Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 32:9-23.

“9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege?  11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?  12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense”?  13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands?  Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?  14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?  15 Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’”

16 His servants spoke further against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah.  17 He also wrote letters to insult the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”  18 They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city.  19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands.

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.  21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria.  So he returned in shame to his own land.  And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.  22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.  23 And many were bringing gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.”  2 Chronicles 32:9-23.

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Diversity does not save.  Sennacherib was correct when he pointed out:  “Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands?  Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?”  Verse 13.

But, Sennacherib was incorrect when he concluded:  “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”  Verse 17.

Article 1:  That there is One Only God.

We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God;  and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.  Belgic Confession. 

And, This “One Only God” can save.  Although God could save everyone, He has chosen to save only His Elect, His people. 

Article 6.  That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it proceeds from God’s eternal decree, “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” Acts 15:18.  “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will,” Ephesians 1:11.  According to which decree, he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe, while he leaves the non-elect in his just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy.  And herein is especially displayed the profound, and merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in ruin; or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation.   FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written: “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE  Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“2 Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”
3 But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.”  Psalm 115:2-3.

“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.”  Jeremiah 31:33.

“O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.”  Psalm 115:9.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 32:1-8.

“1 After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.  2 Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, 3 he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him.  4 So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?”  5 And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number.  6 He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him;  for the one with us is greater than the one with him.  8 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”  And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”     2 Chronicles 32:1-8.

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“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them;  because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ”  1 John 4:4.

We may not face a literal enemy like Sennacherib king of Assyria who came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, but we certainly face many troubles.

We notice in verse 1:  “After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah …”  Just because we have troubles does not necessarily mean that God is punishing us for unfaithfulness.  Sometimes, God wants to build out faith.  Sometimes, God has something better in store for us than just peace.

“The righteous cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”  Psalm 34:17-19.

We cannot determine or know how many trials we will face or how God will deliver us.  God often uses humble and unexpected means to deliver us, time and time again.

“28 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.  29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  32 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 8:28-32.

“1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 31.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+31&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites by their divisions, each according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.

3 He also appointed the king’s portion of his goods for the burnt offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths and for the new moons and for the fixed festivals, as it is written in the law of the Lord.  4 Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord.  5 As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field;  and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all.  6 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and placed them in heaps.  7 In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finished them by the seventh month.  8 When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel.  9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.  10 Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok said to him, “Since the contributions began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the Lord has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.”

…

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah;  and he did what was good, right and true before the Lord his God.  21 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.”   2 Chronicles Chapter 31:  Verses 1-10 and 20-21.

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We can try to do all kind of good, right, and true things for God.  But, it can be for naught if we do not first seek God.

We particularly notice verse 21 in today’s Scripture:  “Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.”

And, we remember some other recent verses.

We remember King Uzziah of Judah:  “… as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.”  2 Chronicles 26:5.

We remember that the LORD pardoned and healed the people who sought God even though they did not eat the Passover as prescribed.  “For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”  So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.”  2 Chronicles 30:18-20.

Some doctrine emphasize the doing with all of the heart.

Other doctrine emphasize the motivation of prosperity.

But, Reformed Doctrine puts seeking God in the front and center.

Who is this God?  What does Scripture teach us about this God?

Some doctrine eagerly chase after the god that they want, the god who loves everybody, and the god who bows down to man’s free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine seeks the God of Scripture Who reveals Himself as a God Who chooses His people and Who accomplishes all of His purpose.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Deuteronomy 12:5
But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.

1 Chronicles 22:19
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;  arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”

1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind;  for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will let you find Him;  but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

2 Chronicles 11:16
Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 14:4
and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.

2 Chronicles 15:12
They entered into the covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

2 Chronicles 19:3
But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.

2 Chronicles 34:3
For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David;  and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.

Ezra 4:2
they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God;  and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.

Ezra 6:21
The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the Lord God of Israel, ate the Passover.

Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”

Psalm 63:1
O God, You are my God;  I shall seek You earnestly;  My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

Psalm 69:32
The humble have seen it and are glad;  You who seek God, let your heart revive.

Psalm 70:4
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;  And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!

Jeremiah 50:4
“In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well;  they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the Lord their God they will seek.

Daniel 9:3
So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

Hosea 3:5
Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king;  and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Colossians 3:1
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 30:10-27.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+30&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“10 So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.  11 Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.  12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

…

21 The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord.  22 Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the Lord.  So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy.  24 For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves.  25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.  26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.  27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people;  and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.”  2 Chronicles Chapter 30:  Verses 10-12 and 21-27.

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We would be like those who scorned and mocked the messengers who brought good news of the invitation to the Passover, but for the hand of the LORD also on us giving us one heart to seek the LORD too.  Verses 10-12.

“Total Depravity” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, humbles us.  We recognize that we need the hand of the LORD on us and a new heart too.  We recognize that our own alleged free-will, our own wisdom, and our own strength are not be sufficient to cause us to repent and follow the LORD.

“22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  23 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:22-27.

Praise God for that wonderful word “cause” that we so desperately need!

This new heart, this new spirit, and this “cause” are summarized by “Irresistible Grace” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;  and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44.  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”  John 6:37-39.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 30:1-9.

“1 Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.  2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, 3 since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.  4 Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.  5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem.  For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed.  6 The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria.  7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see.  8 Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the Lord and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you.  9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land.  For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”  2 Chronicles 30:1-9.

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“8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.”  Psalm 103:8-14.

“1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.  Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
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 chapter 32.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 29:19-36.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+29&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped.  Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer.  So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.”    2 Chronicles 29:29-30.

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Today’s devotion focuses on singing praises to the LORD with Psalms which are “the words of David and Asaph the seer”.  Verse 30.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”  Psalm 95:2.

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;”  Ephesians 5:19-20.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16.

Other doctrine prefers to only use their own words.

But, Reformed Doctrine prefers to use the words of the Psalms, some exclusively and some not exclusively.  The purpose of this devotion is to not take sides on that specific issue.  I would be a hypocrite if I advocated exclusive use of the words of the Psalms to sing praises.  I use them far too little.  But, I do want to generally encourage people to at least use the words of Psalms more to sing praises.

At least in the beginning of every devotion as I begin to write, I listen to the following song.  There is a YouTube link below if you want to listen to it.

Psalm 90 – Psalter 247 God Our Help and Hope by Psalm Choir

The Protestant Reformed Psalm Choir has put together performances promoting the Psalms for 17 years and has produced 16 recordings.

“1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
3 Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
4 Oh let those who fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

5 From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.”  Psalm 118:1-9.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 29:1-19.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+29&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.  And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.  2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.  4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.

5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place.  6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs.  7 They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.  8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.  10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us.  11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”  2 Chronicles 29:1-10.

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Being chosen is not only the basis for salvation;  being chosen is the basis for service to the LORD.

When we pound the table on the importance of “Unconditional Election” in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, we are not only pounding the table to declare why we are saved, we are pounding the table to declare why we serve the LORD.

“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;”  1 Peter 2:9.

Jesus chose his twelve disciples.  “And He *went up on the mountain and *summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.”  Mark 3:13.

Even Jesus Himself was chosen by God.  “Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One;  listen to Him!”  Luke 9:35.

Jesus chose those whom He said:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” as in “I do not speak of all of you.  I know the ones I have chosen;  but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’  From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me;  and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”  John 13:18-20.

“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”  Acts 9:15.

“Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the name of the Lord; and every dispute and every assault shall be settled by them.”  Deuteronomy 21:5.

“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you (Solomon) to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.”  1 Chronicles 28:10.

“Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them.”  Psalm 106:23.

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

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 28.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+28&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah (king of Israel) slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

8 The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters;  and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.  9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded;  and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has even reached heaven.  10 Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves.  Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the Lord your God?  11 Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the Lord is against you.”

…

15 Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil;  and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers;  then they returned to Samaria.”  2 Chronicles Chapter 28:  Verses 6-11 and 15.

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Reformed Doctrine most clearly recognizes that we all have transgressions of our own against the LORD our God as shown by its teaching of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  In our natural condition, we all are dead in sin, hostile to God, enslaved to sin and Satan.

Reformed Doctrine most clearly recognizes that all that is good that we have received (forgiveness, mercy, and other blessings) is by God’s grace alone.

Such a sound doctrine foundation most clearly leads us to forgive others and to also otherwise be kind to them.

“21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?”  22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.  25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.  26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’  27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.  31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.  32 Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’  34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  Matthew 18:21-35.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;  for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  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 5:43-48.

Today’s Scripture comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 27.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.  And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.  2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done;  however he did not enter the temple of the Lord.  But the people continued acting corruptly.  3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills.  5 He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley.  The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year.  6 So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.”  2 Chronicles 27:1-6.

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We remember a similar verse in the preceding chapter.  “He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God;  and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.”  2 Chronicles 26:5.

Some doctrine would be content to rest here.  “Do good, and it will go well with you.”  “Obey the Law and prosper.”

But, Reformed Doctrine does not rest in man’s ability to obey the Law even though the Law is good and obeying it makes perfect sense.  “Total Depravity” of man, the first point of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, humbles man and makes Reformed Doctrine always look to God for hope and deliverance such as is declared in the rest of the points of “TULIP”:  “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”.

So then, what about the Law? 

“… the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11.

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.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:4-6.

“Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?  May it never be!  For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”  Galatians 3:21-22.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24.

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase;  but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:20-21.

“What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:1-7.

“But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin?  May it never be!  For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:17-21.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.

“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 5:16-23.

So, what does it mean to order your ways before the LORD your God?

“In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.”  Psalm 5:3.

“22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
23 “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God.”  Psalm 50:22-23.

In summary, to order our ways before the LORD does not mean that we will try harder to obey the Law.  To order our ways before the LORD means that we will first humble ourselves.  “… God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6.  1 Peter 5:5.  Reformed Doctrine helps us do that through its teaching of “Total Depravity”.  Second, we look to God for deliverance from “A” to “Z”, from “Unconditional Election” to “Preservation of the Saints”.  As stated in the above Psalm 5:3, as in the morning order of the day, we pray to God in the morning and eagerly wait for His salvation.  As stated in the above Psalm 50:22-23, we do not forget about God.  Rather, we give thanks to God.  As stated in the above Galatians 2:20, we “live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Finally, today’s Scripture gives us a hint that our hope is not based on the Law.  We note that Uzziah “did not enter the temple of the Lord”.  Verse 2.  No wonder!  He considered what happened to his father in the previous chapter.  And yet, today’s Scripture summarized that “He did right in the sight of the Lord” and (Verse 2) and “he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” (Verse 6).  Of course, this is no excuse for us to skip attending church.  But, it should help us consider what it means to truly order our way before the LORD our God.  It is not about attending church or trying harder to obey the Law.  It is about humbling ourselves and living by faith in Christ.  “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.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 26.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+26&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.  2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.  3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.  4 He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done.  5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God;  and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.

…

16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.  17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense.  Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.”  19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged;  and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense.  20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead;  and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the Lord had smitten him.  21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death;  and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord.  And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land.”  2 Chronicles chapter 26:  Verses 1-5 and 16-21.

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As we approach Thanksgiving, Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving helps us to both give thanksgiving and to remember that we should not be proud and arrogant as King Uzziah was in his later days.

“1 Then Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.
4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease to hunger.
Even the barren gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children languishes.
6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 “The Lord makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.
8 “He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the world on them.
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.
10 “Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered;
Against them He will thunder in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,”  2 Samuel 2:1-10.

Other doctrine boasts proudly about its alleged free-will, wisdom, and strength.

But, Reformed Doctrine is humble based on “Total Depravity” and boasts only what the LORD has done for them from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Like Hannah, Reformed Doctrine exults in the LORD and rejoices in His salvation.

““My heart exults in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.”    2 Samuel 2:1-2.