Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Job chapter 5.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“19 “From six troubles He will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
20 “In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
21 “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 “You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
23 “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 “You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
25 “You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 “You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
27 “Behold this;  we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”  Job 5:19-27.

—————————

Eliphaz continues to infer that Job received the suffering as punishment for doing something(s) bad, because if Job did not do something(s) bad, then God would not allow Job to suffer so much.

Scripture does not maintain that the righteous will not suffer.  Scripture maintains that the LORD will deliver him out of all of his troubles.

The following Psalm 34:17-22 is a good summary.

“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.
20 He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”  Psalm 34:17-22.

We may not be delivered out of our troubles as soon as we want or how we want to be delivered, but the LORD will deliver us out of all of our troubles.

In the meantime, while we wait to be delivered, the LORD comforts us and helps us to endure.  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Psalm 34:18.  What a great promise!  Eliphaz should have used these words to comfort Job.

We cannot determine or know how many trials we will face or how God will deliver us.  Too often, we set our hope having no more trials.  Too often, so to speak, we set our hope on receiving a check in the mail.  Very often, God uses other and often humble and unexpected means to deliver us, time and time again.

God has not let us down!  God helps us through our troubles.  Even when we think God has let us down, God helps us!  God creates, builds, and preserves our faith and shows us that He keeps His Word!  Although it may be dark for a while in the life of the righteous, “the path of the righteous is like the dawn, That shines brighter until the full day”. Proverbs 4:18.

God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not base our trust in what we expect and see.  God wants us to trust Him, no matter what we expect and see.  If we trust in just what we expect and see, such as money, then we will love and serve just what we expect and see, such as money.  However, if we trust in God, no matter what we expect and see, we will love God.

It may also help us to not be anxious, if we understand that God wants to create, build and finish our faith in Him.  How can He best do that?  God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not just trust in what we expect and see.  We just trust God to help us and get us through our troubles somehow.

Sometimes, we may think:  “Lord, I have been good. I have been doing the right things.  I have faith.  Deliver me now!”

But, then, we begin to understand that the Lord’s delivery is not dependent on how good we are or how right we are in doing the right things or how much faith we have.  We can’t treat God like a cosmic bubble gum machine and insert a coin of “good work” or “faith” and immediately receive the bubble gum of “deliverance”.

The Lord may delay delivery sometimes to allow the testing by fire of our faith:  “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:7.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“⁷ “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
⁸ “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
⁹ “By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.
¹⁰ “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
¹¹ “The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

…

¹⁷ ‘Can mankind be just before God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
¹⁸ ‘He puts no trust even in His servants;
And against His angels He charges error.
¹⁹ ‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
²⁰ ‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unobserved, they perish forever.
²¹ ‘Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, yet without wisdom.’”  Job Chapter 4.  Verses 7-11 and 17-21.

—————–

We may be tempted to rush to quickly, easily, and neatly explain someone’s suffering.  We may pretend to care, but we really want to show off our own wisdom and our own righteousness.  We may start with flattery of the person suffering and refer to a noble vision, but in the end, rather than relieve suffering, we add to it by our insensitive remarks.

In this chapter, Eliphaz infers that Job is suffering because he was guilty of some sin.  And, to be sure Job is guilty of some sin to justify his explanation, Eliphaz expands the reach of sin to all mankind.

How often we see even today some observer of suffering give this type of explanation that those who suffer do so because of some great sin!

Jesus saw it in his day.  “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:1-5.

Rather than smugly and aloofly point at those who suffer like some proud Pharisee, we should be like the humble tax collector who repents. 

“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:  ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people:  swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week;  I pay tithes of all that I get.’  But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’  I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other;  for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 18:11-14.

We can repent like the tax collector, and we can also help people that suffer in various ways.

We can be a Good Smaritan.

“Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.  And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them;  and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him;  and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’  Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”  Luke 10:30-37.

We can also follow Jesus’ example and be an advocate of those who suffer.  “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;  and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2.

We can encourage those who suffer.

“³ Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
⁴ Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”  Isaiah 35:3-4.

We can also otherwise comfort those who suffer.

We can pray for those who suffer.  “…   The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  James 5:16.

We can also follow Moses’ example and intercede for those who suffer.  “The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.  So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you;  intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.”  And Moses interceded for the people.”  Numbers 21:6-7.  

We can also remind them what God has done for them:  “you shall not be afraid of them;  you shall well remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:  the great trials which your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out.  So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.”  Deuteronomhy 7:18-19.

For example, if we were Eliphaz, then rather than inferring that Job is suffering because he was guilty of some sin, we could encourage Job.  We could remind Job what he did.  “When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them (his sons), rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all;  for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.”  Job 1:5.  

We could also pray to God and intercede for Job reminding God what He said about Job.  “The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”  Job 1:8.

Other doctrine leaves it to each individual to use his own alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine reminds each individual what God has done for them from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the Five Points of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

Today’s devotion comes from Job chapter 3.  Here is a link to it – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“¹ Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  ² And Job said,

³ “Let the day perish on which I was to be born,
And the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
⁴ “May that day be darkness;
Let not God above care for it,
Nor light shine on it.

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

I quote only the folloing verses.

“¹ Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord.  ² The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”  Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”  ³ The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil.  And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”  ⁴ Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin!  Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.  ⁵ However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh;  he will curse You to Your face.”  ⁶ So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

⁷ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.  ⁸ And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?  Curse God and die!”  ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”  Job 2:1-10.

———————————

Other doctrine views and portrays this conversation between God and Satan like a conversation between humans where the parties are relatively equal and whether neither party knows or controls the other party.  

But, Reformed Doctrine views and portray this conversation between God and Satan as one in which God certainly knew where Satan had come from, God certainly knew that Satan did not have an innocent inquiry but intended only to harm Job, God certainly did not need to ask Satan to spare Job’s life, and God certainly knew how Job would react to all the adversity and did not need to put Job to the test to find out.  

Reformed Doctrine believes and teaches the sovereign God of Scripture Who totally and tightly controls all things through His divine providence. 

Other doctrine teaches that when Job asked the question:  “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”, Job was making a comment about the duty of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that when Job asked the question:  “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”, Job was making a comment about the power of God.  In other words, Job was stating that we do not have the power to reject any part of God’s sovereign providence.  

So, then the question is not “Should we accept adversity?”.  But, rather, the question is “How should we accept adversity?”.

Other doctrine walks on egg shells as an actor in Greek mythology might act in a war between gods, so to speak, never knowing when the other shoe will drop or never knowing whether prosperity or adversity will come his way, believing that everything comes by chance.  

But, Reformed Doctrine walks faithfully and steadfastly, even through trials and tribulations, trusting that God somehow causes all things to work together for his good.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

Other doctrine teaches that things come to us by chance.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that things come to us by Divine Providence.  Consider the following from the Belgic Confession. 

Article 13:  Of Divine Providence.

We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment: nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed. For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly. And, as to what he doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into, farther than our capacity will admit of; but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God, which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which he has revealed to us in his Word, without transgressing these limits. This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father; who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust; being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us. And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.

Reformed Doctrine is not blind to adversity, the trials and tribulations of life, but teaches us to how to accept such adversity.  Consider what the Heidelberg Catechism states in Question and Answer 27 and 28.

Q. 27.  What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

 A.  The almighty and everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;  so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand. 

Q. 28.  What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?

 A.  That we may be patient in adversity;  thankful in prosperity;  and that in all things which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love;  since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.

And this adversity, these trials and tribulations, that God gives us His people are for our good.

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5.

“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.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:6-9.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“¹³ Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and took them.  They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.  ²¹ He said,

²² Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.”  Job 1:13-22.

——————————-

“As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came.  He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.”  Ecclesiastes 5:15.

So, what should our attitude be toward riches?

We will consider three Scriptures and points.

1.  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;  for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:31-33.

Seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness and do not not worry about obtaining riches or preserving riches.  

2.  “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.  Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;  this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”    Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself with a loose grip on these temporary gifts of God.

3.  “Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;  for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come;  take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you;  and now who will own what you have prepared?’  So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:15-21.

Treasure God and heaven.  Our real treasure is not material riches;  our real treasure is spiritual riches of our present relationship with God and our future inheritance “which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you“.  ! Peter 1:4.

In summary, to put these three points in one point, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  Colossians 3:2.  The acronym “SET” may help us to remember to “Seek God, Enjoy Gifts, Treasure Heaven”.   

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 10.

“Now King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.  And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?  For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”  Esther chapter 10.

——————–

Mordecai “sought the good of his people and … spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”  (Emphasis added by Bill)  Verse 3.  Let us follow Mordecai’s example and do good to people in our church (and other believers) and also do good more broadly to others (“all people”) in our neighborhood, city, state, and nation.

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

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:46-48.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21.

“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”  1 Thessalonians 5:15.

“27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.”  Proverbs 3:27-28.

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

Who can go such good to all people?

But, there is hope!

“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.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.”  Matthew 7:17-18.

Christ created us, prepared us, and caused us to do such good deeds to all people:  “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 2:14.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.  2 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm;  and no one could stand before them, for the dread of them had fallen on all the peoples.  3 Even all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who were doing the king’s business assisted the Jews, because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.  4 Indeed, Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces;  for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.  5 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying;  and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.

…

20 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, 22 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday;  that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

…

26 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur.  And because of the instructions in this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually.  28 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city;  and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.”  Esther Chapter 9:  Verses 1-5 and 20-22 and 26-28.

——————————

“11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”  Psalm 30:11-12.

“6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:6-8.

“4 You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push back our adversaries;
Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor will my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our adversaries,
And You have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted all day long,
And we will give thanks to Your name forever.  Selah.”  Psalm 4:4-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther;  and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had disclosed what he was to her.  2 The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 The king extended the golden scepter to Esther.  So Esther arose and stood before the king.  5 Then she said, “If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.

…

9 So the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third day; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, the satraps, the governors and the princes of the provinces which extended from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to every province according to its script, and to every people according to their language as well as to the Jews according to their script and their language.   10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.  11 In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar).

…

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple;  and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.  16 For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor.  17 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday.  And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.”  Esther chapter 8:  Verses 1-5 and 9-12 and 15-17.

———————————

“10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”  Psalm 97:10-12.

When we consider that “Light is sown like seed for the righteous”, let us consider that seed is too numerous to count.  It is thrown lavishly in handfuls. It showers upon every inch of the soil where it is thrown.  Likewise, the LORD sows light and gladness to surround us and to touch and bless every inch of our lives.  

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”  Psalm 40:5.

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

“The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm 64:10.

“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.

“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.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

“14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm 91:14-16.

“I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing.  And I will cause showers to come down in their season;  they will be showers of blessing.  …   “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God.”  Ezekiel Chapter 34:  Verses 26 and 31.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 7.

“1 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen.  2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your petition, Queen Esther?  It shall be granted you.  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”  3 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;  4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated.  Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?”  6 Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!”  Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

7 The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden;  but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king.  8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was.  Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?”  As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.  9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, “Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!”  And the king said, “Hang him on it.”  10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”   Esther chapter 7.

————————–

“Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.”  Psalm 5:10.

God indeed held Haman guilty and caused him to be hung by his own “devices” (gallows) that he had prepared for Mordecai.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Psalm 5:4-6.

“His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon his own pate.”  Psalm 7:16.

“He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.”  Psalm 7:15.

“9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
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 7:9-13.

“I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”  Psalm 7:17.

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 6.

“1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.  2 It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  3 The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”  Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”  4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?”  Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.  5 The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.”  And the king said, “Let him come in.”  6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?”  And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”  7 Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed;  9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

10 Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate;  do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”  11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate.  But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.  13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.  Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”

14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.”  Esther chapter 6.

———————————-

God’s sovereignty is on magnificent display again in today’s Scripture.  Let us first meditate on God’s total and tight control over all the details. 

God caused King Ahasuerus to not sleep.

Out of the many, many things that could have gone through the king’s mind, God caused the dominating thought in his mind to be what Mordecai had done for him.

God caused the record to be found to show exactly what Mordecai had done for him.

Out of all the people who could have been in the court to answer the king’s question as to what is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor, God caused it to be Haman.

Although King Ahasuerus had no intention to trap Haman, God caused the words of the king to be so innocent that Haman thinks the king wants to honor him, so as to cause Haman’s pride and Haman’s own suggestion (of how to honor the man whom the king desires to honor) to be the cause of the honoring of Mordecai.  “So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”  Verse 11.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  …”  Psalm 23:5.

God delivers and otherwise blesses His people in the face of their enemies, such that their enemies know the deliverance and other blessings given to His people is from the LORD. 

(As a side note, consider that the deliverance and other blessings is a single total package from God like a single table holding all kinds of plates of food as in “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”.  God’s sovereign coherent action is in sharp contrast to how man thinks and operates in terms of random, plural, contradictory, and insufficient actions.)

Accordingly, we see in today’s Scripture that the ungodly Haman’s wise men and Zeresh his wife knew that God’s turning the tables on Haman was from the LORD by their statement:  “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”  Verse 13.

“The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”  Exodus 7:5.

“19 O Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
And my refuge in the day of distress,
To You the nations will come
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood,
Futility and things of no profit.”
20 Can man make gods for himself?
Yet they are not gods!

21 “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—
This time I will make them know
My power and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the Lord.”  Jeremiah 16:19-21.

“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations;  and they will know that I am the Lord.”’  Ezekiel 32:15.