Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-14.

“There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven—

2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?  10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;  13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.  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 3:1-14.

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As poetically stated in verses 1-8, man’s work shifts back and forth from killing to healing, from tearing down to building up etc. with little or no profit.  “What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?”  Verse 9.

But, God’s work remains forever.  “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.”  Verse 14.

And yet, other doctrine preaches and teaches as if man’s alleged free-will is in control.

But, Reformed Doctrine not only teaches that God’s will is in control, “there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it (God’s work)”.  Verse 14.

There is not one person to add to God’s elect.  And, there is not one person to take away from God’s elect.

“Article 8.  …   it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation …”  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

And, for all these elect, and only these elect, “God has so worked that men should fear Him.”  Verse 14.

“Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.”  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof. of Canons of Dordt.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

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

“I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure.  So enjoy yourself.”  And behold, it too was futility.  I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”  I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.  I enlarged my works:  I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;  I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;  I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.  I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves.  Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.  Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces.  I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.

Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.  All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.  Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.

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Neither wisdom nor work nor pleasures satisfy (give profit and peace).

In the preceding chapter, we have seen that wisdom does not satisfy.

“And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly;  I realized that this also is striving after wind.  Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.”  Ecclesiastes 1:17-18.

In the preceding chapter, we have also seen that work does not satisfy.

“What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?”  Ecclesiastes 1:3.

And, in today’s Scripture, we have seen that pleasures do not satisfy.

“I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure.  So enjoy yourself.”  And behold, it too was futility.  I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”  Verses 1-2.

In summary, “All things are wearisome;  …”.  Ecclesiastes 1:8.

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity.”  Ecclesiastes 1:2.  (“Vanity is defined in part by Dictionary.com as “excessive pride in one’s appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; …)

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine teaches that man is satisfied by seeking and glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.  

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

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

“25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.”  Psalm 73:25-28.

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.

“I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.  And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven.  It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.  I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.  What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.

I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me;  and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”  And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly;  I realized that this also is striving after wind.  Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.”  Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.

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Now calling himself “the Preacher”, Solomon in his old age is not maintaining that spiritual wisdom is vanity;  this is not a change of his position on the value of wisdom emphasized by him throughout the whole preceding book of Proverbs.

Rather, Solomon is maintaining that there is a pursuit and accumulation of knowledge of just earthly facts and “madness and folly” that is “vanity”, a “striving after wind”. Solomon would probably label our entertainment today as also “madness and folly”.

There are those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:7.

We see it today through all the explosion of knowledge of earthly facts and entertainment that comes through the internet and TV.

We also see it through all the self-improvement knowledge that is available through books and magazines and even through some other doctrine taught in churches.

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches about God and His great work from which comes “knowledge of the Holy One” and “understanding” and the “fear of the LORD” and “wisdom”.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10.

And, in sharp contrast to “much grief” and “increasing pain” which comes from the pursuit and accumulation of knowledge of just earthly facts and “madness and folly”, “peace” and “pleasant ways” comes from the pursuit and accumulation of such spiritual wisdom.

“Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.”  Proverbs 3:17.

“13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.”  Proverbs 3:13-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity.”

3 What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.
5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets;
And hastening to its place it rises there again.
6 Blowing toward the south,
Then turning toward the north,
The wind continues swirling along;
And on its circular courses the wind returns.
7 All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.
8 All things are wearisome;
Man is not able to tell it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor is the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which one might say,
“See this, it is new”?
Already it has existed for ages
Which were before us.
11 There is no remembrance of earlier things;
And also of the later things which will occur,
There will be for them no remembrance
Among those who will come later still.”  Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

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“3 What advantage does man have in all his work
Which he does under the sun?
4 A generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.”  Verses 3-4.

“Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 2:11.

Nevertheless, other doctrine still worries about man’s works:  what man has done and what man will do.  “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  John 6:28.

But, Reformed Doctrine is pleased and peaceful to focus on God’s work:  what God has done and what God will do.  “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.  Salvation is a work of God even including the work of God in producing faith in us.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Proverbs 31:10-31.

“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.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
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 31:10-31.

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“… But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”  Verse 30.

We notice things in common between the woman who fears the LORD and the man who fears the LORD in the following Scripture.

“Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who greatly delights in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6 For he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be remembered forever.

7 He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
9 He has given freely to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted in honor.”  Psalm 112:1-9.

First, both the woman who fears the LORD and the man who fears the LORD have enough wealth for their household and also have extra to give freely to the poor.  Psalm 112:3,5,&9 and verses 14-16, 20-22, and 24.

Second, both have light that arises in darkness for them.  Psalm 112:4 and verse 18.

Third, both are gracious and compassionate.  Psalm 112:4 and verse 20.

Fourth, both do not fear evil tidings.  Psalm 112:7-8 and verse 21 and 25.

Fifth, both are honored.  Psalm 112:9 and verse 28-31.

Sixth, in summary, both are blessed by the LORD.

“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.”  Verses 10-12.

“House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.”  Proverbs 19:14.