Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 125.

“Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous,
So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.”  Psalm chapter 125.

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“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:12.

“You are my hiding place;  You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.”  Psalm 33:7.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 124.

“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say,
2 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side
When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the waters would have engulfed us,
The stream would have swept over our soul;
5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”

6 Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm chapter 124.

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When we acknowledge that the LORD is the Creator Who made heaven and earth, we are not only proclaiming truth, we are also proclaiming a basis of our faith that God can help us.

When we acknowledge that the LORD is our Father, we are not only proclaiming truth, we are also proclaiming a basis of our faith that God will help us.

Consider the following quote from the Heidelberg Catechism about the first confession of the Apostle’s Creed.

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

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

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 123.

“To You I lift up my eyes,
O You who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.

3 Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us,
For we are greatly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is greatly filled
With the scoffing of those who are at ease,
And with the contempt of the proud.”  Psalm chapter 123.

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I do not have a servant nor a maid, but I have a dog.  I know the look.

My German Short-Haired Pointer dog named Rush looks at me until I take him for a walk.

“… So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.”  Verse 2.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6.

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

“Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 124:8.

“16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:16-22.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 122.

“I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built
As a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord—
An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For there thrones were set for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 “May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.” Psalm chapter 122.

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Today, we consider some elements of our worship service a/k/a “house of the Lord our God”.  “For zeal for Your house has consumed me, …” Psalm 69:9.

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.” Psalm 27:4.

First, we see that it is a place where we “behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate” on the LORD.

Other doctrine meditates on what man should do.

But, Reformed Doctrine meditates on the beauty of the Lord and what He has done.

Second, we see that it is a place “To give thanks to the name of the Lord.” Verse 4.

“These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.” Psalm 42:4.

Other doctrine is thankful for who they are and what they have done.

But, Reformed Doctrine is thankful for Who God is and what God has done.

Third, we see that is “a house of prayer”.

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.  And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’;  but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Matthew 21:12-13.

Other doctrine feels the necessity of being “seeker sensitive”, that is, being everything to everyone.

But, Reformed Doctrine looks to Scripture and the simple clear elements of what our worship service should be:  “a house of prayer”, a place to “give thanks to the name of the Lord”, and a place to “behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate” on the LORD.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 120.

“In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
And He answered me.
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
From a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the burning coals of the broom tree.

5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech,
For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war.”  Psalm chapter 120.

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“In my trouble I cried to the Lord,
And He answered me.”  Verse 1.

Oh, how Almighty God, our Faithful Father, answers us and delivers us with passion and power!

There may be “Sharp arrows of the warrior” (verse 4), but Almighty God, our Faithful Father, shoots His arrows of lightning in abundance and routs our enemy! 

Consider the very vivid language of the following Scripture of these truths.

“4 The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15 Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:4-19.

Nothing can “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”!  Romans 8:39.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm 119:161-176.

“161 Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your words.
162 I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I hope for Your salvation, O Lord,
And do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.

169 Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171 Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.”  Psalm 119:161-176.

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In today’s concluding section of Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we notice the Psalmist’s repeated declarations of his love for God’s Word.

“… my heart stands in awe of Your words.”  Verse 161.

“I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.”  Verse 162.

“… I love Your law.”  Verse 163.

“…  I love them (“Your testimonies”) exceedingly.”  Verse 167.

“… Your law is my delight.”  Verse 174.

Yet, other doctrine is content to tell its own stories, its own experiences, and its own feelings.

But, Reformed Doctrine rejoices to quote God’s Word.

“9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”  Psalm 40:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm 119:129-144.

“129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul observes them.
130 The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.
133 Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of water,
Because they do not keep Your law.

137 Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure,
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.”  Psalm 119:129-144.

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We see simple, short, and similar format words praising attributes of God’s Word.  By their simplicity and similarity, they help us focus, meditate, and remember them.

“Your testimonies are wonderful”.  Verse 129.

“Your word is very pure”.  Verse 140.

“Your law is truth.”  Verse 142.

“Your commandments are my delight.”  Verse 143.

“Your testimonies are righteous forever”.  Verse 144.

Other doctrine depends on the wisdom of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine depends on the wisdom of God.

“…  It gives understanding to the simple.”  Verse 130.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”  Psalm 19:7.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm 119:113-128.

“113 I hate those who are double-minded,
But I love Your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.
115 Depart from me, evildoers,
That I may observe the commandments of my God.
116 Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.
118 You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.
119 You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.

121 I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation
And for Your righteous word.
124 Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness
And teach me Your statutes.
125 I am Your servant;  give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
For they have broken Your law.
127 Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything,
I hate every false way.”  Psalm 119:113-128.

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The Psalmist recognizes what God has done for him, but also presses on.

The Psalmist lives by the standard that he has attained, but also trusts God to provide what is missing and to perfect him.

The Psalmist praises God for what God has done for him, but also makes prayer requests.

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude;  and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:12-16.