Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 20, 2017

“he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah 49:1-6.

“Concerning the sons of Ammon. Thus says the Lord:

“Does Israel have no sons?
Or has he no heirs?
Why then has Malcam taken possession of Gad
And his people settled in its cities?
2 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“That I will cause a trumpet blast of war to be heard
Against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon;
And it will become a desolate heap,
And her towns will be set on fire.
Then Israel will take possession of his possessors,”
Says the Lord.
3 “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed!
Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah,
Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament,
And rush back and forth inside the walls;
For Malcam will go into exile
Together with his priests and his princes.
4 “How boastful you are about the valleys!
Your valley is flowing away,
O backsliding daughter
Who trusts in her treasures, saying,
‘Who will come against me?’
5 “Behold, I am going to bring terror upon you,”
Declares the Lord God of hosts,
“From all directions around you;
And each of you will be driven out headlong,
With no one to gather the fugitives together.
6 “But afterward I will restore
The fortunes of the sons of Ammon,”
Declares the Lord.”   Jeremiah 49:1-6.

——————————

The LORD protects His people and destroys their enemies.

We see it in today’s Scripture which contains the prophecy against Ammon for taking away land from Israel.

“Concerning the sons of Ammon. Thus says the Lord:

“Does Israel have no sons?
Or has he no heirs?
Why then has Malcam taken possession of Gad
And his people settled in its cities?”  Verse 1.

We saw it in Deuteronomy 23:3-4.

“No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord;  none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord, because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.”  Deuteronomy 23:3-4.

As one protects his own eyes, so the LORD protects His people.

“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.

“8 Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.”  Psalm 17:8-9.

Here is another figurative description of how the LORD protects His people.

“Like flying birds so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem.
He will protect and deliver it;
He will pass over and rescue it.”  Isaiah 31:5.

I can particularly appreciate this description, because I take my dog Rush for a walk around Azalea Park near my home almost every day.  In the spring, flying birds “buzz” us when we get close to a tree where their nest and their baby birds are.  The birds are very protective and don’t like it when we even come close to their trees even though we make no threatening move toward their tree and babies.  

But, there is hope for Ammon like there was hope for Moab. 

“But afterward I will restore
The fortunes of the sons of Ammon,”
Declares the Lord.”  Verse 6.

Right after the foregoing “apple of the eye” Scripture in Zechariah 2:8, we read:  “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.”  Zechariah 2:11. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 19, 2017

“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!”

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Concerning Moab. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,

“Woe to Nebo, for it has been destroyed;
Kiriathaim has been put to shame, it has been captured;
The lofty stronghold has been put to shame and shattered.

…

7 “For because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures,
Even you yourself will be captured;
And Chemosh will go off into exile
Together with his priests and his princes.

…

14 “How can you say, ‘We are mighty warriors,
And men valiant for battle’?
15 “Moab has been destroyed and men have gone up to his cities;
His choicest young men have also gone down to the slaughter,”
Declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
16 “The disaster of Moab will soon come,
And his calamity has swiftly hastened.

17 “Mourn for him, all you who live around him,
Even all of you who know his name;
Say, ‘How has the mighty scepter been broken,
A staff of splendor!’
18 “Come down from your glory
And sit on the parched ground,
O daughter dwelling in Dibon,
For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you,
He has ruined your strongholds.

…

20 “Moab has been put to shame, for it has been shattered.
Wail and cry out;
Declare by the Arnon
That Moab has been destroyed.

…

29 “We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—
Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation.
30 “I know his fury,” declares the Lord,
“But it is futile;
His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.

…

35 I will make an end of Moab,” declares the Lord, “the one who offers sacrifice on the high place and the one who burns incense to his gods.

…

38 On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation everywhere;  for I have broken Moab like an undesirable vessel,” declares the Lord.  39 “How shattered it is!  How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back—he is ashamed!  So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him.”

…

42 “Moab will be destroyed from being a people
Because he has become arrogant toward the Lord.

…

46 “Woe to you, Moab!
The people of Chemosh have perished;
For your sons have been taken away captive
And your daughters into captivity.
47 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
In the latter days,” declares the Lord.

Thus far the judgment on Moab.”  Jeremiah 48: Verses 1, 7, 14-18, 20, 29-30, 35, 38-39, 42, and 46-47.

————————-

We sit up straight and pay close attention to the reasons disclosed by the LORD as to why He will bring such destruction and devastation to Moab.

We see Moab’s trust in their own achievements and treasures.  Verse 7.

“We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud—
Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation.”  Verse 29.

We smell the incense that Moab burned to worship other gods.  Verse 35.

But, despite this prophecy of destruction, and justification for it, there is hope.

“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
In the latter days,” declares the Lord.

Thus far the judgment on Moab.”  Verse 47.

“Thus says the Lord concerning all My wicked neighbors who strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, “Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them.  And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them;  and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.  Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.  But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.”  Verses 14-17.

In other words, there is hope for Moab and other nations if they trust in the LORD.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 18, 2017

“How can it be quiet, When the Lord has given it an order?” – “You have destroyed the wicked”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 47.

“That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza.  2 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, waters are going to rise from the north
And become an overflowing torrent,
And overflow the land and all its fullness,
The city and those who live in it;
And the men will cry out,
And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
3 “Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions,
The tumult of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
The fathers have not turned back for their children,
Because of the limpness of their hands,
4 On account of the day that is coming
To destroy all the Philistines,
To cut off from Tyre and Sidon
Every ally that is left;
For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,
The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
5 “Baldness has come upon Gaza;
Ashkelon has been ruined.
O remnant of their valley,
How long will you gash yourself?
6 “Ah, sword of the Lord,
How long will you not be quiet?
Withdraw into your sheath;
Be at rest and stay still.
7 “How can it be quiet,
When the Lord has given it an order?
Against Ashkelon and against the seacoast—
There He has assigned it.”   Jeremiah chapter 47.

——————————

The LORD gave an order to destroy the Philistines, and it will be fulfilled. 

“How can it be quiet,
When the Lord has given it an order?  …”  Verse 7.

Other doctrine portrays the god of their desires, a weak god who halts, falters, and reacts to please man and give way to the alleged free-will of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine shows the Sovereign God of Scripture Who hates all wickedness, Who always causes His order to be fulfilled, and Who destroys the wicked.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Psalm 5:4-6.

“5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
8 And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  Psalm 9:5-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 17, 2017

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind … “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 46.  Here is a link to this chapter –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+46&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I am going to punish Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh and those who trust in him.  26 I shall give them over to the power of those who are seeking their lives, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of his officers.  Afterwards, however, it will be inhabited as in the days of old,” declares the Lord.

27 “But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear,
Nor be dismayed, O Israel!
For, see, I am going to save you from afar,
And your descendants from the land of their captivity;
And Jacob will return and be undisturbed
And secure, with no one making him tremble.
28 “O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares the Lord,
“For I am with you.
For I will make a full end of all the nations
Where I have driven you,
Yet I will not make a full end of you;
But I will correct you properly
And by no means leave you unpunished.”  Jeremiah 46:25-28.

———————-

Cursed are those who trust in man.

“The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I am going to punish Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh and those who trust in him.”  Verse 25.

Blessed are those who trust in God.

“But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear,
Nor be dismayed, O Israel!
For, see, I am going to save you from afar,
And your descendants from the land of their captivity;
And Jacob will return and be undisturbed
And secure, with no one making him tremble.”  Verse 27.

We are reminded of the following Scripture from this same book of Jeremiah that puts it all together.

“5 Thus says the Lord,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
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 17:5-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 15, 2017

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 45.

“This is the message which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written down these words in a book at Jeremiah’s dictation, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:  “Thus says the Lord the God of Israel to you, O Baruch:  ‘You said, “Ah, woe is me!  For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain;  I am weary with my groaning and have found no rest.”’  Thus you are to say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, what I have built I am about to tear down, and what I have planted I am about to uproot, that is, the whole land.”  But you, are you seeking great things for yourself?  Do not seek them;  for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the Lord, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.’”  Jeremiah chapter 45.

———————

“20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
21 For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain.”  Isaiah 26:20-21.

“You are my hiding place;  You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.”  Psalm 32:7.

“Lord, You will establish peace for us,
Since You have also performed for us all our works.”  Isaiah 26:12.

“3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
4 “Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”  Isaiah 26:3-4.

Other doctrine scrambles frantically left and right, trying to figure out what to do. 

But, Reformed Doctrine seeks the LORD continually and hides in Him. 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

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

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm chapter 91.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 14, 2017

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 44.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+44&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows:  ‘As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, “We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.”  Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!’  Nevertheless hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, ‘Behold, I have sworn by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘never shall My name be invoked again by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “As the Lord God lives.”  Behold, I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will meet their end by the sword and by famine until they are completely gone.  Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt to the land of Judah few in number.  Then all the remnant of Judah who have gone to the land of Egypt to reside there will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs.  This will be the sign to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for harm.’  Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am going to give over Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt to the hand of his enemies, to the hand of those who seek his life, just as I gave over Zedekiah king of Judah to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and was seeking his life.’”  Jeremiah 44:24-30.

———————

Despite the word of the LORD regarding punishment, the remnant of Judah who had gone to Egypt to reside there thought they could do what they wanted without punishment from the LORD.  They thought they could reside in Egypt.  They thought they could burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.  

And, there are many today, despite the word of the LORD regarding punishment, who think that they can do what they want without punishment from the LORD. 

The LORD declared to the remnant of Judah who had gone to Egypt to reside there that they “… will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs.”  Verse 28. 

“Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.”  Proverbs 19:21.

“10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”  Psalm 33:10-11.

“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.’”

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 chapter 2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 13, 2017

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

We had a beautiful sunny and cooler than normal day here in Florida as Hurricane Irma is completely out of Florida.

Both Internet and Cable TV were restored last night.  Praise God!

But, many are still without even power in Florida, maybe about 1/2 of the residents here in Pinellas County, Florida.  Many who evacuated up north are trying to get home.  Many are cleaning up and waiting for power to be restored to their businesses and offices like me.  Please pray that power be restored, people get home and clean up safely, and more and more businesses reopen.

It is easy to be nice when everything is working.  It is difficult to be nice under pressure.

“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4.  Please pray that God give all of us grace so that we all also look out for the interests of others. 

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 43.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+43&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews;  and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and I am going to set his throne right over these stones that I have hidden;  and he will spread his canopy over them.  He will also come and strike the land of Egypt;  those who are meant for death will be given over to death, and those for captivity to captivity, and those for the sword to the sword.  And I shall set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he will burn them and take them captive.  So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself with his garment, and he will depart from there safely.  He will also shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt;  and the temples of the gods of Egypt he will burn with fire.”’”  Jeremiah 43:8-13.

—————–

Hurricane Irma was as wide as the state of Florida, and all or almost all of every part of Florida was affected by it. 

The armies of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon likewise conquered and controlled all or almost all of the land from Babylon to Egypt.  

And yet, God controlled every piece of debris in every gust of wind of Hurricane Irma.

And, we see from today’s Scripture that God controlled even where the throne of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon would be set.

Other doctrine teaches that man’s alleged free-will is in control.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God’s will is in control even to the smallest detail.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?  And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So do not fear;  you are more valuable than many sparrows.”  Matthew 10:29-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 12, 2017

“how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

This is a special devotion sent from my iPhone because I cannot use my Desktop computer due to no Internet service. Please excuse its shortness and lack of quotes due to my inability to “copy and paste”.

I continue with the order of Scripture. Today’s Scripture comes from Jeremiah chapter 42. I quote only verse 6.

“Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 42:6.

—————-

Like the remnant of Judah who were afraid of their exposure to the Chaldeans (people from Babylon) who destroyed Jerusalem and either killed or took captive so many from Judah and who sought protection from the LORD, many in Florida were afraid of Hurricane Irma and prayed for protection from the LORD.

We can safely assume that many from both groups made promises to the LORD or otherwise resolved to do certain spiritual things if the LORD would spare them.

Yesterday’s headline of Tampa Bay Times was “We’re Lucky”.

Although parts of Florida were hit very hard, it could have been a lot worse for most of Florida. For example, Tampa Bay Times reported that property insurers had estimated before Hurricane Irma hit Florida that US insured losses would be about $150 billion, but now afterwards they estimate the losses to be only $20 billion. Tampa Bay was especially spared Although 1/2 of Pinellas county (the county in which my home St. Pete is) lost power and it may take a week or so for power to be restored, it could have been much much worse. Specifically, I believe few had significant damage to their homes like windows or roofs destroyed.

So, what are we going to do?

Will we seek the LORD and learn lessons and read Scripture more and attend church more and also otherwise obey the LORD more?

Or, will we just consider ourselves lucky and go back to our wicked ways?

As Reformed believers, we know that we need God’s grace to do anything that we should do, including even that we need God to grant us repentance in order for us to repent.

Other doctrine emphasizes free-will and cries: “Spare us and we will do good.”

But, Reformed Doctrine emphasizes God’s will and cries: “Save us because we belong to You.” Remember Question and Answer 1 of Heidelberg Catechism. Our only comfort in life and death is that we belong to our Faithful LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 8, 2017

“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”

Today’s devotion is a special devotion based on Isaiah 25:1-9 as Hurricane Irma heads for us here in Florida.  Please pray for us in Florida that our LORD cause Hurricane Irma to go harmlessly east out in the Atlantic Ocean away from Florida and greatly decrease in intensity and that our LORD be our Refuge from this storm.  God willing, the next devotion will be September 10.

“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.

6 The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
9 And it will be said in that day,
“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”  Isaiah 25:1-9.

——————————

As Hurricane Irma approaches us, our first thoughts are to the glory and strength of the LORD, the Awesome Creator.  The Lord sits as King at the flood, as King over every hurricane and other storm, and as King over everything as Reformed Doctrine teaches.  “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.”

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

“Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
11 The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.”  Psalm chapter 29.

But, we are frail and cry for help.  And, our LORD brings out of our distresses.  Let us extol Him and praise him! 

“25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
32 Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.”  Psalm 107:25-32.

So, when we put these two preceding Scriptures together, part of the glory and strength that we should ascribe to the LORD is that He gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11) and shows them lovingkindness (Psalm 107:31)

Likewise, Reformed Doctrine teaches us that the LORD is not only Almighty God, He is our Faithful Father.  

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“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;  …”  Isaiah 25:4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 7, 2017

“He only is my rock and my salvation, … On God my salvation and my glory rest”

Today’s devotion comes from Jeremiah chapter 41.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+41&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done.  So they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and they found him by the great pool that is in Gibeon.  Now as soon as all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and the commanders of the forces that were with him, they were glad.  So all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.  But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the sons of Ammon.  Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him took from Mizpah all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, that is, the men who were soldiers, the women, the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon.  And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt because of the Chaldeans;  for they were afraid of them, since Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.”  Jeremiah 41:11-18.

———————

Over the last few chapters, we have seen the people follow King Zedekiah (king of Judah) then Gedaliah (whom the king of Babylon  appointed over the cities of Judah) then Ishmael (who murdered Gedaliah and captured the people) then Johanan (who rescued them) and now the people were planning to proceed to Egypt to seek protection from the rulers there.

We tend to trust in man, even though sometimes partially and hesitantly, and even sometimes unwillingly at first.

We tend to trust in man in our doctrine too.  We prefer a doctrine that is built at least partially on man’s wisdom and man’s goodness and man’s alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine knows and teaches that man is not trustworthy.  The condition of man in his natural condition is “Total Depravity”, that is, man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.

Reformed Doctrine knows and teaches that only God is trustworthy.

“5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold;  I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”  Psalm 62:5-8.

We need a God Who provides everything we need for salvation from the beginning to the end.

Other doctrine is dependent on man to provide at least one of the links in the chain of salvation whether it be man’s wisdom or man’s goodness or man’s works or man’s alleged free-will.

But, surely a salvation dependent on man will fail.

But, a salvation dependent only on God to provide everything for salvation from the beginning to the end will surely succeed.

Reformed Doctrine summarizes the salvation of Scripture in which God provides everything for salvation from the beginning to the end as “TULIP”.  Because man is dead in sin (“Total Depravity”), man cannot contribute anything to salvation or show himself worthy as receiving salvation.  God unconditionally elects those whom He chooses to save (“Unconditional Election”) and further provides atonement for the sins of only His elect (“Limited Atonement”) and irresistibly draws the elect to Christ (“Irresistible Grace”) and preserves the elect to the end, that is, to salvation and eternal life (“Preservation of the Saints”).

“He only is my rock and my salvation, …  On God my salvation and my glory rest”.

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