Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote only the following verses.

“7 “Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 “They are high as the heavens, what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?
9 “Its measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 “If He passes by or shuts up,
Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him?
11 “For He knows false men,
And He sees iniquity without investigating.”  Job 11:7-11.

——————————–

“13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:13-22.

Other doctrine hopes in its works and its alleged free-will and also hopes that the LORD will not see its sins.

But, Reformed Doctrine hopes solely in the LORD 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 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

” I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 “I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.
3 ‘Is it right for You indeed to oppress,
To reject the labor of Your hands,
And to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?
4 ‘Have You eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as a man sees?
5 ‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,
Or Your years as man’s years,
6 That You should seek for my guilt
And search after my sin?
7 ‘According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.

8 ‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether,
And would You destroy me?
9 ‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay;
And would You turn me into dust again?
10 ‘Did You not pour me out like milk
And curdle me like cheese;
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
12 ‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has preserved my spirit.”  Job 10:1-12.

————————–

Despite all the great physical and mental suffering that Job experienced, such that he loathed his life, Job recognized that God’s care preserved his spirit.  Verse 12.

There is only one explanation for Job’s endurance and for our endurance:  “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Here is what the Canons of Dordt state about it in part about “Preservation of the Saints” in FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end. 

Article 6.  But God, who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls;  nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of adoption, and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit sins unto death;  nor does he permit them to be totally deserted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Job answered,

2 “In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a man be in the right before God?
3 “If one wished to dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
4 “Wise in heart and mighty in strength,
Who has defied Him without harm?
5 “It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how,
When He overturns them in His anger;
6 Who shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;
7 Who commands the sun not to shine,
And sets a seal upon the stars;
8 Who alone stretches out the heavens
And tramples down the waves of the sea;
9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
10 Who does great things, unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.
11 “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 “Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’  Job 9:1-12.

————————————————————–

Yet, other doctrine tries to question God all the time:  “Man has free will!  What are you doing, God?”

But, Reformed Doctrine refutes such alleged free-will of man.

“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.”  Psalm 115:3.

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—
An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’

…”  Isaiah 45:9.

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Unconditional Election” that God elects those whom He will save, not based on any condition supplied by man such as man’s works or man’s will to be saved, “…  so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,”  Romans 9:11.

“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.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?”  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?  The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?”  Romans 9:15-21.

And, it also makes logical sense.  Because man’s natural condition is “Total Depravity”, man can not supply any condition that would motivate God to save him.

“10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And the path of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Romans 3:10-18.

Simply put, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,”  Ephesians 2:1.

“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.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

Thank God for this, His “Irresistible Grace”! 

Thank God for His sovereignty!

There are those who deny these Five Points of Calvinism.

There are also those who ignore or belittle these Five Points of Calvinism.

They are also those who may not directly confront God’s sovereignty, but they will pass by these points by stating, in the language of today’s Scripture and title for this devotion, that God is doing a lot more. 

But, there are those who delight to sit at the foot of the cross, so to speak, and study and treasure and diligently teach “Limited Atonement” and these other Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes grow without water?
12 “While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant.
13 “So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,
14 Whose confidence is fragile,
And whose trust a spider’s web.
15 “He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.
16 “He thrives before the sun,
And his shoots spread out over his garden.
17 “His roots wrap around a rock pile,
He grasps a house of stones.
18 “If he is removed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’”  Job 8:11-18.

———————–

Although Bildad, like Eliphaz, wrongly inferred that God was punishing Job for something bad that Job did, there is general truth in his statement that the hope of the godless will perish.  “So are the paths of all who forget God;  And the hope of the godless will perish, Whose confidence is fragile,  And whose trust a spider’s web.”  Verses 13-14.

“4 … You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6  The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.”  Psalm 9:5-6.

“… the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.”  Psalm 37:20.

As Bildad points out in verses 15-18, the wicked may appear to temporarily prosper (“He thrives before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden.” verse 16), but his house will not endure.  The wicked grasps at security (“His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones.” verse 17), but he will soon be removed and forgotten.

The following Psalm 37:35-40 has a similar theme and figurative description of how the wicked may appear to temporarily prosper but passes away, and this Scripture adds the sharp contrast of how the righteous are saved.

“35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
I sought for him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright;
For the man of peace will have a posterity.
38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed;
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.”  Psalm 37:40.

No one (or few) intends to forget God.  But, we are tempted to trust ourselves, rather than to trust God.   We have the right financial retirement savings number.  We have the right health weight.  Our children are all doing well.  We have it all and are proud and we forget about God. 
 
Although such trust may appear as beautiful and enticing as a spider’s web, such trust is also as weak as a spider’s web. 

Today’s devotion comes from Job chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+7&version=NASB

I quote only the followng verses.

“1 Is not man forced to labor on earth,
And are not his days like the days of a hired man?
2 “As a slave who pants for the shade,
And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
3 So am I allotted months of vanity,
And nights of trouble are appointed me.
4 “When I lie down I say,
‘When shall I arise?’
But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5 “My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and runs.
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And come to an end without hope.

7 “Remember that my life is but breath;
My eye will not again see good.”  Job 7:1-7.

—————————

Although such thoughts of the shortness of life and the troubles of life are sad, God causes such thoughts to arise for our good.

We should pray:  “Father, what are You teaching me?” 

God may be teaching us to set our mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.

God may also be teaching to use our days on earth wisely, doing what is most important to seek His kingdom.   

“9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90:9-12.

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.