Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 13.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+13&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.  6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called.  7 They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.  8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.  10 The anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.  11 Then David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day.  12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”  13 So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months;  and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.”  1 Chronicles 13:5-14.

————————–

Like David and all Israel, we may be “celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.”  Verse 8.  Such element of worship may or may not please God, but it is not enough.

Some pleasing element of worship gives us no excuse to handle other elements of worship of God outside of His commandments as to how they are to be handled.  Today’s Scripture shows us that we cannot even so much as touch elements of God’s worship outside of God’s commandments.

Although it is not the primary focus of this devotion, the Regulative Principle of Worship of Reformed Doctrine should now be mentioned.  Here is an article on it titled “The Regulative Principle of Worship (1)” by Griess Cory in the Standard Bearer publication of the Protestant Reformed Churches, Volume 88/2012, Issue:  14, 4/15/2012.  Here is a link to the article – http://standardbearer.rfpa.org/articles/regulative-principle-worship-1

The primary focus of this devotion is more general.

We may think elements of worship will fall or fail unless we save them or at least “tweak” them.  But, that action is not our prerogative. 

First of all, we notice that the concluding verses of today’s Scripture shows that the family of Obed-edom was blessed, not because of how they handled the ark, but simply because the ark remained there three months.

Generally, we think it is up to us to build the church.  We strive.  We tweak.  We worry. 

We need to remember the words of Jesus:  “… I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”  Matthew 16:18.

“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”  Proverbs 3:5-7.

“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10.

In conclusion, we tend to be wise in our own eyes.  We tend to lean on our own understanding.  We tend to think it is up to us to save the ark or the church.  But, we would do well to humble ourselves and have child-like trust in God as shown in the following Scripture.

“1 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.”  Psalm chapter 131.

Other doctrine exhorts:  “Just try harder!” relying on their alleged free-will, wisdom, and ability to save the world.

Reformed Doctrine comforts:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” relying on God Who handles all the points of salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

Today’s devotion comes fro 1 Chronicles chapter 12.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish;  and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin.

…

22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.

23 Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

…

38 All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel;  and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king.  39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them.  40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and on oxen, great quantities of flour cakes, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep.  There was joy indeed in Israel.”  1 Chronicles Chapter 12:  Verses 1-2 and 22-23 and 38-40.

——————————

The people of Reformed Doctrine identify themselves with the people of today’s Scripture.  They fully support Christ the King and celebrate with joy His sovereign rule. 

But, there are those who cling to their alleged free-will.  They can’t stand predestination.  They form their own idol of “the man upstairs” at their beck and call.  They subvert and revolt against Christ the King of Scripture Who rules over all with a rod of iron and Who does not give up one inch of His absolute total sovereign power to man.   

“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!”  Psalm 2:2-3.

But, the LORD is not worried.

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 2:4-9.

“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 9:27.

“The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”  Exodus 15:18.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 11.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.  11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had:  Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty;  he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.  13 He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley;  and the people fled before the Philistines.  14 They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines;  and the Lord saved them by a great victory.

…

20 As for Abshai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the thirty, and he swung his spear against three hundred and killed them;  and he had a name as well as the thirty.  21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander;  however, he did not attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab.  He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day.  23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five cubits tall.  Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.  24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three;  and David appointed him over his guard.”  1 Chronicles Chapter 11:  Verses 10-14 and 20-25.

——————-

David’s mighty men point us to the LORD’s faithful men and women in Hebrews chapter 13.  The true “All Stars” or “Hall of Fame” members are those who had faith in God and based their actions on their faith.

“1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.  5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death;  and he was not found because God took him up;  for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.  6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”  Hebrew 11:1-7.

What does your faith cause you to do?

For some, your faith will cause you to put your children in Christian schools even though it requires great financial sacrifice and you don’t know how you will be able to maintain it.

For some, your faith will cause you to leave much better paying employment to enter some type of ministry or volunteer work.

For some, your faith will cause you to leave your church full of family and friends in order to attend a church full of strangers but where you believe sound doctrine is preached.

For some, your faith will cause you to take a politically incorrect stance.

For some, your faith will cause you to humble themselves in some way even though others may persecute you, ridicule you, or wonder why you do so.

For some, your faith will cause you to move to another place, sometimes far away, or otherwise prepare some figurative type of “ark for the salvation” of your household.

Hebrews chapter 11 are filled with very different examples of actions caused by faith.  And, you also see other examples of “Hall of Fame worthy” faith in your observations surrounding you.

Their faith encourages them to take such actions, believing that God “is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

In summary, men of old did not gain approval by their might, wisdom, riches, or by just trying harder.  Men of old gained approval by faith.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“When all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep;  and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the Lord.  Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.”  1 Chronicles 10:11-14.

—————————–

The punishment given to Saul presents a specific and general lesson to us.  Specifically, we should not seek counsel from a medium (for example, psychic or fortune teller).  Generally, we should seek counsel from the LORD.

“⁶ Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
¹¹ So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:6-11.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”  Psalm 119:105.

“⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.”  Psalm 119:98-100.

“² But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-4.

“⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true;  they are righteous altogether.
¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+8&version=NASB

I quote only the first two verses.

“And Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.”  1 Chronicles 8:1-2.

——————-

“Of Benjamin he said,

“May the beloved of the Lord dwell in security by Him,
Who shields him all the day,
And he dwells between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12.

Other doctrine base God’s love for us on our works or our will or our love for God.

But, Scripture does not teach that God loves us because of something good we did.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

“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),”  Ephesians 2:4-5.

Reformed Doctrine bases God’s love for us on His choice of us:  “knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”  1 Thessalonians 1:4.

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:7-8.

“Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.”  Deuteronomy 10:15.

“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.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

“As He says also in Hosea,

“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’
And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”  Romans 9:25.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

And, if God chose us and loves us, His beloved, then we will dwell in security in Him, He will shield us, and He will preserve us to salvation (the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.) 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now the sons of Issachar were four:  Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.  2 The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel, heads of their fathers’ households.  The sons of Tola were mighty men of valor in their generations;  their number in the days of David was 22,600.  3 The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah.  And the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, Isshiah;  all five of them were chief men.  4 With them by their generations according to their fathers’ households were 36,000 troops of the army for war, for they had many wives and sons.  5 Their relatives among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, enrolled by genealogy, in all 87,000.”  1 Chronicles 7:1-5.

——————–

Mighty men of valor in this chapter points us to the LORD.

“3 “The Lord is a warrior;
The Lord is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;
You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.”  Exodus 15:3-7.

“In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.”  Exodus 15:13.

“17 “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”  Exodus 15:17-18.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 6.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.  The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.  The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses and Miriam.  And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

…

But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.”   1 Chronicles 6:1-3 and 49.

—————————

“11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?  12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.  13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.  14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.  17 For it is attested of Him,

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”);

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.  25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;  27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”  Hebrews 7:11-28.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 5.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, consisting of valiant men, men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow and were skillful in battle, were 44,760, who went to war.  They made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab.  They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand;  for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.  They took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000 men.  For many fell slain, because the war was of God.  And they settled in their place until the exile.”  1 Chronicles 5:18-22.

————————

“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength;  so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude.  O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”  So the Lord routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.”  2 Chronicles 14:11-12.

Other doctrine comes to the LORD and says:  “We have works.  We have will.  We have other virtuous qualities.  We just need a little help as we see fit.”

Reformed Doctrine comes to the LORD and says:  “We have nothing, and Lord, there is no one besides You to help.  We need everything as You see fit.”

When one truly believes that Scripture teaches “Total Depravity” (that man is in his natural condition dead in sin, hostile to God, enslaved to sin and Satan), the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, then that one will not bristle against “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, because that one recognizes that “Unconditional Election” is the only chance of salvation.  That humble one recognizes the need for everything that pertains to salvation from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”.  In summary, that one will not dictate how one should be saved.

“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),”  Ephesians 2:4-5.  “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,”  Colossians 2:13.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

“So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  …  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:16 and 18.

“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.