Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote only the following verses.

“The LORD was very angry with your fathers.  Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.  “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’  But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD.  “Your fathers, where are they?  And the prophets, do they live forever?  But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers?  Then they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’”

…

“Then the angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?”  The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.  So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.  But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease;  for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”  Therefore thus says the LORD, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion;  My house will be built in it,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem.”’  Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”  Zechariah 1:2-6 and 12-17.

———————–

“7 “For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8 “In an outburst of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the LORD your Redeemer.

9 “For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the LORD who has compassion on you.

11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.
13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”  Isaiah 54 1:7-17.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory?  And how do you see it now?  Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?  But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work;  for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of hosts.   ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst;  do not fear!’

…

“Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations;  and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.’  ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of hosts.”  Haggai 2:2-5 and 21-23.

—————————-

The LORD chooses those on whom He would show mercy and use to accomplish His work.

“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.

“The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3.

“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 1:3-6.

“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.

And yet, other doctrine rebels against the LORD’s sovereign control, claiming free-will.

“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.”  Psalm 2:3-4.

But, Reformed Doctrine rejoices in the LORD’s sovereign control.

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”  1 Chronicles 16:31.

“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.

“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.

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:6-8.

“13 O seed of Israel His servant,
Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
17 He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,
20 And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”  1 Chronicles 16:13-24.  See also Psalm 105:6-15.

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

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”’”  Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”  Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!  You have sown much, but harvest little;  you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied;  you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk;  you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough;  and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!  Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.  “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little;  when you bring it home, I blow it away.  Why?” declares the LORD of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.  Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce.  I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him.  And the people showed reverence for the LORD.  Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the LORD to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.”  So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people;  and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,”  Haggai 1:2-14.

———————–

“9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.”  Proverbs 3:9-10.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33.

Q. 1.  What is the chief and highest end of man?

A.  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.  Westminster Larger Catechism.

“And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.”  Matthew 22:37-38.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“14 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away His judgments against you,
He has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You will fear disaster no more.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not be afraid, O Zion;
Do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
18 “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts—
They came from you, O Zion;
The reproach of exile is a burden on them.
19 “Behold, I am going to deal at that time
With all your oppressors,
I will save the lame
And gather the outcast,
And I will turn their shame into praise and renown
In all the earth.
20 “At that time I will bring you in,
Even at the time when I gather you together;
Indeed, I will give you renown and praise
Among all the peoples of the earth,
When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,”
Says the LORD.”  Zephaniah 3:14-20.

—————————

Notice all the actions of the LORD.  Notice the description of the LORD as “A victorious warrior”.

“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”  Verse 17.

And yet, other doctrine still proudly prefers to focus on man and man’s works, man’s wisdom, and man’s alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine is humbly in awe of the LORD and His works.

“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.

Other doctrine presents their impotent god chained by alleged free-will of man, a god who waits for man, wrings his hands, and worries about what man may do.

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the LORD of Scripture, “A victorious warrior”, Who saves every one of His elect and Who rejoices over them with shouts of joy and Who, in summary, accomplishes all of His good pleasure.

“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 Rock!  His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.”  Deuteronomy 32:4.

“The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
2 The LORD is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.
4 The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-5.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“2 “I will completely remove all things
From the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
3 “I will remove man and beast;
I will remove the birds of the sky
And the fish of the sea,
And the ruins along with the wicked;
And I will cut off man from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
4 “So I will stretch out My hand against Judah
And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place,
And the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.
5 “And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven,
And those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom,
6 And those who have turned back from following the LORD,
And those who have not sought the LORD or inquired of Him.”

…

14 Near is the great day of the LORD,
Near and coming very quickly;
Listen, the day of the LORD!
In it the warrior cries out bitterly.
15 A day of wrath is that day,
A day of trouble and distress,
A day of destruction and desolation,
A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of trumpet and battle cry
Against the fortified cities
And the high corner towers.
17 I will bring distress on men
So that they will walk like the blind,
Because they have sinned against the LORD;
And their blood will be poured out like dust
And their flesh like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
Will be able to deliver them
On the day of the LORD’s wrath;
And all the earth will be devoured
In the fire of His jealousy,
For He will make a complete end,
Indeed a terrifying one,
Of all the inhabitants of the earth.”  Zephaniah 1:2-6 and 14-18.

————————————

The completeness of the destruction and desolation in the day of the LORD is the focus of this devotion.

Although the LORD will preserve a remnant as stated in Zephaniah chapter 3 and other Scripture, the purpose of this Scripture is to emphasize the completeness and extent of such destruction and desolation.

“I will completely remove all things
From the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.”  Verse 2.

“… For He will make a complete end,
Indeed a terrifying one,
Of all the inhabitants of the earth.”  Verse 18.

Therefore, no one should be smug.  We are reminded in the last Scripture that we covered (the prior chapter) that even righteous Habakkuk trembled.  Habukkuk 3:16.  We should all fear the LORD.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3:10-12.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your anointed.
You struck the head of the house of the evil
To lay him open from thigh to neck.  Selah.
14 You pierced with his own spears
The head of his throngs.
They stormed in to scatter us;
Their exultation was like those
Who devour the oppressed in secret.
15 You trampled on the sea with Your horses,
On the surge of many waters.

16 I heard and my inward parts trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered.
Decay enters my bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.  …”  Habakkuk 3:13-19.

——————-

Other doctrine presents a god of their desires and imaginations of only mercy who loves everyone, a kind of Santa Claus.

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture, a God of both wrath and mercy, Who only loved His people, His chosen ones, and Who, as part of their salvation, destroyed the wicked with much fierceness and power.

On His chariots of salvation, the LORD raged.

“8 Did the LORD rage against the rivers,
Or was Your anger against the rivers,
Or was Your wrath against the sea,
That You rode on Your horses,
On Your chariots of salvation?
9 Your bow was made bare,
The rods of chastisement were sworn.  Selah.
You cleaved the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and quaked;
The downpour of waters swept by.
The deep uttered forth its voice,
It lifted high its hands.
11 Sun and moon stood in their places;
They went away at the light of Your arrows,
At the radiance of Your gleaming spear.
12 In indignation You marched through the earth;
In anger You trampled the nations.”  Verses 8-12.

If the righteous like Habakkuk were saved through fearing and trembling (verse 16), then what will happen to the wicked who trifle with the LORD, rebel against Him, and think they can control and manipulate Him?!

“9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

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 2:9-12.

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

I quote only the following verse.

“I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved.

…

“4 “Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.

…

20 “But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth be silent before Him.”  Habakkuk 2:1 and 4 and 20.

———————-

Other doctrine is all about proud doing whether it be building up their own works, building up their own wisdom, or even building up their own alleged free-will.

But, like Habakkuk who waited for the LORD and lived by faith and urged others to be silent before the LORD, Reformed Doctrine waits for the LORD, lives by faith in all that the LORD will do for his salvation, and waits silently for the salvation of the LORD.

“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret;  it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”  Psalm 37:7-11.

“23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones!
The LORD preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.”  Psalm 31:23-24.

“8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.”  Psalm 46:8-11.

“25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:5-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Habakkuk chapter 1.  Thank you for your prayers.  We had a wonderful trip.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“5 “Look among the nations!  Observe!
Be astonished!  Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.
6 “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
7 “They are dreaded and feared;
Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
8 “Their horses are swifter than leopards
And keener than wolves in the evening.
Their horsemen come galloping,
Their horsemen come from afar;
They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
9 “All of them come for violence.
Their horde of faces moves forward.
They collect captives like sand.
10 “They mock at kings
And rulers are a laughing matter to them.
They laugh at every fortress
And heap up rubble to capture it.
11 “Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on.
But they will be held guilty,
They whose strength is their god.”

12 Are You not from everlasting,
O LORD, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die.
You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge;
And You, O Rock, have established them to correct.”  Habakkuk 1:5-12.

————-

The LORD used the Chaldeans (rulers from part of Babylon) to punish Judah.

Although Habakkuk had questions of why the LORD used such a fierce, impetuous, and godless people, he recognized that the LORD did not approve of them.

“Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,
And You can not look on wickedness with favor.  …”  Verse 13.

The LORD Himself declared that “… they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”  Verse 11.

Like Habakkuk, we too may have questions why the LORD does certain things that seem to only hurt us.

But, we can follow Habakkuk’s example, who despite such apparent chaos and hurt, recognized the LORD’s sovereignty and holiness and called the LORD “my God, my Holy One”.

We may physically die, but we will not spiritually die.  We can declare with Habakkuk:  “We will not die.”

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life;  he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.  …”  John 11:25-26.

“Are You not from everlasting,
O LORD, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die. …”  Verse 12.

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

My next devotion, God willing, will be February 26, 2018.  I will be going to areas of Arizona to hike, including the Grand Canyon, with 8 Christian high school classmates.  We go every 3 years.  This is our sixth trip.  It is a great time of adventure and Christian fellowship.  Please keep us in your prayers.  Thank you.

I quote only the following verses.

“Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage;
Her prey never departs.
2 The noise of the whip,
The noise of the rattling of the wheel,
Galloping horses
And bounding chariots!
3 Horsemen charging,
Swords flashing, spears gleaming,
Many slain, a mass of corpses,
And countless dead bodies—
They stumble over the dead bodies!
4 All because of the many harlotries of the harlot,
The charming one, the mistress of sorceries,
Who sells nations by her harlotries
And families by her sorceries.
5 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of hosts;
“And I will lift up your skirts over your face,
And show to the nations your nakedness
And to the kingdoms your disgrace.
6 “I will throw filth on you
And make you vile,
And set you up as a spectacle.
7 “And it will come about that all who see you
Will shrink from you and say,
‘Nineveh is devastated!
Who will grieve for her?’
Where will I seek comforters for you?”  Nahum 3:1-7.

———————-

“O LORD, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
2 For You have made a city into a heap,
A fortified city into a ruin;
A palace of strangers is a city no more,
It will never be rebuilt.
3 Therefore a strong people will glorify You;
Cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
4 For You have been a defense for the helpless,
A defense for the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat;
For the breath of the ruthless
Is like a rain storm against a wall.
5 Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens;
Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced.”  Isaiah 25:1-5.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“2 For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob
Like the splendor of Israel,
Even though devastators have devastated them
And destroyed their vine branches.

…

8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,
Now they are fleeing;
“Stop, stop,”
But no one turns back.
9 Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
For there is no limit to the treasure—
Wealth from every kind of desirable object.
10 She is emptied!  Yes, she is desolate and waste!
Hearts are melting and knees knocking!
Also anguish is in the whole body
And all their faces are grown pale!
11 Where is the den of the lions
And the feeding place of the young lions,
Where the lion, lioness and lion’s cub prowled,
With nothing to disturb them?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs,
Killed enough for his lionesses,
And filled his lairs with prey
And his dens with torn flesh.

13 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord of hosts.  “I will burn up her chariots in smoke, a sword will devour your young lions;  I will cut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard.”  Nahum 2:2 and 8-13.

———————

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from those who do iniquity
And save me from men of bloodshed.”  Psalm 59:1-2.

“6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them flow away like water that runs off;
When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
8 Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along,
Like the miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

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 58:6-11.

“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.”  Psalm 91:7-9.

“My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.”  Psalm 59:10.