“Is not the LORD in our midst?
Calamity will not come upon us.”
12 Therefore, on account of you
Zion will be plowed as a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.”  Micah 3:1 and 9-12.

———————-

“Pay attention to Me, O My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation;
For a law will go forth from Me,
And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.”  Isaiah 51:4.

Justice is based on God’s law, and a summary of God’s law as it relates to man’s relationship to man is contained in the following commandments.

“13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:13-17.

A fundamental principle in the administration of justice is to be impartial.

“You shall not show partiality in judgment;  you shall hear the small and the great alike.  You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God’s. …”  Deuteronomy 1:17.

“You shall not distort justice;  you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.  Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 16:19-20.

Rulers should not be partial in judgment to the rich, powerful, or popular.  But, rulers should also not even be partial to the poor:  “nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.”  Exodus 23:3.

But, the biggest tendency and danger is to be partial to the rich, powerful, and popular, and so much more is written in Scripture about justice protecting the poor.

“6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute.  7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

9 “You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 23:6-9.

“God takes His stand in His own congregation;
He judges in the midst of the rulers.
2 How long will you judge unjustly
And show partiality to the wicked?  Selah.
3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 82:1-4.

Today’s devotion comes from Micah chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Woe to those who scheme iniquity,
Who work out evil on their beds!
When morning comes, they do it,
For it is in the power of their hands.
2 They covet fields and then seize them,
And houses, and take them away.
They rob a man and his house,
A man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the LORD,

“Behold, I am planning against this family a calamity
From which you cannot remove your necks;
And you will not walk haughtily,
For it will be an evil time.

…

8 “Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—
You strip the robe off the garment
From unsuspecting passers-by,
From those returned from war.
9 “The women of My people you evict,
Each one from her pleasant house.
From her children you take My splendor forever.

…

12 “I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob,
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in the fold;
Like a flock in the midst of its pasture
They will be noisy with men.
13 “The breaker goes up before them;
They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it.
So their king goes on before them,
And the LORD at their head.”  Micah 2:1-3 and 8-9 and 12-13.

————————————-

Although there are those who do evil as stated in verses 1-2 and 8-9, the LORD will punish them as stated in verse 3, and the LORD will gather and protect His elect, “the remnant of Israel”, as stated in verses 12-13.

The image of the LORD’s care for them is that of a shepherd who gathers, protects, and provides for his sheep.  And, the LORD will lead them.

“I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob,
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in the fold;
Like a flock in the midst of its pasture …”  Verse 12.

“… So their king goes on before them,
And the LORD at their head.”  Verse 13.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd Who said:  “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;  and I lay down My life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, which are not of this fold;  I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice;  and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”  John 10:14-16.

“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”  Psalm chapter 23.

Today’s devotion comes from Micah chapter 1.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The word of the LORD which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, O peoples, all of you;
Listen, O earth and all it contains,
And let the Lord God be a witness against you,
The Lord from His holy temple.
3 For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.
He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
4 The mountains will melt under Him
And the valleys will be split,
Like wax before the fire,
Like water poured down a steep place.
5 All this is for the rebellion of Jacob
And for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the rebellion of Jacob?
Is it not Samaria?
What is the high place of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?
6 For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country,
Planting places for a vineyard.
I will pour her stones down into the valley
And will lay bare her foundations.
7 All of her idols will be smashed,
All of her earnings will be burned with fire
And all of her images I will make desolate,
For she collected them from a harlot’s earnings,
And to the earnings of a harlot they will return.”

8 Because of this I must lament and wail,
I must go barefoot and naked;
I must make a lament like the jackals
And a mourning like the ostriches.
9 For her wound is incurable,
For it has come to Judah;
It has reached the gate of my people,
Even to Jerusalem.”  Micah 1:1-9.

————–

The LORD’s judgment and punishment, the melting of the mountains in verse 4, the shame on those who serve idols in 7, and the overall sovereignty of the LORD remind us of Psalm chapter 97.

But, in sharp contrast to Micah chapter 1 which is sorrowful and focuses on the lament of Micah for Israel and Judah who will be destroyed, Psalm chapter 97 is joyful and focuses on the righteous there and everywhere whom the LORD preserves and their attitude to the LORD’s judgments.

“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.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.

7 Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images,
Who boast themselves of idols;
Worship Him, all you gods.
8 Zion heard this and was glad,
And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
9 For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

10 Hate evil, you who love the LORD,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”  Psalm chapter 97.

Today’s devotion comes from Jonah chapter 3.

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.”  So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD.  Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.  Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk;  and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God;  and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.  When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.  He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles:  Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing.  Do not let them eat or drink water.  But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth;  and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.  Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it.”  Jonah chapter 3.

————————

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Matthew 3:2.

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31.

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  …  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:7 and 9.

“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”  Acts 26:19-20.

Today’s devotion comes from Jonah chapter 2.

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said,

“I called out of my distress to the LORD,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 “For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The great deep engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.
7 “While I was fainting away,
I remembered the LORD,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the LORD.”

10 Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.”  Jonah chapter 2.

——————————–

It was for very good reason that Jonah declared:  “Salvation is from the LORD.”  Verse 9.

Jonah was to the point of death.  Not only was Jonah at the bottom of the sea, he was in the stomach of a great fish.

“5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The great deep engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever, …”  Verses 5-6.

“… But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.”  Verse 6.

It is also for good reason that we too declare:  “Salvation is from the LORD.”

We were dead in sin.

“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.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-9.

There was nothing that Jonah could have contributed to the salvation.

And, there is nothing that we can contribute to the salvation.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:1-3.

“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 3:10-13.

For both Jonah and us, salvation must be entirely the work of the LORD in order for us to be saved.

Reformed Doctrine summarizes Scripture and that “Salvation is from the LORD.” in its Five Points of Calvinism known by the acronym “TULIP”.  It also makes logical sense. Because of “Total Depravity” (man is dead in sin), no one could be saved unless the LORD unconditionally elected some to be saved (“Unconditional Election”) and did everything else for our salvation.  The LORD does everything for our salvation from this beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”.

“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.

“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 1:30-31.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.”  Psalm 3:8.

Today’s devotion comes from Jonah chapter 1.

“The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”  3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.  So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 The LORD hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.  5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.  But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.  6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping?  Get up, call on your god.  Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

7 Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.”  So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.  8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now!  On whose account has this calamity struck us?  What is your occupation?  And where do you come from?  What is your country?  From what people are you?”  9 He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?”  For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.  11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.  12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea.  Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”  13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.  14 Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us;  for You, O LORD, have done as You have pleased.”

15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.  16 Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”  Jonah chapter 1.

———————–

“You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.”  Verse 14.

Let us consider some of the amazing things that the LORD did in this chapter which support this declaration of the LORD’s sovereignty that the LORD does as He pleases.

The LORD found Jonah even though Jonah fled from the presence of the LORD and was hidden in a ship with many people in the middle of the sea.  Verses 3-4.

“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.”  Psalm 139:7-10.

The LORD created a great wind on the sea such that it became a great storm but also controlled the storm perfectly that it would be strong enough to cause great fear in the sailors but would not be strong enough to destroy the ship and kill them.  Verses 4-15.

The LORD caused the sea to stop raging as soon as the sailors threw Jonah into the sea.  Verse 15.

The LORD caused these sailors, a rough lot who worshiped various gods, to fear the LORD greatly and to offer a sacrifice and make vows to Him.  Verse 16.

The LORD “appointed” a great fish to swallow Jonah but also controlled the fish perfectly that the fish did not kill Jonah.  Verse 17.

Nevertheless, other doctrine futilely tries to restrain this Almighty Sovereign LORD by their puny, wispy, but really non-existent free-will.

“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

Reformed Doctrine rejoices in the LORD’s response.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:4.

Reformed Doctrine worships, praises, and exults in the absolute sovereignty of God.

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

Today’s devotion comes from Obadiah 1:15-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“15 “For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you.
Your dealings will return on your own head.
16 “Because just as you drank on My holy mountain,
All the nations will drink continually.
They will drink and swallow
And become as if they had never existed.
17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,
And it will be holy.
And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.”  Obadiah 1:15-17.

———————

“But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape,
And it will be holy. …”  Verse 17.

From this sentence, we can glean two things.

First, those “on Mount Zion” symbolize those who are delivered by God.

“For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors.  The zeal of the LORD will perform this.”  2 Kings 19:31.  Also quoted in Isaiah 37:32.

“Those who trust in the LORD
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.”  Psalm 125:1-2.

“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!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”  Psalm 91:1-4.

“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.”  Hebrews 12:22-24.

Second, this deliverance will be “holy” in the sense that this deliverance is totally done by God from the beginning to the end.  Thus, it is totally “holy”.  From the beginning, God unconditionally chooses those whom He would save.  This is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Through the middle, God accomplishes this salvation through the work of Christ in “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Through the middle, God accomplishes this salvation through the work of Holy Spirit in “Irresistible Grace, “I” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  To the end, God preserves their lives and souls of His elect.  This is “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

The following Scriptures help us understand the holiness of this deliverance and these points of the work of God.

“It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem.”  Isaiah 4:3.  Another way of describing those people whom God unconditionally chooses is “everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem.”

“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.

And yet, there are those who nevertheless still focus on themselves and futilely try to distinguish themselves worthy of salvation by their own works or will.

But, the Reformed seek God alone and His work alone and rejoice that salvation is not dependent on the work or will of man.  Only such deliverance is truly holy.

“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 Obadiah 1:1-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“12 “Do not gloat over your brother’s day,
The day of his misfortune.
And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah
In the day of their destruction;
Yes, do not boast
In the day of their distress.
13 “Do not enter the gate of My people
In the day of their disaster.
Yes, you, do not gloat over their calamity
In the day of their disaster.
And do not loot their wealth
In the day of their disaster.
14 “Do not stand at the fork of the road
To cut down their fugitives;
And do not imprison their survivors
In the day of their distress.”  Obadiah 1:12-14.

——————-

The LORD is very protective of His people.

“… for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8.

If other people do as little as gloat over the misfortune of God’s people, the LORD will punish them as we have seen the LORD punish the nation of Edom from today’s Scripture.

But, we can also use today’s Scripture to warn God’s people from gloating over the misfortune of their brothers (people who are also part of God’s people).

How often does the sin of jealousy pop up within us causing us to secretly gloat even over the misfortune of other good people, God’s people, fellow believers?!

Obviously, we should not do so.  Rather than gloating, we should help our brother who has fallen to rise again.

“Each one helps his neighbor
And says to his brother, “Be strong!”  Isaiah 41:6.

“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.”  Proverbs 24:16.

But, there is the sharpest contrast between the righteous and the wicked.

If we are motivated by a Godly hatred of wickedness and not motivated by the sin of jealously, a big “if”, then Scripture shows us that we can even rejoice when God performs His own judgment and vengeance against the wicked.

“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.

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.”  Proverbs 11:10.

Today’s devotion comes from Amos chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,”
Declares the LORD.
9 “For behold, I am commanding,
And I will shake the house of Israel among all nations
As grain is shaken in a sieve,
But not a kernel will fall to the ground.”  Amos 9:8-9.

———————-

God has such perfect sovereign control over everything that although He will destroy Israel (verse 8), not one of His elect remnant within Israel (figuratively described as a kernel in verse 9) “will fall to the ground” (that is, be hurt).

We are reminded of the following Scriptures.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?  And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”  Matthew 10:29.

“5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.”  Psalm 91:5-10.

Other doctrine trusts in man’s basic goodness and that God loves everybody.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts in God’s “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Article 9.  … election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  …”  Romans 8:28-33.