Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.  The king went up to the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great;  and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.  3 The king stood by the pillar 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 all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.  And all the people entered into the covenant.

4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven;  and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.  5 He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven.  6 He brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord outside Jerusalem to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.

…

21 Then the king commanded all the people saying, “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.”  22 Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah.  23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem.

24 Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.  25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses;  nor did any like him arise after him.

26 However, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.  27 The Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from My sight, as I have removed Israel.  And I will cast off Jerusalem, this city which I have chosen, and the temple of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’”  2 Kings Chapter 23:  Verses 1-6 and 21-27.

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At first, it seem puzzling and a non-sequitur to read verses 26 and 27 that the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His anger after all of what we read previously of King Josiah’s reforms and that “there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses;  nor did any like him arise after him.”  Verse 25.

But then, we consider the following Scriptures and get some insight into verses 26 and 27.

Christ said:  “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?  So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves;  we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”  Luke 17:9-10.

King Josiah and Judah did not deserve a pat on the back after their reforms, in essence, no longer doing as much evil as they did before.  They have done only that which they should have done.

Likewise, when we repent and no longer do as much evil as before, we have done only that which they should have done.

The blessing will not come from our works “according to all the law of Moses”:  “but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.  …”  Romans 9:31-32.  “For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”  Romans 10:3.

The blessing will come through faith in Christ.  The attitude of true humility demonstrated by the attitude “we have done only that which we ought to have done” may help lead us to faith in Christ.

“What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;”  Romans 9:30.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:4.

“just as it is written,

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  Romans 9:33.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“11 When the king (Josiah, king of Judah) heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.  12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her.  15 She said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 thus says the Lord, “Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.  17 Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’  18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord thus shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.  20 “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”’”  So they brought back word to the king.”  2 Kings 22:11-20.

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“When the king (Josiah, king of Judah) heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.”  Verse 11.  Huldah prophesied:  “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord … your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”  Verses 18-20.

When we hear or read the word of God, we can be closed to the word of God with a hard heart.  We can have our own presumptions as to what really occurred, what is fair, and what should occur.  Particularly when we hear or read about God’s judgment and punishment, we can be defensive and bristle against the word of God.

Or, when we hear or read the word of God, we can be open to the word of God with a tender heart.  We can trust the word of God, accept it as truth, and humble ourselves.

“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners;  and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep;  let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  James 4:6-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+21&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;  and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.  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 destroyed;  and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, 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, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.”  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 son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists.  He did much evil in the sight of the Lord provoking Him to anger.  7 Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord said to David and to his son Solomon, “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 make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.”  9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.

10 Now the Lord spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, 11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;  12 therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.”  2 Kings 21:1-12.

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“Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols”.  Verse 11.  We can certainly understand why the LORD pronounced his intention to punish Jerusalem and Judah.  We only wonder why the LORD allowed Manasseh reign so long (55 years) and why the punishment did not come sooner to Jerusalem and Judah.

Why was the LORD so patient?

For Manasseh, we later read more about his life in 2 Chronicles 33:11-19.  In brief summary, the LORD caused Manasseh to be carried away in captivity in Babylon.  “When he (Manasseh) was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  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 33:12-13.  And, Manasseh removed idols in Judah, ordered Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel, and took other actions consistent with repentance. 

When we see all the evil throughout history, we also wonder why is the LORD so patient.  This is the theme of today’s devotion.

The Psalmist was also bothered by prosperity and longevity of the wicked.

“17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.

21 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.”  Psalm 73:17-24.

Likewise, we consider the Parable of the Tares among the Wheat.

“Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.  But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.  The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?’  And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’  The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’  But he *said, ‘No;  for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up;  but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”  Matthew 13:24-30.

Finally, we come to 2 Peter Chapter 3.

“7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 

10 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.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 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!  13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 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,  … 18 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 3:7-15 and 18.

In summary, the LORD is patient in order to bring to salvation all of His elect.  And, there are many who think that they are already saved, but the LORD may not yet have converted them.  So, more time is needed.  Although there is much wickedness that His elect endures, the LORD preserves them.  As stated in the foregoing Psalm 73:23-24, the LORD is the One Who holds the hand of His elect.  If left to themselves, the elect would certainly let go of the hand of the LORD, but the LORD will not let go of their hand and will counsel them and guide them and bring all of His elect to glory.  

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 20:12-21.

“12 At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  13 Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries.  There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.  14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?”  And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.”  15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?”  So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house;  there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them.”

16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord.  17 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon;  nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.  18 ‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”  19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.”  For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  21 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place.”  2 Kings 20:12-21.

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We get more insight into the showing off of wealth by Hezekiah and why there were such consequences in today’s Scripture from another account of it in the following Scripture.

“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.”  2 Chronicles 32:24-31.

Apparently, Hezekiah was more concerned about proudly showing off his kingdom than humbly using it for God’s kingdom. 

As an important side note, by Hezekiah’s reply to Isaiah about the consequences (“The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.”), Hezekiah was also more concerned about himself than his descendants.  “For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”  Verse 19.

The following Scripture likewise shows the importance of being humble and giving a return for the benefits that we receive from God.

“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.  Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’  But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”  Deuteronomy 8:16-18.

“… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required;  and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”  Luke 12:48.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them;  otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men.  Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret;  and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:1-4.

But, there is hope!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  …  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:16 and 22-23.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

Jesus said:  “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;  but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:14.

In summary, God gives us His Holy Spirit Who causes us to be humble and to also have the other fruit of the Spirit.  We are also God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  And, God Himself works within us, giving us the will to do His Will and accomplishing the work for His good pleasure.  The Holy Spirit causes the good works to bubble up in us and to spring out of us to provide that good return for the benefits that God gives us.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 19.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+19&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“32 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.  33 By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the Lord.  34 ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”

35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians;  and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.  36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.  37 It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword;  and they escaped into the land of Ararat.  And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.”   2 Kings 19:32-37.

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When the LORD stated in highlighted verse 34 that He would defend this city “for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake”, the LORD ultimately referred to Christ.

Our hope that God will save us and otherwise bless us is not based on our own righteousness or “cuteness”, so to speak.

Our hope that God will save us and otherwise bless us is based on the fact that we are in Christ:  “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:14.  “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.”  Galatians 3:16.

“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.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”  Ephesians 1:3.

But, some preaching and teaching figuratively tries to pick us up out of Christ in order to examine us, to instruct us on our shortcomings and what we should do, and to put us back under the Law. 

Don’t fall for it!!!

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:3-4.

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:19-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 18.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.  2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.  3 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.  4 He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah.  He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it;  and it was called Nehushtan.  5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel;  so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.  6 For he clung to the Lord;  he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

7 And the Lord was with him;  wherever he went he prospered.  And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.  8 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.” 2 Kings Chapter 18:  Verses 1-8.

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Today’s Scripture above and the following Scriptures lead us to Christ.  Here is a summary. 

First of all, Hezekiah’s prosperity in today’s Scripture captured our attention and desire.  We learn that because Hezekiah clung to the LORD and kept His commandments, he prospered.

Second, we more generally read about the man who prospers in whatever he does, because he meditates on the law of the LORD day and night.

Third, we read about the warning of death and adversity if we do not keep God’s commandments.

Fourth, we realize that before us is put the simple choice between prosperity and death and adversity.  It makes absolutely no sense to choose death and adversity by not keeping God’s commandments.

Fifth, we begin to realize that as much sense as it is to choose prosperity over death and adversity, we need help to obey God.

Sixth, we receive the hope that the Lord will “circumcise” our heart and the heart of our descendants, to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul, so that we may live.

Seventh, likewise, we receive the hope that the commandment is not too difficult for us, nor out of our reach, furthermore leading us to faith in God as compared to our own wisdom and willpower to obey God.

Eighth, we learn the purpose of the strict preaching of the commandments through the Heidelberg Catechism.

Ninth, we see in Romans 10:5-10 similar language as Deuteronomy 30:11-14 which emphasizes the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ as compared to the righteousness that comes from the law and our own ability to perform it.

Tenth, we finally arrive to Christ and the stunning summary of Who Christ is and what He has done for us.

So, now, after this summary, let us read these Scriptures.    

“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 1:2-3.

“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”  Deuteronomy 29:9.

“You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.  You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God;  otherwise the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.  You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.  You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, by driving out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken.”  Deuteronomy 6:13-19.

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;  in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”  Deuteronomy 30:15-16.

“Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.  The Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.  And you shall again obey the Lord, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.  Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;  if you obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.  It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’  Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’  But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.”  Deuteronomy 30:6-14.

Q. 115.  Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

 A.  First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin and righteousness in Christ;  likewise, that we constantly endeavor, and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us in a life to come.  Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 44.

“For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.  But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  Romans 10:5-10.

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;  and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;  having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  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, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”  Colossians 2:9-14.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 17.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.  9 The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the Lord their God.  Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.  10 They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11 and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the Lord had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil things provoking the Lord.  12 They served idols, concerning which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”  13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.”  14 However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.  15 They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them.  And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the Lord had commanded them not to do like them.  16 They forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.  17 Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him.  18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight;  none was left except the tribe of Judah.

19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced.  20 The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.”  2 Kings 17:6-20.

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Today’s Scripture presents God’s justice in punishing Israel.  After we read all of the evil things that Israel did, particularly after all of the warnings, we can only conclude that God acted justly in His punishment of Israel.

Other doctrine is only concerned about man and what happens to man.  It looks inward at man’s predicament.  It may seek forgiveness, but it is only concerned about the effect of the sin on man, namely the pain of punishment.

But, Reformed Doctrine seeks to look upward at God and properly recognize God’s qualities and glorify God.   Reformed Doctrine also seeks forgiveness, but because it is primarily concerned about the effect of sin on God, namely that sin is a transgression against God.  Reformed Doctrine seeks to understand the justice of God in rendering the punishment.  Reformed Doctrine seeks to glorify God for His justice.

“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.”  Psalm 51:1-4.