Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 35.  My next devotion, God willing, will be next Sunday, December 13, 2015 after I return from my cruise vacation.

Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+35&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“18 There had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign this Passover was celebrated.

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him.  21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah?  I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry.  Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”  22 However, Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him;  nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo.  23 The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”  24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.  All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.”  2 Chronicles 35:18-24.

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As good as a king, King Josiah was, he still died, and he died sooner and he died in war less honorably, than we expected.

This is a good reminder that all of us are mortal and sinners.

“6 A voice says, “Call out.”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8.

“3 You turn man back into dust
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or as a watch in the night.
5 You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.
6 In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
Toward evening it fades and withers away.

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.
8 You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90:3-12.

But, there is hope!

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”  1 Peter 1:23.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:54-58.

And, God even gives life to our mortal bodies.  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11.

God “… satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:5.

“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.

“11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 84:11-12.

While I am away, I suggest that we meditate on these good things, and most importantly, what these good things teach us about the goodness of God. 

“I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has granted us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.”  Isaiah 63:7.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 34.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+34&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.  2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.  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.

…

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

…

14 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.

…

18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.”  And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

…

22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter);  and they spoke to her regarding this.  23 She said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah.  25 Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands;  therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”’  26 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus you will say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27 Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.  28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’”  And they brought back word to the king.”

…

31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.  32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him.  So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.  33 Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God.  Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.”     2 Chronicles 34: Verses 1-3, 8, 14, 18-19, and 22-28.

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“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 2:12.

King Josiah paid attention to the warning and humbled himself.  He “… made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.”  Verse 31.  “Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God.  Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.”  Verse 33.

What are we going to do with the warnings that we receive?

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;  just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:10-18.

What is this grace?  What is this knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

This grace and this knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are summarized by “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

This grace is a humbling grace.  “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP” humbles us to the extent that we give up all hope of ourselves being able to do right or even choose what is righteous and that we place our hope only in God doing everything necessary for our salvation from choosing us to preserving us.

This grace is a “God-choosing” grace, not a “man-choosing” grace, as taught by “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.

This grace is an “atoning grace”.  Although the atonement is limited in the sense that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died only for those chosen by God, the atonement is unlimited in the sense that Christ did everything necessary to secure their salvation as taught by “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”.

This grace is an “irresistible grace” as taught by “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”.

This grace is a “preserving grace” as taught by “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:4-10.

“20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
21 For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain.”  Isaiah 26:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 33.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+33&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.  2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.  3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;  he also erected altars for the Baals and made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.  4 He built altars in the house of the Lord of which the Lord had said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”  5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  6 He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists.  He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.  7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;  8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes and the ordinances given through Moses.”  9 Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.  11 Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.  12 When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom.  Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”   2 Chronicles 33:1-13.

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There was hope for Manasseh, even though he was very sinful.  And, there is hope for us too, even though we also are very sinful.

“1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

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.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.”  Psalm chapter 130.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 32:24-33.

“24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign.  25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud;  therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.  26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles, 28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.  29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.  30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David.  And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.  31 Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.”   2 Chronicles 32:24-33.

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“… “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  …  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  James 4:6 and 10.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  Psalm 51:17.

God knows whether pride or humility is in our hearts.  God knows the secrets of our heart.  Nothing is hidden from God.

“1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:1-10.

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.