Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 28, 2016

“Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 70.

“O God, hasten to deliver me;
O Lord, hasten to my help!
2 Let those be ashamed and humiliated
Who seek my life;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
3 Let those be turned back because of their shame
Who say, “Aha, aha!”

4 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified.”
5 But I am afflicted and needy;
Hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.”  Psalm chapter 70.

—————————-

Other doctrine seeks to magnify itself:  its works, its wisdom, and its will.

But, Reformed Doctrine confesses that it is afflicted and needy, and instead of magnifying itself, Reformed Doctrine seeks to magnify God.

“Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified.”  Verse 4.

“… You are my help and my deliverer …”  Verse 5.

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.  Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.”  Psalm chapter 46.

Reformed Doctrine’s teaching of “Total Depravity” as the natural condition of man is consistent with its confession of being afflicted and needy.

Reformed Doctrine loves God’s salvation and magnifies God through its teaching of God’s “Unconditional Election”, God’s “Limited Atonement”, God’s “Irresistible Grace”, and God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.”  Psalm 46:10-11.

“Let God be magnified.”  Verse 4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 27, 2016

“For the Lord hears the needy” – “The humble have seen it and are glad” – “May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 69.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+69&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life.
2 I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.
3 I am weary with my crying;  my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies;
What I did not steal, I then have to restore.

5 O God, it is You who knows my folly,
And my wrongs are not hidden from You.

…

16 Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good;
According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me,
17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am in distress;  answer me quickly.
18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;
Ransom me because of my enemies!
19 You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;
All my adversaries are before You.

20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.
And I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
And for comforters, but I found none.
21 They also gave me gall for my food
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

…

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 And it will please the Lord better than an ox
Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.
32 The humble have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, let your heart revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
And does not despise His who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise Him,
The seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah,
That they may dwell there and possess it.
36 The descendants of His servants will inherit it,
And those who love His name will dwell in it.  Psalm 69:1-5 and 16-21 and 29-36.

——————————

Other doctrine is proud.

But, Reformed Doctrine is humble.

Other doctrine is self-sufficient, thinking that God is waiting for it to seize salvation by its own will, wisdom, or works.

But, Reformed Doctrine is needy, knowing its natural condition of “Total Depravity” and that God must do everything for salvation from the very beginning to the very end:  from the very beginning of His “Unconditional Election” through His “Limited Atonement” through His “Irresistible Grace” to the very end of His “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

We see our Savior Jesus Christ in today’s Scripture, particularly in verse 21.

“3 He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:3-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 26, 2016

There is no “Common Grace”. God scatters and shatters the wicked. In sharp contrast, God delivers and strengthens His people, makes a home for them, and shows them goodness and prosperity.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 68.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be glad;  let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts,
Whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him.

5 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
6 God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when You went forth before Your people,
When You marched through the wilderness, Selah.
8 The earth quaked;
The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched.
10 Your creatures settled in it;
You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.

11 The Lord gives the command;
The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will divide the spoil!”

…

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.  Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
21 Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies,
The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.

…

34 Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.
35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!”  Psalm 68:1-12 and 19-20 and 34-35.

———————-

In refuting common grace, the preceding chapter focused on the saving nature of grace.  Grace saves!  Grace is particular to the elect, shown only to the elect.

In further refuting common grace, today’s chapter focuses on the sharp distinction between God’s people (the elect a/k/a the righteous) and the wicked.

God scatters and shatters the wicked.  Verses 1, 2, and 21.

In sharp contrast, God delivers and strengthens His people, makes a home for them, and shows them goodness and prosperity.  Verses 5-12, 19-20, and 35.

We easily see that there is no common grace between both groups.

“Blessed are you, O Israel;
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,
Who is the shield of your help
And the sword of your majesty!
So your enemies will cringe before you,
And you will tread upon their high places.”  Deuteronomy 33:29.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 24, 2016

There is no “Common Grace”. Grace is particular, shown only to the elect. If God is gracious to us, then He will save us. “by grace you have been saved”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 67.

“God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us—  Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And guide the nations on the earth.  Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”  Psalm chapter 67.

—————————–

Other doctrine teaches that God is gracious to all, but only saves some.  This false doctrine is called “common grace”.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God is only gracious to His elect.  If God is gracious to us, then He will save us.

We see this truth in verses 1-2.

“God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us—  Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.”  Verses 1-2.

And, we see this truth stated in a different way in verse 7, namely, if God blesses us, then we will fear Him.

“God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”  Verse 7.

Reformed Doctrine also teaches that this grace is irresistible in its point “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

We see this irresistible nature of grace in the following Scriptures.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”  John 6:37.

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”  John 6:38.

“Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.

When we were dead in sin, God showed His “Irresistible Grace”, by making us alive, raising us up, and seating us in the heavenly places in Christ.  By grace, we have been saved.  

“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 2:4-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 23, 2016

“Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 66.

“Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
2 Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
4 “All the earth will worship You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.”  Selah.

5 Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through the river on foot;
There let us rejoice in Him!
7 He rules by His might forever;
His eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.  Selah.

8 Bless our God, O peoples,
And sound His praise abroad,
9 Who keeps us in life
And does not allow our feet to slip.
10 For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12 You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.
15 I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts,
With the smoke of rams;
I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats.  Selah.

16 Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear;
19 But certainly God has heard;
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer
Nor His lovingkindness from me.”  Psalm chapter 66.

—————————–

Other doctrine urges us:  “Come and see our works.  See our new building addition.  See our youth program.  See our mission opportunities.”

But, Reformed Doctrine urges:  “Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”

Reformed Doctrine first burns off any pride in ourselves by its teaching of our natural condition of “Total Depravity”.

“For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.”  Verse 10.

Then, Reformed Doctrine teaches us the basis of our salvation which is “Unconditional Election”, and we can immediately understand that it is solely a work of God.

Reformed Doctrine proceeds to teach us that Christ died for the elect to procure all the saving gifts.  This is “Limited Atonement”, solely a work of God, limited to the elect, but unlimited in saving power.

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; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

Reformed Doctrine also shows what God has done for our soul through its teaching of “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”.

“8 Bless our God, O peoples,
And sound His praise abroad,
9 Who keeps us in life
And does not allow our feet to slip.”  Verses 8-9.

And yet, how often do we hear in our churches about these works of God? 

How often do we hear about what God has done for our soul?

If there is any mention of “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”, these awesome works of God, then too often it is only a fleeting and quiet reference.

But, Reformed Doctrine shouts joyfully to repeatedly remind us of these points of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, calling out through the voice of the Psalmist in verse 16:  “Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 22, 2016

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 65.

“There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God,
And to You the vow will be performed.
2 O You who hear prayer,
To You all men come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me;
As for our transgressions, You forgive them.
4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,
You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
6 Who establishes the mountains by His strength,
Being girded with might;
7 Who stills the roaring of the seas,
The roaring of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples.
8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.

9 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;
You greatly enrich it;
The stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
You settle its ridges,
You soften it with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty,
And Your paths drip with fatness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks
And the valleys are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, yes, they sing.”  Psalm chapter 65.

————————-

God’s goodness causes the earth to overflow with many good things which many people can enjoy.  Verses 9-13.

In contrast with the many who can enjoy the good things in the earth, “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts.  …”  Verse 4.  This word “one” is used figuratively for purpose of emphasizing the contrast between the many who receive the good things in the earth and the few who are chosen.  We see that this “one” is not a literal one person, because this sentence is immediately followed by the link:  “We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.”  Verse 4.  Thus, the sense is:  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14.

Other doctrine ignores or minimizes that being chosen (a/k/a elected or predestined) is the basis of salvation.

But, Reformed Doctrine sees it everywhere in Scripture and clearly teaches it in its point “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”  Psalm 33:12.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  John 15:16.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“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.

“… 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 1:27-31.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“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.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 21, 2016

“they will declare the work of God, And will consider what He has done. The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 64.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
Preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers,
From the tumult of those who do iniquity,
3 Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword.
They aimed bitter speech as their arrow,
4 To shoot from concealment at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear.
5 They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, “Who can see them?”
6 They devise injustices, saying,
“We are ready with a well-conceived plot”;
For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.

7 But God will shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they will be wounded.
8 So they will make him stumble;
Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will shake the head.
9 Then all men will fear,
And they will declare the work of God,
And will consider what He has done.
10 The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm chapter 64.

————————-

Other doctrine declares the work of man and considers what he has done.

But, Reformed Doctrine declares the work of God and considers what God has done.

Other doctrine is glad in themselves and take pride in what they have done.

But, Reformed Doctrine is glad in the LORD and takes refuge in Him and what He has done from the very beginning to the very end:  from the very beginning of His “Unconditional Election” through His “Limited Atonement” through His “Irresistible Grace” to the very end of His “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“The Lord has brought about our vindication;
Come and let us recount in Zion
The work of the Lord our God!”  Jeremiah 51:10.

“… And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Verse 10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 20, 2016

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 63.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+63&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“O God, You are my God;  I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.”  Psalm 63:1-8.

—————————-

God causes us to pant for Him.  God causes us to be restless to seek Him.  God causes us to wake up at night, read Scripture, and think about Him.  God causes us to despair and give up on ourselves, so we hope in Him and seek Him.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
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.

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.”  Psalm 42:1-8.

God shows us wisdom, life, and joy, and He makes us want to get it in the middle of night. 

“7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  Psalm 16:7-11.

God gives us delight in the law of the LORD and causes us to meditate on it day and night. 

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:1-3.

God produces in us a hungering and thirsting after righteousness which is one of the infallible fruits of election.

Article 12.  The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election, not by inquisitively prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 19, 2016

“My soul waits in silence for God only; … He only is my rock and my salvation”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 62.

“My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold;  I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will you assail a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;
They delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth,
But inwardly they curse.  Selah.

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.

9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up;
They are together lighter than breath.
10 Do not trust in oppression
And do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

11 Once God has spoken;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;
12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,
For You recompense a man according to his work.”    Psalm chapter 62.

——————————

A sermon can seem like a NASCAR race:  too much noise and confusion, too long, and you never know who is going to be in the lead.

Today’s Scripture provides a sharp contrast.  

There is silence.  “My soul, wait in silence for God only”  Verses 1 and 5.  There is rest.  Verse 7.  “I shall not be greatly shaken”.  Verse 6.  

There is short simplicity.  “Once God has spoken;  Twice I have heard this:  That power belongs to God;”  Verse 11.

There is Savior Who leads all the way.  “He only is my rock and my salvation”.  Verses 2 and 6.  “Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie”.  Verse 9.

“My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold;  I shall not be greatly shaken.”  Verses 1-2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 17, 2016

“For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.”

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 61.

“Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.   Selah.

5 For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
6 You will prolong the king’s life;
His years will be as many generations.
7 He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day.”   Psalm chapter 61.

—————————-

God is described as “rock”, “refuge”, “tower”, “tent”, and “shelter” in verses 2-4.

Other doctrine teaches tactics and tools to protect oneself.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches God Who protects and preserves us.

“He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.”  Verse 7.

Reformed Doctrine summarizes God’s protection and preservation of us as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.”  Psalm 121:7-8.

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”   2 Thessalonians 3:3.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.

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