Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 15:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Chronicles 15 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Now David built houses for himself in the city of David;  and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.  Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites;  for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”  And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place which he had prepared for it.  David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:  …

Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab,  and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites;  consecrate yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it.  Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.”  So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.  The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.”  1 Chronicles 15:1-4 and 11-15.

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The denomination Protestant Reformed Churches of America (PRCA) has preached and practiced the worship of the LORD  “according to the word of the LORD.”  Here is a link to an article “Public Worship and the Reformed Faith” by Professor Barrett L. Gritters of PRCA followed by two quotes from it – http://www.prca.org/resources/publications/pamphlets/item/598-public-worship-and-the-reformed-faith

“The Regulative Principle

Reformed believers teach that our worship is to be just what God commands it to be—nothing more, nothing less. This is of utmost importance for us to understand in connection with Biblical, Reformed worship. God does not leave it up to us to determine the manner of our worship of God. God’s Word regulates us in how we must worship Him.

This is the difference between the Lutheran and the Calvinistic branches of the Reformation. Followers of Luther, when reforming the extravagance of the Roman Catholic Church, held to the position that whatever was not explicitly forbidden in the Bible was permissible in church. For that reason, the Lutherans kept a good deal of Roman Catholic practices in their worship. Whether consciously taken or not, this is the position of most churches today. This is not Reformed!

The Calvinists, on the other hand, held to what is called ‘The Regulative Principle of Worship.’ That regulative principle says, ‘We worship God only as He has commanded us in His Word.’ For that reason, the worship services of Reformed churches historically have been limited to prayer, singing, sacraments, preaching, and offerings.

One can easily see how this principle speaks to the modern changes in the worship services. Trying sincerely to be up to date, or trying sincerely to attract the young people to the church, the old is pushed aside, replaced by new kinds of worship. Often one of the services is reserved for something other than preaching. The questions that are most often asked are, ‘What will please the congregation? What will be more stimulating? What is nice?’ But the question rarely is, ‘What does God’s Word say about it?’

People are under the delusion that as long as they are not doing something that is condemned in the Bible, as long as they are guided by proper motivations, as long as they are worshipping the true God, there is no limit as to what they may do. But they forget that God does not leave it up to us to decide how we are to worship Him. We are REGULATED BY THE WORD OF GOD in our worship. We must be so careful in the manner of our worship.”

…

“True to this regulative principle, Reformed worship services have these elements: singing of Psalms (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19-20); offering of prayer (I Timothy 2:1-8); reading of Scriptures (I Thessalonians 5:27; I Timothy 4:13); the preaching and hearing of God’s word (Romans 10:13-17; II Timothy 4:1-2); the administration of the two sacraments (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29); and the giving of our offerings in the support of the ministry and the relief of the poor (I Corinthians 16:1-2; I Corinthians 9:11-14).”

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In my (Bill’s) conclusion, in today’s Scripture, David was rightly fearful of the LORD and careful of how the ark of God was to be carried because of what happened to Uzza.  “Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” Verse 13. We also remember prior Scripture.  “David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”  So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.”  1 Chronicles 13:12-13. 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.

“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 2:11-12.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 14.  

“Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons and carpenters, to build a house for him.  And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted, for the sake of His people Israel.

Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.  These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem:  Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,  Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David;  and David heard of it and went out against them.  Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.  David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?  And will You give them into my hand?”  Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.”  So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there;  and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.”  Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim.  They abandoned their gods there;  so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley.  David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them;  circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.  It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”  David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even as far as Gezer.  Then the fame of David went out into all the lands;  and the LORD brought the fear of him on all the nations.”  1 Chronicles chapter 14.

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“11 “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?
Who is like You, majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders?
12 “You stretched out Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.
14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed;
The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
16 “Terror and dread fall upon them;
By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone;
Until Your people pass over, O LORD,
Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
17 “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established.
18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” Exodus 15:11-18.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 12:19-22.

“From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul.  But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.”  As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh.  They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.  For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.”  1 Chronicles 12:19-22.  

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We may like to think of ourselves as independent and that we do not need anyone else.  But even though David slew Goliath by himself, we have seen in the last two chapters that God brought to David mighty men of valor to help David.  So, we should not be resistant to God bringing us people to help us and to accomplish God’s purpose.  

We also have seen in the last two chapters, especially in today’s Scripture as highlighted above, that “day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.”  So, we should not get discouraged if it takes time for us to get the total amount of support that we need.

Most generally, the Lord added to His church “day by day”. “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:46-47.

More specifically, today’s Scripture provides two hopes.  First, God give us favor with the people (to some extent) to accomplish His purpose.  Second, God provides the type of people that we need.  

Consider the following supporting Scriptures. 

“3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4.

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12.

“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”  Luke 2:52.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”  1 Corinthians 12:27-28.

“And He (Christ) gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13. 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 12:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%2012&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish;  and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war.  They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow;  they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin.  The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite;  and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite, …

From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.  Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, …  These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army;  he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand.  These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.”  1 Chronicles 1-3 and 8-9 and 14-15.

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It is easy to focus on the might and skill of the men who came over to David to support him.  For example, we may be in awe of “the sons of Gad were captains of the army;  he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand.”

But, let us meditate on the point that the LORD is not only for us, His chosen people, but the LORD is also against His enemies.

“15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.” Psalm 34:15-16.

“9 “For the LORD’S portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
10 “He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.” Deuteronomy 32:9-10.

“How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had given them up?” Deuteronomy 32:30.

“‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’” Deuteronomy 32:35.

“39 ‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
40 ‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,
41 If I sharpen My flashing sword,
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.” Deuteronomy 32:39-41.

“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.