Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 2:1-11.

“The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Now it will come about that
In the last days
The mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised above the hills;
And all the nations will stream to it.
3 And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.

5 Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
6 For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob,
Because they are filled with influences from the east,
And they are soothsayers like the Philistines,
And they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.
7 Their land has also been filled with silver and gold
And there is no end to their treasures;
Their land has also been filled with horses
And there is no end to their chariots.
8 Their land has also been filled with idols;
They worship the work of their hands,
That which their fingers have made.
9 So the common man has been humbled
And the man of importance has been abased,
But do not forgive them.
10 Enter the rock and hide in the dust
From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.
11 The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”  Isaiah 2:1-11.

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The hope in verses 1-4 is not based on man coming to his senses.  Verses 5-11 make it clear that man will be humbled.

“The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”  Verse 11.

Rather, the hope in verses 1-4 is based on God’s sovereignty and reign that after God’s judgment of the nations in which man is humbled and the LORD alone is exalted, there will be such peace and universal focus and seeking of the LORD and His ways in Heaven.

Heaven is a place of righteousness, peace, and joy.  “… the kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17.  “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4.

Consistent with that Scripture are the following verses in today’s Scripture.

“And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”  Verse 3.

“… And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.”  Verse 4.

We may think that Heaven is open for everyone.  But, “… do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived;  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you;  but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Consistent with that Scripture is the following verse in today’s Scripture which condemned the lack of focus on the LORD and His ways.

“For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob,
Because they are filled with influences from the east,
And they are soothsayers like the Philistines,
And they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.”  Verse 6.

In summary, our hope is not based on what man can do on earth.  Our hope is based on God bringing us Heaven in which righteousness dwells.

“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 3:10-13.

“All these (people of faith who please God) died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God;  for He has prepared a city for them.”  Hebrews 11:13-16.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 1:21-31.

“21 How the faithful city has become a harlot,
She who was full of justice!
Righteousness once lodged in her,
But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross,
Your drink diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone loves a bribe
And chases after rewards.
They do not defend the orphan,
Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord God of hosts,
The Mighty One of Israel, declares,
“Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries
And avenge Myself on My foes.
25 “I will also turn My hand against you,
And will smelt away your dross as with lye
And will remove all your alloy.
26 “Then I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning;
After that you will be called the city of righteousness,
A faithful city.”

27 Zion will be redeemed with justice
And her repentant ones with righteousness.
28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.
29 Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired,
And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away
Or as a garden that has no water.
31 The strong man will become tinder,
His work also a spark.
Thus they shall both burn together
And there will be none to quench them.”  Isaiah 1:21-31.

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“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.

“27 Zion will be redeemed with justice
And her repentant ones with righteousness.
28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together,
And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.”  Verses 27-28.

The LORD exercises justice in crushing transgressors and sinners as stated in verse 28.

The LORD exercises lovingkindness and righteousness in redeeming Zion (a/k/a His elect a/k/a His people a/k/a His church) and imputing righteousness in her repentant ones as stated in verse 27.

But, redemption always comes with a purchase price.  And, redemption of souls is costly.  Psalm 49:8.  Such redemption cost the life of God the Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.  Justice must be done and Christ bore the sins of Zion, God’s elect, by taking on Himself the wrath of God’s righteous justice.  So, the LORD exercises justice even in redemption as stated in verse 27:  “Zion will be redeemed with justice”.

A figurative description of today’s Scripture and the exercise of the LORD exercising justice, lovingkindness, and righteousness is given in the following Scripture.

“14 Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
15 Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw,
And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
16 And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
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.
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.

21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord:  “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”  Jeremiah 59:14-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 1:18-20.

“18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”    Isaiah 1:18-20.

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“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,”  Verse 18.

There are three points that we will cover.  They should make sense.  They are reasonable.  However, if these three points don’t seem reasonable, accept them as truth, because “…  Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  Verse 20.

First point …

“If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;”  Verse 19.

Second point …

“But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”  …”  Verse 20.

The reasonableness of these first two points is made clear by the following well-accepted and often-quoted illustration.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7.

In other words, it is reasonable that if we obey God, God will bless us, and if we rebel, God will punish us.

Third point …

“… Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.”  Verse 18.

For those who truly believe in the power of Almighty God, they will accept the reason (believe) that such a powerful God can forgive sins.  Jesus saw that even the scribes who were “reasoning” in their hearts believed that God could forgive sins, and Jesus used it to show His power and prove His ability to forgive sins.

“And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way?  He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”  Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, *said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’;  or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He *said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.”  And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”  Mark 2:5-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 1:10-17.

“10 Hear the word of the Lord,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
11 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
12 “When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.

16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.”   Isaiah 1:10-17.

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It is not enough “to play church”, to participate in all of the religious activities.

We must cease to do evil and learn to do good.

But, we are as selfish as Israel in today’s Scripture.

We would rather pretend to be religious.

Scripture is very clear about the kind of activities that please God more than the religious activities.

“Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor.  Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”  Jeremiah 22:3.

“3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 82:3.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?”  Micah 6:8.

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:27.

Who can do all of this as selfish as we are?

But, there is hope!

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 1:13.

Today’s devotion comes from Isaiah 1:1-9.

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;
For the Lord speaks,
“Sons I have reared and brought up,
But they have revolted against Me.
3 “An ox knows its owner,
And a donkey its master’s manger,
But Israel does not know,
My people do not understand.”

4 Alas, sinful nation,
People weighed down with iniquity,
Offspring of evildoers,
Sons who act corruptly!
They have abandoned the Lord,
They have despised the Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away from Him.

5 Where will you be stricken again,
As you continue in your rebellion?
The whole head is sick
And the whole heart is faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even to the head
There is nothing sound in it,
Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,
Not pressed out or bandaged,
Nor softened with oil.

7 Your land is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire,
Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence;
It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
8 The daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard,
Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.
9 Unless the Lord of hosts
Had left us a few survivors,
We would be like Sodom,
We would be like Gomorrah.”  Isaiah 1:1-9.

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God is pleading His own case in today’s Scripture.  God proves that He is a just God and would have committed no injustice by leaving no remnant, no survivors, due to Israel’s rebellion against Him.  But, God showed mercy in leaving a remnant of survivors.  Such mercy comes to Jews and Gentiles only through faith in Christ.

Article 1.  As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are deserving of eternal death, God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish, and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin, according to the words of the apostle, Romans 3:19, “that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”   And verse 23:  “for all (Jews and Gentiles) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  And Romans 6:23:  “for the wages of sin is death.”

Article 2.  But in this the love of God was manifested, that he sent his only begotten Son (Christ) into the world, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   I John 4:9.  John 3:16.  Canons of Dordt – FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination. 

“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved;  for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.”  And just as Isaiah foretold,

“Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity,
We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”

What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;  but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written,

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,
And he who believes in Him (Christ) will not be disappointed.”  Romans 9:27-33.

“Brethren, my (Apostle Paul’s) heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their (Israel’s) salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:1-3.

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”  Romans 10:9.

(All parenthetical identifications are Bill’s).

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

I quote only the following verses.

“6 “Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the Lord.
7 “Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”  Song of Solomon 8:6-7.

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“Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
The very flame of the Lord.”  Verse 6.

” —for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—”  Exodus 34:14.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them;  for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  Exodus 20:3-6.

“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”  Deuteronomy 4:24.

We may like certain things about our image of God.  But, we also like certain things about the world.  We tend to wander.  In the strong language of Scripture, if left to ourselves, we are like a harlot.

“But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.  You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen.  You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them.  Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them.  Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma;  so it happened,” declares the Lord God.  “Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured.  Were your harlotries so small a matter?”  Ezekiel 16:15-20.

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.

Article 9.  Of this preservation of the elect to salvation, and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers for themselves may and ought to obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they arrive at the certain persuasion, that they ever will continue true and living members of the church;  and that they experience forgiveness of sins, and will at last inherit eternal life.  Canons of Dordt – FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

“In Him (Christ), you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him (Christ) with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Song of Solomon 7:1-9.

“How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O prince’s daughter!
The curves of your hips are like jewels,
The work of the hands of an artist.
2 “Your navel is like a round goblet
Which never lacks mixed wine;
Your belly is like a heap of wheat
Fenced about with lilies.
3 “Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle.
4 “Your neck is like a tower of ivory,
Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon
By the gate of Bath-rabbim;
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
Which faces toward Damascus.
5 “Your head crowns you like Carmel,
And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads;
The king is captivated by your tresses.
6 “How beautiful and how delightful you are,
My love, with all your charms!
7 “Your stature is like a palm tree,
And your breasts are like its clusters.
8 “I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree,
I will take hold of its fruit stalks.’
Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
And the fragrance of your breath like apples,
9 And your mouth like the best wine!”

“It goes down smoothly for my beloved,
Flowing gently through the lips of those who fall asleep.”  Song of Solomon 7:1-9.

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Wow!

I have seen some amazing photos of animals and thought that God, their Creator, was just showing off His beautiful creativity.

But, this written description of Solomon’s bride is “over the top”.  It is breath-taking, dazzling, stunning and even more makes us think of her Creator.

“…  The curves of your hips are like jewels,
The work of the hands of an artist.”  Verse 1.

And yet, when God created woman, He did not refer to her beauty.  God simply referred to His intention to making her a helper suitable for the man.

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone;  I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  Genesis 2:18.

Likewise, when Proverbs chapter 31 refers to an excellent wife, it focuses on all the things that the excellent wife does to help her husband.

“10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.”  Proverbs 31:10-12.

Furthermore, in this same chapter describing the excellent wife, it minimizes the importance of beauty.

“30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.”  Proverbs 31:30-31.

What does all of this tell us about God?

God does not just do the minimum necessary to get the job done.  As we go back and consider the animals, we think that it was not necessary for God to give each animal such beauty.  God could have simply created the animal to function well in its environment.  God could have used similar colors and patterns.  But, God made each species of animal uniquely different in beauty.

If God has concern to make each species of animal uniquely different in beauty, how much more concern does God have for men and women!  Even though the qualities of fearing God and helpfulness are most important, God does show His lavish love for us by creating such beautiful women.

But, as we have stated many times, God’s love is only for His people a/k/a His elect a/k/a His church.  

Although there are certainly beautiful unbelievers, God is repelled by their beauty.

“The Lord of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty,
To despise all the honored of the earth.”  Isaiah 23:9.

“But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.”  Ezekiel 16:15.

In sharpest contrast, God’s people a/k/a His elect a/k/a His church are treasured like a crown of beauty in His hand.

“You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”  Isaiah 62:3.

“16 And the Lord their God will save them in that day
As the flock of His people;
For they are as the stones of a crown,
Sparkling in His land.
17 For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs!
Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.”  Zechariah 9:16-17.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;  for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”  Revelation 4:11.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“9 But my dove, my perfect one, is unique:
She is her mother’s only daughter;
She is the pure child of the one who bore her.
The maidens saw her and called her blessed,
The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,

10 ‘Who is this that grows like the dawn,
As beautiful as the full moon,
As pure as the sun,
As awesome as an army with banners?’”  Song of Solomon 6:9-10.

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We live in a day and age where the world wants everyone to view everyone as equal.  We are equal in the sight of God, and God equally loves all of us, they teach.  We have heard it so many times.  It sounds good.  It sounds fair.

But, is that what Scripture teaches?  Is that what today’s Scripture teaches? 

We see in today’s Scripture that Solomon certainly did not view all the women as equal.  “But my dove, my perfect one, is unique …”  Verse 9.

Scripture elsewhere also does not teach husbands to love all women equally. 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, …  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself;  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  Ephesians 5:25-30.

Even in the Old Testament, we did not see God love and treat everyone equally.

“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.

“Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.  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 10:14-15.

In summary, God chose His people a/k/a His elect a/k/a those who would be part of His church for whom He would do everything necessary for their salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  

“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.

“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.

God’s choice was not based on anything that the people did.  God’s choice was done “before the foundation of the earth” and was based on God’s purpose alone.  That is why it is “Unconditional Election”.

“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;  for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”  Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there?  May it never be!  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 9:10-16.

“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 1:30-31.