Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Esther chapter 5.

“1 Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.  2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight;  and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand.  So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.  3 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther?  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.”  4 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires.”  So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.  6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you.  And what is your request?  Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”  7 So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is:  8 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says.”

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart;  but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.  10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.  11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king.  12 Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.  13 Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”  14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it;  then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.”  And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.”  Esther chapter 5.

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Haman had it all, but his pride let the very small and righteous act of Mordecai (of not standing up or trembling before him) bother him.  And, his irritation grew into his anger.  And, his anger grew into his plot to kill Mordecai.  And, we will later see in Esther chapter 7 that his plot grew into the death, not of Mordecai, but his own death.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18.  (Although normally I cite verses in New American Standard Version, I use King James Version for this verse, because many of us remember from childhood the simple and summary phrase from this verse:  “Pride goeth before the fall.”)

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;  and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”  James 1:14-15.

But, there is hope!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16-24.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“⁷ Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.  ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict which had been issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show Esther and inform her, and to order her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.

⁹ Hathach came back and related Mordecai’s words to Esther.  ¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:  ¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”  ¹² They related Esther’s words to Mordecai.

¹³ Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ¹⁶ “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me;  do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way.  And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law;  and if I perish, I perish.”  ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.”  Esther 4:7-17.

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Esther attained royalty for such a time as this.

We too have been created, prepared, and caused to do the work God has for us to do.

As Esther, particularly at the beginning, we may not know what work that may be at all times.  We see that Esther first resisted interceding (verse 11), and even later when she decided to intercede she still had doubts:  “if I perish, I perish” (verse 16).  

But, we trust God, pray often and hard, maybe even fast, and go forward, trying to follow God.

Sometimes, we may plan and start out in a certain direction, but God will pull us back and lead us in another direction.  God is the One Who holds our hand and leads us.  

“The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9.

“²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴ When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”  Psalm 32:8.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21.

Other doctrine trusts man’s alleged free-will and wisdom.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts God’s sovereignty.

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

…

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.  6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were;  therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar.  8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom;  their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.

…

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder.”  Esther Chapter 3:  Verses 1-2 and 5-8 and 13.

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The Psalmist prays for protection in the following Psalm chapter 84 whose words could be used as a response to Haman’s plot to destroy all the Jews in today’s Scripture and could also be used as an appropriate response and prayer for protection at other times in history as well.

“1 O God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.
2 For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
3 They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5 For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:

…

13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind.
14 Like fire that burns the forest
And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with dishonor,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And let them be humiliated and perish,
18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.”  Psalm Chapter 84:  Verses 1-5 and 13-18.

Notice that the Psalmist identifies himself and his people as “Your people” and “Your treasured ones” in verse 3.  That is who we are in Christ.

And, notice that the Psalmist identifies his enemies as “Your enemies” (God’s enemies), “those who hate You”, and “Against You” in verses 2 and 5.

Some doctrine figuratively tries to pull us out of Christ to get us to examine ourselves under the Law and to deal whatever confronts us through our own alleged free-will and wisdom.

But, Reformed Doctrine continually hides us in God’s Unconditional Elect whom God placed in Christ as His people, His possession.

“Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.  Heidelberg Catechism.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“¹ After these things when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.  ² Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.  ³ Let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their cosmetics be given them.  ⁴ Then let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.”  And the matter pleased the king, and he did accordingly.

⁵ Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, ⁶ who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.  ⁷ He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother.  Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

⁸ So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.  ⁹ Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him.  So he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and food, gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace and transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem.

…

¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised.  And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.  ¹⁶ So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

…

²¹ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.  ²² But the plot became known to Mordecai and he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.  ²³ Now when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.”  Esther Chapter 2:  Verses 1-9 and 15-17 and 21-23.

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We read that Esther “found favor” with others three times in today’s Scripture.  Through the first favor, she received cosmetics, food, seven choice maids from the king’s palace, and was transferred to the best place in the harem.  Verse 9.  Through the second favor, she was taken to King Ahasuerus.  Verse 15.  Through the third favor, she received the royal crown and was made queen instead of Vashti.  Verse 17.   

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

“¹⁰ He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
¹¹ The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:10-11.

“For he who finds me (wisdom) finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.”  Proverbs 8:35.

“² A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
³ A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.”  Proverbs 12:2-3.

Although we receive personal blessings from receiving the favor of God and the favor of other people, there are sometimes more important other reasons why we receive such favor.  

In today’s Scripture, we read that King Ahasuerus was saved because Moredecai had the favor to be able to sit at the king’s gate and overhear a plot against his life and Esther had the favor of being queen to have King Ahasuerus’s attention to tell him of the plot and he trusted her to believe the plot and prevent it.  Verses 21-22. 

Later, we read of the more deadly plot of Haman who sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.  Esther 3:6.

This time, Esther was reasonably hesitant to approach the king and tell him who was likely much more concerned about saving his own life than saving the life of the Jews.   “Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:  “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”  Esther 4:10-11. 

“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14.    

Much later in Scripture, we read of a much more common reason why we receive favor.  God uses the favor that He gives us in the sight of others to save them.    

“Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;  and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;  and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:43-47.  

In conclusion, paraphrasing Esther 4:14:  “And who knows whether you have received favor with others for such a time as now and reason as this, being used by God to save them?”  

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

I quote only the following verses.

“10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful.  12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs.  Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him:  Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”  16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.  17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’  18 This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.  19 If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she.  20 When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.”

21 This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.  22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.”  Esther 1:10-22.

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“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is great;  but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.   Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”  Ephesians 5:22-33.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 13.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+13&version=NASB

I quote only the folowing verses.

“10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?”  Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.  12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.  13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah;  for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.  14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.

15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day.  So I admonished them on the day they sold food.  16 Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem.  17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?  18 Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble?  Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

19 It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath.  Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.  20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.  21 Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall?  If you do so again, I will use force against you.”  From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.  22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day.  For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.  24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.  25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.  26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things?  Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel;  nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.  27 Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”  28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.  29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, 31 and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits.  Remember me, O my God, for good.”  Nehemiah 13:10-31.

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Nehemiah did good, and three times, he asked God to remember him for the good that he did.  Verses 14, 22, and 31.

In verses 10-14, Nehemiah restored the tithes (portions given to the Levites and others serving in the house of God) and restored their positions to mantain the house of God and its services.

In verses 15-22, Nehemiah honored the Sabbath day by preventing the sale of food and all kinds of merchandise during the Sabbath.

In verses 23-31, Nehemiah contended with those who had married foreign women.

“With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”  Ephesians 6:7-8.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:10.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”  Galatians 6:7.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”  Revelations 22:12.

Who can do the good that he should do?  Who can avoid doing the bad that he should not do?
 
But, there is hope!

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;  the old things passed away;  behold, new things have come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 12.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+12&version=NASB

I quote only the folowing verses.

“40 Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God.  So did I and half of the officials with me;  41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah, with the trumpets;  42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah their leader, 43 and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

44 On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites;  for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.  45 For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon.  46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God.  47 So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.”   Nehemiah 12:40-47.

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Today’s Scripture, particularly verses 45-46, supports generally the Regulative Principle of Worship.

“For they performed the worship of their God … in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon.”  Verse 45.

Some people wrongly think that just because they are joyful, it gives them an excuse to worship however they want.  But, we see that even though “God had given them great joy” (verse 43), they “performed the worship of their God … in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon.”

Today’s Scripture, particularly verse 46, also specifically supports the use of Psalms to be used for songs of worship.  We can infer that Psalms were referred to by the words “in the days of David and Asaph”, because they wrote Psalms to be used for “songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God”.  Although some go as far as saying that songs of worship should only be based on the Psalms, I would not go that far.  The only point that I make herein is that we see too few songs of worship based on the Psalms and too many songs based on what some teenage music praise leader imagines would be a good song for worship.

Reformed Doctrine contains the Regulative Principle of Worship.  The following is a quote from an article titled “The Regulative Principle of Worship (1)” by Griess Cory in “O Come Let Us Worship”, Volume 88/2012, Issue:  14. 4/15/2012 in the Standard Bearer, a publication of the Protestant Reformed Churches.

“…The regulative principle of worship is the principle that God in His Word tells us how to worship Him.  What God commands in worship must be done, and what He does not command in worship is forbidden. This principle arises first of all out of the second com­mandment. In the first commandment God commands us whom to worship—“no other gods but Me”.  In the second commandment God speaks to us about how to worship Him.  Exodus 20:4:  “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

Negatively, the second commandment tells us we are not to worship Him by graven images.  Israel was tempted by this. When they made the golden calf, they weren’t thinking that the actual calf was their god; rather they were attempting to worship Jehovah as represented by that calf.  The issue was the mode and manner of worship.  The calf was not a new god;  it was a new way to worship Jehovah God.

God says in the second command, “I will not be wor­shiped that way.”  The Heidelberg Catechism expands the application of the principle that God speaks to how He will be worshiped.  The Heidelberg says it is not up to the imaginations of men how God will be worshiped, but rather He will be worshiped in no other way than He has commanded in His Word.  He is the sovereign God and He determines how He will be worshiped.

We can state that positively as well. “Worship Me,” God is saying in the second commandment. “And worship me, the way I desire to be worshiped.”  That’s the regulative principle—worship God in the way He wants;  He’s the one being worshiped, after all.  It’s for Him.  Give Him what He desires.  This is the question we are asking when we speak of the regulative principle of worship:  what does God want in the worship of His name?  When we come for this covenantal dialogue, what exactly does He want to take place?  What are the elements of this dialogue that God requires?  May we add different elements to the covenantal meeting?

When people deal with these issues concerning wor­ship, they often begin by asking the wrong question.  Some begin by asking, “What will be the most appeal­ing to people?  What will allow people to showcase their individual talents the best and make them feel most special?  What will be the elements that are most like the culture around us?  What will be the most fun for us?”  Or on the other side of the coin, sometimes the first question people ask is, “What are our favorite songs from childhood?  Or what have we always done?”  But none of these questions address the essence of it.

The question first of all is, how does God desire to be worshiped?  What does His Word say about the public worship of His name?  In worship God speaks to us, and we respond in love for Him.  He is the audience, not us.  Therefore the question is, what does He desire from us?  What will please Him?  What brings Him more glory?  ..”

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 11.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following two verses.

“¹ Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities.  ² And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”  Nehemiah 11:1-2.

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On the one hand, Jerusalem (also known as Zion) was most likely of the cities of Judah to be attacked by the enemy with walls that were tore down and burnt and ridiculed by the enemy (but were rebuilt to some extent as shown in the book of Nehemiah).  

But, on the other hand, infinitely outweighing everything else, Jerusalem (also known as Zion) was God’s chosen city for His temple, His habitation, and His other blessings as the following Scriptures show.

“¹ His foundation is in the holy mountains.
² The Lord loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
³ Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God.  Selah.
⁴ “I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.’”
⁵ But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will establish her.
⁶ The Lord will count when He registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.”  Selah.
⁷ Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say,
“All my springs of joy are in you.”  Psalm chapter 87.

“¹ How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts!
² My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
³ The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
⁴ How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You.  Selah.

“¹ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our God, His holy mountain.
² Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion in the far north,
The city of the great King.
³ God, in her palaces,
Has made Himself known as a stronghold.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“28 Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, 29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;  30 and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.  31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day;  and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.”  Nehemiah 10:28-31.

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In today’s Scripture, we see the commitment of the people to separate themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God.  Verse 28.  And, we see two examples:  “we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.”  Verse 30.  “As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day”.  Verse 31.

We tend to want to be like everyone else.  We see Christians wanting to be like non-Christians, free to do everything that they want.  But, we also see Reformed people embarassed by their Reformed Doctrine, wanting to hide it or minimize it so as to be like those who embrace everyone and everything.   
 
But, we are different than others.  We are separate from others.  We should not try to be like everyone else.  We should not walk and behave as everyone else.  

“17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

“14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers;  for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?  15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God;  just as God said,
“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  2 Corinthians 6:14-16.

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;  and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”  Ephesians 4:17-19.

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges.  Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”  1 Corinthians 5:9-11.

In conclusion, there is hope in our sovereign God!  God chose His elect “out of the world”.  God has set us apart from the world and into the truth of His word.

“Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy;  and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”  Leviticus 20:26.

“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The Lord hears when I call to Him.”  Psalm 4:3.

“6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world;  they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  … 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  17 Sanctify them in the truth;  Your word is truth.”  John 17:6 and 15-17.

“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.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him;  and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.”  Matthew 25:31-33.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah 9:32-38.

“32 “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness,
Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You,
Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people,
From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.
33 “However, You are just in all that has come upon us;
For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.
34 “For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law
Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them.
35 “But they, in their own kingdom,
With Your great goodness which You gave them,
With the broad and rich land which You set before them,
Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.
36 “Behold, we are slaves today,
And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty,
Behold, we are slaves in it.
37 “Its abundant produce is for the kings
Whom You have set over us because of our sins;
They also rule over our bodies
And over our cattle as they please,
So we are in great distress.

38 “Now because of all this
We are making an agreement in writing;
And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”  Nehemiah 9:32-38.

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Praise God that He keeps covenant and lovingkindness!  We certainly do not keep our covenant.

And yet, other doctrine preaches:  “Just make another covenant and try harder!”

But, Reformed Doctrine is content to rest upon the covenant of our God Who keeps His covenant.  His covenant is all about what He does, such as “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it;  and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” and “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 

“31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.  33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it;  and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Which doctrine is more consistent with this God “who keeps covenant and lovingkindness”?

Other doctrine which depends on man and his alleged free-will and wisdom?

Or, Reformed Doctrine which depends on our God Who keeps His covenant from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation?