Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 25.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+25&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin;  and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield.  6 He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.  7 But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim.  8 But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle;  yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.”  9 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”  And the man of God answered, “The Lord has much more to give you than this.”

…

14 Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”  16 As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor?  Stop!  Why should you be struck down?”  Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”  2 Chronicles Chapter 25:  Verses 5-9 and 14-16.

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Amaziah king of Judah looked to Israel for help to wage war rather than seek the LORD.  Amaziah was rebuked by a man of God for seeking help from Israel rather than seeking help from the LORD:  “God has power to help and to bring down.  …  The Lord has much more to give you than this.”  Verses 8-9.

Later, Amaziah “brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them.”  Verse 14.     Amaziah was rebuked again, this time from a prophet, for seeking help from the gods of the people rather than seeking help from the One and Only God:  “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?”  Verse 15.

Sadly, seeking others for help rather than seeking help from God was a common practice for Israel and Judah.  The following Isaiah Chapter 31 summarizes the woe to those who do so.  And, it provides a lesson for us today who seek help from others rather than seeking help from God.

“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!
2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster
And does not retract His words,
But will arise against the house of evildoers
And against the help of the workers of iniquity.
3 Now the Egyptians are men and not God,
And their horses are flesh and not spirit;
So the Lord will stretch out His hand,
And he who helps will stumble
And he who is helped will fall,
And all of them will come to an end together.

4 For thus says the Lord to me,

“As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey,
Against which a band of shepherds is called out,
And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise,
So will the Lord of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.”
5 Like flying birds so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem.
He will protect and deliver it;
He will pass over and rescue it.

6 Return to Him from whom you have deeply defected, O sons of Israel.  7 For in that day every man will cast away his silver idols and his gold idols, which your sinful hands have made for you as a sin.

8 And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man,
And a sword not of man will devour him.
So he will not escape the sword,
And his young men will become forced laborers.
9 “His rock will pass away because of panic,
And his princes will be terrified at the standard,”
Declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.”  Isaiah Chapter 31.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 24.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+24&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba.  2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

…

17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them.  18 They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols;  so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.  19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord;  though they testified against them, they would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest;  and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper?  Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.’”  21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord.  22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son.  And as he died he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”

23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him;  and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.  24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men;  yet the Lord delivered a very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers.  Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed.  So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.  26 Now these are those who conspired against him:  Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.”  2 Chronicles 24:1-2 and 17-26.

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As long as Jehoiada the priest was alive, Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord.  Verse 2.

But after the death of Jehoiada, Joash listened to the bad counsel of the officials of Judah.  “They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols”.  Verses 17 and 18.

Even though the LORD sent good prophets to bring them back to Him, Joash would not listen to the good prophets from the LORD.  Joash even murdered the son of Jehoiada the priest.  Verses 19-22.

But, Joash and his people suffered the consequences of forsaking the LORD.  “Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him;  and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.”  And, “his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed.”  Verses 23-25.

We are reminded of the importance of good friends, good counselors, good elders, good spouse, and good rulers that was the theme of a recent devotion.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Proverbs 13:20.

We should avoid foolish friends, foolish counselors, foolish elders, foolish spouse, and foolish rulers.

We wonder if part of the problem was that some Jews married foreign women of different religions.  “Now these are those who conspired against him:  Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.”  Verse 26.

Despite the wisdom of King Solomon, foreign women turned his heart from the LORD.

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh:  Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.”  Solomon held fast to these in love.  He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.  For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.  Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.”  1 Kings 11:1-6.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 23.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+23&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“16 Then Jehoiada (the priest) made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king (Joash), that they would be the Lord’s people.  17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.  18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lord under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses—with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David.  19 He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house.  And they placed the king upon the royal throne.  21 So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet.  For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.”  2 Chronicles 23:16-21.

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Jehoida the priest carried out righteous reforms including making Joash king.  Jehoida said:  “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has spoken concerning the sons of David.”  Verse 3.

“So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet.  For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.”  Verse 21.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.”  Proverbs 29:2.

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.”  Proverbs 11:10.

“The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.”  Proverbs 13:9.

“By transgression an evil man is ensnared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.”  Proverbs 29:6.

“10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”  Psalm 58:10-11.

There are those who wish that people would simply rejoice in diversity.

But, the real cause of rejoicing is when the righteous increase and things go well with the righteous.

There are not many diverse saviors.  There is only one Savior Who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”  Isaiah 49:6-7.

There are those who do not want this Savior, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to reign.  But, they will be like Athaliah.  “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:17.

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:2-9.

But, there are those who rejoice greatly in the LORD and the righteousness that He gives us.  

“In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.”  Psalm 89:16.

“But let the righteous be glad;  let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.”  Psalm 68:3.

“10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.”  Isaiah 61:10-11.

There are those who rejoice greatly in the reign of God and the salvation that He brings to His people.

“7 How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen!  Your watchmen lift up their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When the Lord restores Zion.
9 Break forth, shout joyfully together,
You waste places of Jerusalem;
For the Lord has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:7-10.

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 22.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+22&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem.  And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.  He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.  He did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.

He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead.  But the Arameans wounded Joram.”  2 Chronicles 22:2-5.

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“He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Proverbs 13:20.

We should walk with good friends, good counselors, good elders, good spouse, and good rulers.

We should avoid foolish friends, foolish counselors, foolish elders, foolish spouse, and foolish rulers.

But, sometimes foolish friends, foolish counselors, foolish elders, foolish spouse, and foolish rulers are more interesting, fun, and cool.

But, in the end, if we walk with them, we will suffer harm.  Ahaziah walked according to their counsel and foolishly went into war and suffered injury.

That is all pretty obvious, and we all would probably nod our heads in agreement.

But, where it becomes more subtle is with good doctrine.

We may be tempted to stay in a church just because our family and friends are there.

Or, we may like the music or the youth program or the service opportunities.

But, the doctrine is bad.  And, we continue to walk with the bad doctrine in the church.

Although I grew up with Reformed Doctrine in Western Michigan, in 1977, I moved to Florida to go to law school, and I stayed here in Florida.  I attended and was a member, even a lay leader, in a large range of churches from Assembly of God to Baptist to Calvary Chapel to United Methodist to nondenominational churches and small fellowships.  At first, I thought Reformed Doctrine would be preached in all Christian Protestant churches.  When I heard some strange preaching or teaching, I first thought that the problem was just with that particular minister or teacher.  Eventually, a childhood friend, who remained in Western Michigan, asked me if I remembered “TULIP” which is also known as the Five Points of Calvinism and the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  I studied the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism.  That study made me aware that often what bothered me was not just bad preaching or teaching, but rather the problem was caused by bad doctrine (Arminianism) that broadly and deeply affected that church and its denomination which at some time of its history strayed away from Reformed Doctrine.  Through God’s grace, I came back to walk the good paths of Reformed Doctrine.

“16 Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 “And I set watchmen over you, saying,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 “Therefore hear, O nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 “Hear, O earth:  behold, I am bringing disaster on this people,
The fruit of their plans,
Because they have not listened to My words,
And as for My law, they have rejected it also.”  Jeremiah 6:16-19.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 21:8-20.

“8 In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.  9 Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him.  And he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots. 10 So Edom revolted against Judah to this day.  Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers.  11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot and led Judah astray.

12 Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says the Lord God of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you, 14 behold, the Lord is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives and all your possessions with a great calamity;  15 and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day by day.’”

16 Then the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians;  17 and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house together with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 So after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.  19 Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died in great pain.  And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers.  20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years;  and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”    2 Chronicles 21:8-20.

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Other doctrine is surprised at the behavior at Jehoram.

Other doctrine thinks that the LORD needs to be on His toes to react to evil.

But, Reformed Doctrine is not surprised at the behavior at Jehoram.  The very first point of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation is “Total Depravity”, the natural condition of man.

Other doctrine teaches that God loves everybody.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God hates all who do iniquity and will punish them.

Reformed Doctrine teaches that the LORD exercises justice on earth for He delights in justice to the extent that the LORD has established His throne to carry out judgment.

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

“Thus I will punish the world for its evil
And the wicked for their iniquity;
I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud
And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”  Isaiah 13:11.

“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.

7 But the Lord abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
8 And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.”  Psalm 9:5-8.

“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.  …”  Belgic Confession.

“Q. 10. Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?

 A. By no means;  but is terribly displeased with our original as well as actual sins;  and will punish them in His just judgment temporally and eternally, as He hath declared, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  Heidelberg Catechism.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples;  for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”  Jeremiah 9:23-26.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 21:1-7.

“1 Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.  2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael and Shephatiah.  All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.  3 Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4 Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also.  5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.  7 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.”  2 Chronicles 21:1-7.

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In today’s Scripture, we read about the promise to give a lamp to David and his sons forever.  Verse 7.  This promise refers to the promise to establish David’s kingdom through his descendant forever and to also otherwise lovingkindness to him in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me;  when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever;  your throne shall be established forever.”’”   2 Samuel 7:12-16.

Ultimately, this promise applies to Christ, a descendant of David.  God established the kingdom of Christ forever.

“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary;  for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;  and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”  Luke 1:30-32.

“… The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;  and He will reign forever and ever.”  Revelation 11:15.

“6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:6-9.

Because we are in Christ, we reign with Christ.

“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.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:13-14.

“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:17.

“And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God;  and they will reign upon the earth.”  Revelation 5:9-10.

Other doctrine places its hope in man, man’s alleged free-will, man’s works, and man’s choices.

But, Reformed doctrine places its hope in God, God’s will, God’s promises, God’s works, and God’s choices.

“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”   Acts 2:39.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 20:26-37.

“26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord.  Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of Beracah” until today.  27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.  28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the Lord.  29 And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.  30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.

31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah.  He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.  And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.  32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord.  33 The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel.  He acted wickedly in so doing.  36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.  37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.”  So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.  2 Chronicles 20:26-37.

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Considering the sins of Jehoshaphat mentioned in verses 33 to 37, it is remarkable and encouraging that there still was this conclusion about Jehoshaphat in verse 32:  “He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord.”

Even though we too may continue to sin like Jehoshaphat, God disciplines us to correct us, forgives us, and considers us blameless in Christ.

Scripture here does not specifically record Jehoshaphat’s reaction to the mild discipline of the destruction of his ships.  But, we know generally, that sometimes the discipline may be mild, because the discipline quickly gets our attention and easily corrects us.

But, whether the discipline is mild or severe, we should accept it and endure, trusting that it is for our good that we may live in holiness, peace, and righteousness, as from the hand of our Heavenly Father.

“7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons;  for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them;  shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:7-11.

“17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
18 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation,
And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;”  Isaiah 32:17-18.

“So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.”  Verse 30.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 20:20-30.

“20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa;  and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established.  Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.”  21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah;  so they were routed.  23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely;  and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.  25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry.  And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.

26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord.  Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of Beracah” until today.  27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.  28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the Lord.  29 And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.  30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides.”   2 Chronicles 20:20-30.

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Today’s Scripture shows how zealously God favors His people and fights against their enemies such that Judah only needed to “stand and see the salvation of the Lord”.  We remember the verse from the preceding Scripture:  “You need not fight in this battle;  station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’  Do not fear or be dismayed;  tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”  2 Chronicles 20:17.

Other doctrine teaches that “God loves everybody!” as if it is only fair and that by saying it enough and passionately will make it so.

But, we see in today’s Scripture that God did not love the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah.  He utterly destroyed them.

Likewise, we see what the LORD did to the inhabitants of Canaan when the LORD brought His chosen people into the land to take possession of it.

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them.  You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them.  … For you are a holy people to the Lord your God;  the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”  Deuteronomy 7:1, 2, and 6.

“… he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8.

“7 Arise, O Lord;  save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.”  Psalm 3:7-8.

What would we think of our earthly father if someone broke into our home and we cried out to our father for help, but instead of fighting against the intruder, he paused and said to us:  “Well, I love everybody.”? 

Such thought is ridiculous.  It just would not happen.

We may have been bad children, but our earthly father would use every ounce of strength and wisdom and passion to fight against the intruder.

How much more will our Heavenly Father utterly destroy our enemies!

Reformed Doctrine teaches that the trust in the LORD is based in part that God has chosen us and will do everything good for us. 

“8 “But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts
And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
12 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.”  Isaiah 41:8-12.

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

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  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.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation  through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13-15.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 20:14-19.

“14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;  15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.  16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.  17 You need not fight in this battle;  station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’  Do not fear or be dismayed;  tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.  19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”    2 Chronicles 20:14-19.

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“But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today;  for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.”  Exodus 14:13.

“23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.”  Psalm 22:23-24.

“8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.”  Psalm 33:8-9.

“22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

“Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale;

23 But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst,
They will sanctify My name;
Indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
And will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 “Those who err in mind will know the truth,
And those who criticize will accept instruction.”  Isaiah 29:22-24.

Which doctrine is more consistent with this:  “station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf” in today’s Scripture and other similar Scriptures?

Other doctrine which is all about man, man’s alleged free-will, and the doing of man?

Or, Reformed Doctrine which is all about God, His will, and His work which accomplishes salvation for us from “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation?

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 20:1-13.

“1 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.  2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).”  3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord;  they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, 6 and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens?  And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations?  Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.  7 Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?  8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, 9 ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’  10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), 11 see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.  12 O our God, will You not judge them?  For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us;  nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

¹³ All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.”  2 Chronicles 20:1-13.

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The eyes of other doctrine are on man and man’s alleged free-will.

But, the eyes of Reformed Doctrine are on “our God”.

Other doctrine thinks that it knows what to do.

But, Reformed Doctrine does not know what to do, other than trust in God.

Other doctrine rushes into action.

But, Reformed Doctrine waits for the LORD.

“Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:14.

“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.”  Psalm 33:16-20.

“7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret;  it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.”  Psalm 37:7-9.

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.”  Psalm 39:7.

“1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.”  Psalm 40:1-3.

“5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.”  Psalm 130:5-7.

“The Lord favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:11.

“And it will be said in that day,
“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”  Isaiah 25:9.

“O Lord, be gracious to us;  we have waited for You.
Be their strength every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of distress.”  Isaiah 33:2.

“30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”  Isaiah 40:30-31.

“22 Thus says the Lord God,

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My standard to the peoples;
And they will bring your sons in their bosom,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.
23 “Kings will be your guardians,
And their princesses your nurses.
They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth
And lick the dust of your feet;
And you will know that I am the Lord;
Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame.”  Isaiah 49:22-23.

“25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not reject forever,
32 For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.”  Lamentations 3:25-32.