Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel 33:1-9.

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning;  his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.’

“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me.  When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand.  But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.”  Ezekiel 33:1-9.

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One may falsely think that because God will save all of His elect, there is no calling to preach and teach.  But, God is pleased to use preaching and teaching as a means of grace to save His elect.

“…  How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how will they hear without a preacher?”  Romans 10:14. 

Article 5.  Moreover, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;  but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  Mark 16:15-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 32.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+32&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and bring it down, her and the daughters of the powerful nations, to the nether world, with those who go down to the pit;

‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
Go down and make your bed with the uncircumcised.’

…

“Elam is there and all her hordes around her grave;  all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, who instilled their terror in the land of the living and bore their disgrace with those who went down to the pit.  They have made a bed for her among the slain with all her hordes.  Her graves are around it, they are all uncircumcised, slain by the sword (although their terror was instilled in the land of the living), and they bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit;  they were put in the midst of the slain.

…

“There also is Edom, its kings and all its princes, who for all their might are laid with those slain by the sword;  they will lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.

“There also are the chiefs of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror resulting from their might, in shame went down with the slain.  So they lay down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit.”  Ezekiel 32:17-19 and 24-25 and 29-30.

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How awful to be with those who bear their disgrace and go down to the pit!

We too were formally involved in one common misery with them bearing disgrace and deserving to go down to the pit.

“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.

“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 2:4-8.

There are those who trust in themselves.  They trust in their own wisdom, in their own might, in their own riches, and in their own beauty.  And they bear disgrace and go down to the pit.
 
But, in sharpest contrast, there are those who, by God’s grace, trust in God.  They trust in God’s wisdom, in God’s might, in God’s riches, and in God’s beauty.  And they bear God’s grace and go up to heaven.

“To You, O Lord, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who work iniquity,
Who speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.
4 Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;
Repay them their recompense.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.”  Psalm chapter 28.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes,

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 29.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+29&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, ² “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.  ³ Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God,

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 28.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+28&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“‘Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob.  They will live in it securely;  and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them.  Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”’”  Verses 25-26.

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“⁴⁷ Save us, O Lord our God,
And gather us from among the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And glory in Your praise.
⁴⁸ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
And let all the people say, “Amen.”
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 106:47-48.

“Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.
² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
⁴ He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
⁵ Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
⁶ The Lord supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 27.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, ² “And you, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;  ³ and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord God,

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 26.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+26&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now in the eleventh year, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, because Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken;  it has opened to me.  I shall be filled, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.  They will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers;  and I will scrape her debris from her and make her a bare rock.  She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ declares the Lord God, ‘and she will become spoil for the nations.  Also her daughters who are on the mainland will be slain by the sword, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”

…

For thus says the Lord God, “When I make you a desolate city, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you dwell in the lower parts of the earth, like the ancient waste places, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited;  but I will set glory in the land of the living.”  Ezekiel 26:1-6 and 19-20.

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In this chapter of God’s judgment on Tyre and all the doom and gloom resulting from God’s punishment of Tyre, there is hope for Judah and Israel:  “but I will set glory in the land of the living.”  Verse 20.

“I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first.  I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me.  It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’”  Jeremiah 33:7-9.

“For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land;  and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.  I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord;  and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.”  Jeremiah 24:6-7.

“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 2:4-6.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him (Christ) they are yes;  therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

Today’s Scripture is from Ezekiel chapter 25.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+25&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the sons of Ammon and prophesy against them, and say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God!  Thus says the Lord God, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the sons of the east for a possession, and they will set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you;  they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.  I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and the sons of Ammon a resting place for flocks.  Thus you will know that I am the Lord.”  For thus says the Lord God, “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the scorn of your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and I will give you for spoil to the nations.  And I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands;  I will destroy you.  Thus you will know that I am the Lord.”

‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ therefore, behold, I am going to deprive the flank of Moab of its cities, of its cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon and Kiriathaim, and I will give it for a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the sons of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.  Thus I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,” therefore thus says the Lord God, “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it.  And I will lay it waste;  from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword.  I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel.  Therefore, they will act in Edom according to My anger and according to My wrath;  thus they will know My vengeance,” declares the Lord God.”  Ezekiel 25:1-14.

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God protects His people and takes vengeance on those who are their enemies.

What is particularly interesting (and comforting to us God’s people) is the extent to which God is offended by His people’s enemies.

We can understand that God would be offended and take vengeance against Edom for Edom’s actions:  “Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them”.

It is more difficult to understand, but we may even be able to understand that God would be offended and take action against Ammon for Ammon’s attitude:  “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile”.

But, it is amazing that God would be offended against Moab for merely not considering Judah as special:  “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations”.

Thus, the lesson from today’s Scripture is not just that God protects His people and takes vengeance on those who are their enemies;  the lesson is that we should understand how special God considers His people and the extent to which God will guide, protect, and otherwise bless His people. 

Other doctrine teaches that God equally loves everybody.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God only loves His elect, His chosen ones.

“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 7:7-8.

“Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.”  Deuteronomy 10:15. 

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8.

“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 1:4-6.

“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.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
² I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 24.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+24&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“¹³ “In your filthiness is lewdness.
Because I would have cleansed you,
Yet you are not clean,
You will not be cleansed from your filthiness again
Until I have spent My wrath on you.

¹⁴ I, the Lord, have spoken;  it is coming and I will act.  I will not relent, and I will not pity and I will not be sorry;  according to your ways and according to your deeds I will judge you,” declares the Lord God.’”  Verses 13-14.

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“¹⁷ He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
¹⁸ According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
¹⁹ So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the LORD drives.”  Isaiah 59:17-19.

“³ “… He will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴ “He will not be disheartened or crushed
Until He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”  Isaiah 42:3-4.