Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Daniel chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“And through his shrewdness
He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
And he will magnify himself in his heart,
And he will destroy many while they are at ease.
He will even oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken without human agency.”  Daniel 8:25.

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The wicked may be powerful and shrewd and boastful.  They may seem unstoppable for a while.  And, they may be unstoppable by man.  But, the wicked will be broken and crushed and destroyed forever by Almighty God.

“16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 “Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
19 Who shows no partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands?
20 “In a moment they die, and at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 “There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 “For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 “He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 “Therefore He knows their works,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.”  Job 34:16-25.

“You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.”  Psalm 9:5.

“But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.”  Psalm 37:38.

“5 How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
7 That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, O Lord, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.”  Psalm 92:5-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Daniel chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“9 “I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
10 “A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The court sat,
And the books were opened.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.  16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this.  So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:  17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.  18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’

…

23 “Thus he said:  ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.  24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise;  and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.  25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law;  and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.  26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.  27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One;  His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’”  Daniel 7:13-18 and 23-27.

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“Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:1-9.

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

Today’s devotion comes from Daniel chapter 6.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den.  The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.”  A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den;  and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.  Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him;  and his sleep fled from him.

Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions’ den.  When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice.  The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”  Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever!  My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him;  and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.”  Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.  The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions’ den;  and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land:  “May your peace abound!  I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;

For He is the living God and enduring forever,
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.
“He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”  Daniel 6:16-28.

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In today’s Scripture and in Daniel chapter 4, we notice two different kings, kings of different empires with great, far-reaching power, both praise God in similar language for His signs and wonders and His everlasting kingdom and dominion.

In today’s Scripture, King Darius praised God:
“… For He is the living God and enduring forever,
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.
“He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”  Verses 26-27.

In Daniel chapter 4, King Nebuchadnezzar praised God:
“How great are His signs
And how mighty are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And His dominion is from generation to generation.”  Daniel 4:3.

Reformed Doctrine rejoices over such recognition and honor and praise of God’s signs and wonders and His everlasting kingdom and dominion.

In sharp contrast, other doctrine bristles against such sovereignty of God.  Other doctrine is like those who who say:  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

But, God is not restrained.

“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:4-9.

Therefore, all “… men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel  For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.”  Verse 26.

Today’s devotion comes from Daniel chapter 5.  I will leaving very early tomorrow for a long weekend vacation.  My next devotion, God willing, will be on Tuesday, December 19.

Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven;  and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them;  and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand.  But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.  Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.

“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.’  This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.  ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.  ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.

That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.  So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.  Daniel 5:22-30.

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Consider how terrible it would be to receive a message that God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it, you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient, and your kingdom has been divided and given over to others.

But, in sharpest contrast, consider what we do have.  How wonderful it is that we received an everlasting kingdom of peace and were found blameless!

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

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.

“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.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“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.

“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.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-5.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire;  he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!”  Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.  The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”  Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.”  Daniel 3:26-30.

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“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.” Psalm 34:7.

“4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.”  Psalm 22:4-5.

“3 When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4.

“Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”  Psalm 62:8.

“3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.”  Psalm 37:3-6.

“4 How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”  Psalm 40:4-5.

“11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 84:11-12.

“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”  Proverbs 16:20.

“7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Daniel 2:31-49.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people;  it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. ”  Daniel 2:44.

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“20 Daniel said,

“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings; …”  Daniel 2:20-21.

“6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:6-9.

“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 Daniel 2:1-30.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.  Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;  20 Daniel said,

“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”

…

26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?”  27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king.  28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days.  This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.  29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future;  and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.  30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.”  Daniel 2:19-23 and 26-30.

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“The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?”  Verse 26.

Daniel was appropriately humble:  “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man …”  Verse 30.

But, Daniel recognized:  “However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries …”  Verse 28.  “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;  He knows what is in the darkness, …”  Verse 22.

Daniel gave all credit to God:
“To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”  Verse 23.

Other doctrine gives some credit to man whether it be works (being a good enough man to motivate God to reveal such things to that man) or wisdom (being studious and knowledgeable enough of Scripture) or even if it as little as will (asking God fervently enough, persistently enough, and piously enough).

But, Reformed Doctrine, consistent with today’s Scripture, gives all credit to God.

“But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke:  “Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”  John 12:37-40.

“At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.  Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.  All things have been handed over to Me by My Father;  and no one knows the Son except the Father;  nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”  Matthew 11:25-27.

“He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 16:15-17.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 48.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+48&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“These are the exits of the city:  on the north side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be the gates of the city, named for the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north:  the gate of Reuben, one;  the gate of Judah, one;  the gate of Levi, one.  On the east side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, one;  the gate of Benjamin, one;  the gate of Dan, one.  On the south side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be three gates:  the gate of Simeon, one;  the gate of Issachar, one;  the gate of Zebulun, one.  On the west side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates:  the gate of Gad, one;  the gate of Asher, one;  the gate of Naphtali, one.  The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about;  and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’”  Ezekiel 48:30-35.

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Despite the sin of Israel and the punishment of Israel detailed in the book of Ezekiel, the book of Ezekiel concludes with God’s provision of land, portions, and even gates for Israel.

The naming of each tribe and the naming of the city as “The LORD is there.” shows how abundant and tender such care of God is.

Today’s Scripture gives us hope too.  If God showed such care for the nation of Israel who sinned so much, then we can have faith in the promises of God in Scripture to care for us.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man;  though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:6-11.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.