Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Song of Solomon chapter 4.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“How beautiful you are, my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves behind your veil;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Mount Gilead.
2 “Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.
3 “Your lips are like a scarlet thread,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.
4 “Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built with rows of stones
On which are hung a thousand shields,
All the round shields of the mighty men.
5 “Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle
Which feed among the lilies.
6 “Until the cool of the day
When the shadows flee away,
I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh
And to the hill of frankincense.

7 “You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
And there is no blemish in you.”  Song of Solomon 4:1-7.

———————

Solomon’s love for his bride is an image of Christ’s love for His church.

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
And there is no blemish in you.”  Verse 7.

And, Solomon’s statement “there is no blemish in you.” points us to what Christ did for His church.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10.

“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.

“…  And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So your God will rejoice over you.”  Isaiah 62:5.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Song of Solomon 3:6-11.

“6 “What is this coming up from the wilderness
Like columns of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all scented powders of the merchant?
7 “Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men around it,
Of the mighty men of Israel.
8 “All of them are wielders of the sword,
Expert in war;
Each man has his sword at his side,
Guarding against the terrors of the night.
9 “King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair
From the timber of Lebanon.
10 “He made its posts of silver,
Its back of gold
And its seat of purple fabric,
With its interior lovingly fitted out
By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 “Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
And gaze on King Solomon with the crown
With which his mother has crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
And on the day of his gladness of heart.”  Song of Solomon 3:6-11.

—————————

Like Solomon’s bride rejoiced in the authority and power of King Solomon in today’s Scripture, such as “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown” in verse 11, the church rejoices in the authority and power of Christ the King.

Other doctrine resents, resists, and rebels against the authority and power of Christ the King.  “Give us free-will!”, they cry out.

“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

But, Reformed Doctrine recalls, rejoices, and rests in the authority and power of Christ the King.

“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.

“3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”  Revelation 15:3-4.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems;  and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron;  and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelation 19:11-16.

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”  Psalm 97:1-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Song of Solomon 3:1-5.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“On my bed night after night I sought him
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.
2 ‘I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but did not find him.
3 “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
4 “Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the room of her who conceived me.”  Song of Solomon 3:1-4.

—————–

Many are content with their dreams, desires, and idols as to who God is or should be.

“On my bed night after night I sought him
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.”  Verse 1.

Some seek God where God could be, that is, “in the streets and in the squares”, a metaphor for in the Scriptures.
 
“‘I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’  …”  Verse 2.

But, few seek God in the Scriptures diligently. 

“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’”

And yet, we have this promise from Scripture.

“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.”  Proverbs 8:17.

“Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;  …”  Verse 4.

And so what should we do after we find God?

“… I held on to him and would not let him go …”  Verse 4.

In a word, we should “cling” to God. 

“But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”  Joshua 23:8.

“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him;  and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”  Deuteronomy 13:4.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;  it is these that testify about Me;  and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”  John 5:39-40.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:24.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

“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.  This mystery is great;  but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”  Ephesians 5:31-32.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“3 “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
So is my beloved among the young men.
In his shade I took great delight and sat down,
And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 “He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love.

…

16 “My beloved is mine, and I am his;
He pastures his flock among the lilies.”  Song of Solomon 2:3-4 and 16.

—————————-

These images remind us of our Lord’s sweet and lavish care for us.  And, why should that be surprising when we consider that the Lord is like a husband to us, His church?!

“8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”  Psalm 34:8-10.

“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Psalm chapter 23.

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

“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 25:6-9.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“8 “If you yourself do not know,
Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.

9 “To me, my darling, you are like
My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of beads.”

11 “We will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.”

12 “While the king was at his table,
My perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 “My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
In the vineyards of Engedi.”

15 “How beautiful you are, my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves.”  Song of Solomon 1:8-15.

——————————–

The love of Solomon for his bride is a figurative image of the love of Christ for His church.

In chapter 1, we read expressions of love back and forth between the bride and the groom.

We notice the special love of Solomon for only His bride pointing out special qualities in his bride.  Solomon did not love all the women, but his love was fixed on his bride.  We see this most strongly in the following verse.

“To me, my darling, you are like
My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.”  Verse 8.

Let us consider how this figurative language vividly illustrated how his bride clearly stood out as worthy of his focus of love.

What a contrast!  First, a living mare (a female horse) stands out as very different than dead chariots, so to speak.  Second, a black mare even more stands out as being very different than chariots that were likely white or a lighter color than a black mare.  Third, Solomon did not care for (if not hated) Egyptian chariots, but loved his own horse that he purchased.

I remember seeing my wife for the very first time.  She was standing across the dance floor in this blue dress.  Although she was about 40 feet away, it was as if every one and every thing else in the room disappeared when I saw her.

Other doctrine teaches that Christ loves everyone.

But, consistent with this Scripture, Reformed Doctrine teaches that Christ only loves His church (the elect).

And, Christ only died for His church (the elect).  This is “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“Jesus spoke these things;  and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come;  glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.”  John 17:1-2.

Jesus said:  “I am the good shepherd;  the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:11.  Does a good shepherd lay down his life for all sheep or only His sheep?

Other doctrine maintains that even though Christ loves everyone, Christ allows a great many of those to go to hell.  What kind of love is that?!

But, Reformed Doctrine maintains that all of those whom God has given Him (which are the elect) Christ has saved every one of them.

“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me;  and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”  John 17:12.

There is the sharpest difference between the elect and the non-elect, between Christ’s sheep and those who are not His sheep.

“I ask on their behalf;  I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me;  for they are Yours;”  John 17:8.

“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  John 10:26-29.

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;  before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;  3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;  4 and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.  5 Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road;  the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective.  For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.  6 Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;  7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.  8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.  10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails;  they are given by one Shepherd.  12 But beyond this, my son, be warned:  the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

———————————-

We like to think we are in control.  We like to focus on our achievements, our wealth, and our longevity.

But, the vivid imagery of this concluding chapter of Ecclesiastes summarizes the Book of Ecclesiastes in reminding us of the brevity and futility of life.

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”  Verse 8.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”  Verses 13 and 14.

This concluding chapter humbles us and prepares us for God’s salvation.

We get a hint and a hope of God’s salvation in Ecclesiastes 3:14.

“I know that everything God does will remain forever;  there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.”    Ecclesiastes 3:14.

In sharpest contrast to the brevity and futility of man’s work, there is God’s work.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

Reformed Doctrine teaches this work of God from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He (Christ) Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  Hebrews 2:14-15.

“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:22-26.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:4-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes chapter 11.

“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.  2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.  3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth;  and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.  4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.  5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.  8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.  Everything that is to come will be futility.

9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood.  And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.  10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.”    Ecclesiastes chapter 11.

————————–

Do good!  Sow bountifully!

“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” and “Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening” can be summarized by the following Scriptures.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:9-10.

“Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”  Psalm 37:3.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.”  Proverbs 3:27.

“The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.”  Proverbs 11:25.

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”  2 Thessalonians 3:13.

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”  1 Timothy 6:18-19.

“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  Hebrews 13:16.

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes 9:10-18.

“10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;  for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability;  for time and chance overtake them all.  12 Moreover, man does not know his time:  like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

13 Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me.  14 There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.  15 But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom.  Yet no one remembered that poor man.  16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.”  But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.  17 The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.  18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”  Ecclesiastes 9:10-18.

———————-

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”  Colossians 3:23-24.

We may feel unappreciated like the wise man who although he delivered the city by his wisdom, yet no one remembered him.  Verse 15.

But nevertheless, verse 10 encourages us to do our work with all our might.  And, even though it may appear that our wisdom is not heard, the words of the wise “heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”  Verse 17.  Finally, God will reward us as stated above in Colossians 3:23-24.

And, we have great hope of success!

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10.

God is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13.

God who began a good work in us will perfect it.  Philippians 1:6.