Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 23, 2025

“For there is … one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 23:21-27.

“Then the king commanded all the people saying, “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.”  Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah.  But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.

Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.  Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses;  nor did any like him arise after him.

However, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.  The LORD said, “I will remove Judah also from My sight, as I have removed Israel.  And I will cast off Jerusalem, this city which I have chosen, and the temple of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’”  2 Kings 23:21-27.

————   

Despite how good Josiah king of Judah was, and despite how good his deeds were, “the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah”.

This point makes us realize that we need more than man and man’s good deeds to save us.

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6.

“And there is salvation in no one else;  for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12.

Consider the following from Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 12.  Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment and be again received into favor?

A.  God will have His justice satisfied;  and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves or by another.

Q. 13.  Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?

A.  By no means;  but on the contrary we daily increase our debt.

Q. 14.  Can there be found anywhere one who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?

A. None;  for, first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man hath committed;  and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin, so as to deliver others from it.

Q. 15. What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?

A. For one who is very man, and perfectly righteous;  and yet more powerful than all creatures;  that is, one who is also very God.

Q. 16. Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

A. Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned should likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others.

Q. 17. Why must He in one person be also very God?

A.  That He might, by the power of His Godhead, sustain in His human nature the burden of God’s wrath;  and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life.

Q. 18.  Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God and a real righteous man?

A.  Our Lord Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

“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 1:26-31.

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  1 John 5:11-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 21, 2025

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 23:11-20.

“He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, which was in the precincts;  and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.  The altars which were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king broke down;  and he smashed them there and threw their dust into the brook Kidron.  The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled.  He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones.

Furthermore, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down.  Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah.  Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.  Then he said, “What is this monument that I see?”  And the men of the city told him, “It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.”  He said, “Let him alone;  let no one disturb his bones.”  So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.  Josiah also removed all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made provoking the LORD;  and he did to them just as he had done in Bethel.  All the priests of the high places who were there he slaughtered on the altars and burned human bones on them;  then he returned to Jerusalem.”  2 Kings 23:11-20.

———–   

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;  and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’;  for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.  The axe is already laid at the root of the trees;  therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Matthew 3:7-10.

But, there is hope!

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals;  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor;  and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12.

In yesterday’s Scripture, we read the beginning of King Josiah’s “deeds appropriate to repentance”.  In today’s Scripture, we read more of his “deeds appropriate to repentance”.  We are amazed at his zeal and the thoroughness of his “deeds appropriate to repentance”.

The hope that we have is that the LORD is at work in us and that He will complete and perfect His work.  

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

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

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 20, 2025

“Christ Jesus … gave Himself … to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 23:1-10.

“Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.  The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great;  and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.  The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.  And all the people entered into the covenant.

Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven;  and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.  He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven.  He brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD outside Jerusalem to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.  He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the LORD, where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah.  Then he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba;  and he broke down the high places of the gates which were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one’s left at the city gate.  Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.  He also defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire for Molech.”  2 Kings 23:1-10.

————–  

In today’s Scripture, King Josiah not only promised:  “made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book” verse 3, King Josiah performed “deeds appropriate to repentance”, verses 4-10 and beyond, as the Apostle Paul exhorted the people in the following Scripture. 

“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”  Acts 26:19-20.

Likewise, we should not only shed tears and make promises in our repentances, but we should also perform “deeds appropriate to repentance”.  

“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:8-10.

But, there is hope!

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:11-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 19, 2025

“God is a righteous judge” – “great is the wrath of the LORD”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 22:8-20.

“Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.”  And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it.  Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.”  Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.”  And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.  Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter);  and they spoke to her.  She said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.  Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’  But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD.  “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”’”  So they brought back word to the king.”  2 Kings 22:8-20.

————–  

“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.

“11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.” Psalm 7:11-13.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

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 3:7-13.

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:42-51.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 16, 2025

“YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.” – “faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 22:3-7.  Normally, each devotion to covers about 750 words, more or less.  But, today’s devotion is about 1,890 words and tries to cover the most important subject of faith.  Moreover, friends from Michigan will be visiting me for the next two days.  So, God willing, I will not post a new devotion until next Wednesday, February 19, 2025, which will also allow for more time for all of us to meditate upon this important subject of faith before we proceed to the next devotion.  

“Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the LORD saying, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest that he may count the money brought in to the house of the LORD which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.  Let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the LORD to repair the damages of the house, to the carpenters and the builders and the masons and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.  Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully.”  2 Kings 22:3-7.

————–

There are two parts to this devotion. Part 1 covers the topics of trust and the command: “YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.” Part 2 covers the topics that trust is also known as faith and that faith is a gift of God.

PART 1

Verse 7 highlighted in bold italic font, “Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully.”, leads us to meditate on trust.  

Generally, when we trust someone, we do not require an accounting or other proof from them.  We do not test them.  So, how much more should we trust the LORD, our Faithful and Perfect Heavenly Father, and not require proof from Him!  We should not test Him!

“Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down;  for it is written,

‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’;

and

‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,

SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”  Matthew 4:5-7.

When we test the LORD, it shows that we really do not believe Him.  

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands;  and reach here your hand and put it into My side;  and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:24-29.

There can be severe consequences when we test the LORD.

“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.” Jeremiah 17:5-6.

“8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
9 “When your fathers tested Me,
They tried Me, though they had seen My work.
10 “For forty years I loathed that generation,
And said they are a people who err in their heart,
And they do not know My ways.
11 “Therefore I swore in My anger,
Truly they shall not enter into My rest.” Psalm 95:8-11.

Here is the exhortation that we all generally know, but we can and should specifically apply the following Scripture to help us not test the LORD.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

And, there are promises associated with trusting the LORD.  We will not cease to yield fruit. The LORD will not withhold any good thing from us. Lovingkindness shall surround us. 

“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 17:7-8.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11-12.

“10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:10-11.

PART 2

This trust is also called faith, and the only faith that justifies us and is sufficient and lasting comes as a gift of the LORD to only His elect, but all of His elect, through Christ’s death on the cross.

Other doctrine trusts man and his wisdom, his will, his faith, and his faithfulness.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts the LORD, His will, His power, His gifts to His elect (including faith), and His faithfulness.

The Reformed confessions clearly and consistently teach that faith is a gift of God.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

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.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

“Q. 21. What is true faith?

A. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart;  that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

Article 22: Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.  …  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, 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, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  …

Consider also the following Scriptures.

“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.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

“… To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:1-3.

“But there are some of you who do not believe.”  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.  And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”  John 6:64-65.

“Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”  Matthew 13:11.

“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening;  and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”  Acts 16:14.

“He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 16:15-17.

“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 2:10.

If our faith is an act of our wisdom and our free-will, then as weak and sinful people whose will is often fleeting, our faith will fail.  When we get hungry or thirsty or have other trials like Israel did in the wilderness, we will grumble and doubt that the LORD is our God, and our faith will fail.

But, if our faith is a gift of God, then our faith given to us as a gift of God will not fail. 

The saints persevere in the faith, because the Almighty LORD preserves the faith that He has give to them to salvation.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

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.

The faith which is a gift of God is able to endure whatever we experience.

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” Philippians 1:29.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 14, 2025

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 21:19 to 2 Kings 22:2.  

“Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.  He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.  For he walked in all the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them.  So he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.  The servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his own house.  Then the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.  Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  He was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son became king in his place.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.  He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.”  2 Kings 21:19 to Kings 22:2.    

—————

It is unusual that Josiah king of Judah could be so righteous with such a evil father.  But, that presents hope as we will see in this devotion.  

It is also unusual that righteous Isaac could have two sons, even twins, that were trained by Isaac in the same way to obey the LORD, but have the following said about them:  “Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”  Romans 9:13.

Normally, we have the promise and comfort of the following Scripture.

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

We have the calling and duty and promise from the following Scripture.

“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.  O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

But ultimately, as the examples of Jacob and Esau (and also Amon and Josiah) teach us, salvation is of the LORD.  Through God’s grace, Judah got Josiah to be their king, and we get righteous leaders and other people around us from time to time.  

“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.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.” Proverbs 29:2.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 13, 2025

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; … “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 21:1-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2021&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.  He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.  For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed;  and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.  He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.”  For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.  He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists.  He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger.  Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.  And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.”  But they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel.

Now the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;  therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.  I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.  I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoil to all their enemies;  because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger since the day their fathers came from Egypt, even to this day.’”

Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another;  besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.”  2 Kings 21:1-16. 

—————

“What then?  Are we better than they?  Not at all;  for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;  as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:9-12.

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight;  for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:19-20.

But, there is hope!

The hope is not in man, nor in the works or will of man.

The hope is in the LORD.  The LORD saved some. As stated in Article 1 of Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination, “God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish”. The LORD saved all and only those whom He chose to save from “before the foundation of the world” in the language of Ephesians 1:3-6 below.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.

Article 9. This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-8.

“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.

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 12, 2025

“for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 20:8-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2020&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.  

“Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD the third day?”  Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken:  shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?”  So Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps;  no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps.”  Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.”  2 Kings 20:8-11.

————–   

The theme of this devotion is the LORD preserves His saints all the way to eternal life. The LORD does not break His promise nor forsake us even though we continue to sin.  

In yesterday’s Scripture and yesterday’s devotion, the LORD had just previously proclaimed His wonderful promise and healed Hezekiah king of Judah as stated in the following Scripture.

“… ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears;  behold, I will heal you.  On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;  and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’”  Then Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.”  And they took and laid it on the boil, and he (Hezekiah) recovered.”  2 Kings 20:5-7.

But, what does Hezekiah do?

He does not immediately praise the LORD nor go up to the house of the LORD.  Rather, he tests the LORD by asking for a sign.  

Later, in today’s Scripture not quoted above, Hezekiah shows all the treasure in his house to the king of Babylon, likely out of pride and which likely later motivated Babylon to attach Judah.  When Isaiah the prophet confronted Hezekiah about what he did, Hezekiah does not show repentance but rather only showed self-concern as stated in the following Scripture.  

“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD.  ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon;  nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD.  ‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away;  and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”  Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.”  For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”  Verses 16-19.

But, there is hope!

The hope is not in man nor in the works or will of man.

The hope is in the LORD.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

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.

“…  for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”  Hebrews 13:5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 11, 2025

“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 20:1-7.

“In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill.  And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”  Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying,  “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.”  And Hezekiah wept bitterly.  Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears;  behold, I will heal you.  On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;  and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’”  Then Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.”  And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.”  2 Kings 20:1-7.

————-  

“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6.

“17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19.

“I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalm 57:2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 10, 2025

“The zeal of the LORD will perform this.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 19:29-37.

“‘Then this shall be the sign for you:  you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.  The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.  For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors.  The zeal of the LORD will perform this.

‘Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there;  and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.  By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the LORD.  ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”

Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians;  and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.  So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.  It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword;  and they escaped into the land of Ararat.  And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.”  2 Kings 19:29-37.

———–   

Other doctrine proclaims “The zeal of man will perform this.”  You hear it in every commercial on TV and even from the pulpit.  The focus is on man and what man has done (or what man should do).    

But, Reformed Doctrine proclaims “The zeal of the LORD will perform this.”  The focus is on God and what God has done.  

“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God provides all the things that accompany salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  (The “T” of “TULIP” represents “Total Depravity” of man).  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  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 1:26-31.

“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 2:8-9. 

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

“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.

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.

“Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 111:1-3.

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