Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 1.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“2 And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill.  So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.”  3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 

…

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty.  And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill.  And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”  10 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.”  Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty.  And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’”  12 Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.”  Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty.  When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.  14 Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties;  but now let my life be precious in your sight.”  15 The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.”  So he arose and went down with him to the king.  16 Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”

17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken.  And because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.”  2 Kings Chapter 1:  Verses 2-3 and 9-17.

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We may laugh and scoff at Ahaziah for seeking an answer to his question only from Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, but do we also seek answers to our questions about how to live only from sources other from God through His Word, the Bible? 

For example, I am continually tempted to first and only seek advice on how to handle my finances and prepare for retirement from only “worldly” financial magazines, internet sources, and other sources of information rather than from seeking advice from the Word of God.

I am certainly not saying that we should not seek advice from “worldly sources”.  We should certainly learn about stocks and bonds and index funds and employers’ 401ks and individual Roth IRAs and the importance of diversification in investments and the importance of early and systematic saving and when to begin taking Social Security etc.

But, if we only sought advice from “worldly sources”, we would never tithe nor give as we should.  We would never volunteer nor work in certain low-paying areas of employment.  We would worry and be anxious about money much more than we should.  We would love money, the love of which is the root of all evil.  “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  1 Timothy 6:10.

In conclusion, for those who seek God and meditate on His Word day and night, there is the promise of security and success.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 22.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+22&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king.  Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”  14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”

15 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?”  And he answered him, “Go up and succeed, and the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”  16 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”  17 So he said,

“I saw all Israel
Scattered on the mountains,
Like sheep which have no shepherd.
And the Lord said, ‘These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”

…

34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor.  So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight;  for I am severely wounded.”  35 The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.  36 Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his country.”

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.  38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke.”  1 Kings Chapter 22:  Verses 13-17 and 34-38.

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Ahab died, and thus the people of Israel were without a master as prophesied.

Every man went separately to his own city or countryside, and thus the people of Israel were scattered like sheep without a shepherd as prophesied.

Ahab’s blood was wasted and ran into the bottom of the chariot and was later washed out by the pool of Samaria as prophesied.

In sharpest contrast to the death of Ahab which left the people scattered without a shepherd, the death of Christ drew the people of God together with a shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;  and I lay down My life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, which are not of this fold;  I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice;  and they will become one flock with one shepherd.  John 10:14-16.   “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”  John 12:32.

In sharpest to Ahab who did not die for anyone (or maybe who died for everyone), Christ died for His sheep and only for His sheep.  Not everyone is His sheep.  “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  John 10:26-29.

In summary, today’s Scripture helps us meditate on “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  

Other doctrine falsely teaches that Christ died for everyone, but if you closely examine their teaching, you see that their doctrine holds that it is not the blood of Christ that controls who is saved and who is not saved, but rather it is alleged man’s free-will who controls who is saved and who is not saved, so in that sense their doctrine teaches that Christ did not die specifically for anyone which would guarantee that they would be saved.

And, other doctrine falsely leaves it to each individual to make their own free-will decision on whether or not they will follow Christ.  That is consistent with the call:  “Every man to his city and every man to his country.”  Although sheep are dumb, other doctrine still teaches that it is still up to the dumb sheep as to whether or not they will follow the shepherd.

But, Reformed Doctrine, through “Limited Atonement”, teaches that Christ died only for His sheep (God’s unconditional elect) but that each one of His sheep will be saved.  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”  John 10:27-28.

And, Reformed Doctrine teaches that Christ is the good shepherd Who will gather together all of His sheep (God’s unconditional elect) into one flock over whom He will be the one true good shepherd.  Sheep are dumb, and Reformed Doctrine teaches that it is up to their good shepherd to gather them and cause them to follow Him.

Today’s Scripture comes from 1 Kings Chapter 21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+21&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it.  19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’  And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?”  And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.  21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel;  22 and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin.  23 Of Jezebel also has the Lord spoken, saying, ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’  24 The one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and the one who dies in the field the birds of heaven will eat.”

25 Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.  26 He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the sons of Israel.

27 It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.  28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me?  Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.”  1 Kings 21:17-29.

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As wicked as Ahab was, he did humble himself such that the LORD brought it to the attention of Elijah and decided to delay the punishment to some extent (“I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.”  Verse 29).

Likewise, we read later in Scripture:  “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.  “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.”’”  2 Kings 22:19-20.

In addition to humbling ourselves before God, we may need to also humble ourselves before men.

“1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor,
Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”  Proverbs 6:1-5.

(“Importune” is defined by Merriam-Webster online dictionary as “to beg, urge, or solicit persistently or troublesomely”)

This persistence was shown by Jesus in the following parable.

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.  There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’  For a while he was unwilling;  but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”  And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said;  now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?”  Luke 18:1-7.

In conclusion, to put it all together to get out of trouble (or lessen or delay the trouble), “humble yourself” and “solicit persistently” and “pray and not … lose heart”.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 20.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+20&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“26 At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.  27 The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them;  and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country.  28 Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”  29 So they camped one over against the other seven days.  And on the seventh day the battle was joined, and the sons of Israel killed of the Arameans 100,000 foot soldiers in one day.  30 But the rest fled to Aphek into the city, and the wall fell on 27,000 men who were left.  And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city into an inner chamber.”  1 Kings 20:26-30.

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Indeed, the LORD is not just a god of the mountains, nor just a god of the valleys.  The LORD is God of all as declared in the following Psalm. 

“1 O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
A great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us,
The glory of Jacob whom He loves.  Selah.

5 God has ascended with a shout,
The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
8 God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted.”  Psalm Chapter 47.

Some doctrine wants to put limitations on our LORD like the Arameans.  They say:  “The LORD is god over the mountains and the stars, but He is not god over man’s free-will.”

They form their doctrine and say:

“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

But, Reformed Doctrine replies “The LORD is God over all, the mountains and the stars and man and all of creation”: 

“2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
A great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.”  Psalm 47:2-3.

To the desire of other doctrine to be free of the LORD’s Sovereign and Almighty iron grip on them,

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 19.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”  3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.  4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”  5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree;  and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.”  6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank and lay down again.  7 The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.”  8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword.  And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

11 So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.”  And behold, the Lord was passing by!  And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord;  but the Lord was not in the wind.  And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  12 After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire;  and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.  13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.  And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  14 Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts;  for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword.  And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;  16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.  17 It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.  18 Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”  1 Kings 19:1-18.

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Today’s Scripture shows us God’s grace given to Elijah in different forms which are also familiar to us.

Sometimes, God’s grace comes to us as simple as food and drink which strengthens us and cheers us.

Sometimes, God’s grace comes to us a spiritual “mountain-top” experience like a church retreat.

Sometimes, God’s grace comes to us in the “fire” of God’s word.  “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29.

Sometimes, God’s grace comes to us as a gentle blowing of the wind.  We feel a gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit to do or to not do something.

And sometimes, God’s grace comes to us as encouragement from realization that we are not alone.  There are fellow saints out there to encourage and help us.

Sometimes, it may not be the grace that we want or expect, but, whatever grace we do receive, God’s grace is sufficient for us.  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9.

But, when we try to meditate on the total number and the nature of the lovingkindnesses that we receive, we learn more and more of “the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:7.  We learn more and more of “the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”  Ephesians 1:7-8.

And, our own words are too weak, so we use Scripture to form our praise.

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!”  Psalm 139:17.

“22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23.

“14 But as for me, I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation (“TULIP” – smile) all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them.
16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.”  Psalm 71:14-16.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 18.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.  21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”  But the people did not answer him a word.  22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.  23 Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it;  and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.  24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”  And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”  26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.”  But there was no voice and no one answered.  And they leaped about the altar which they made.  27 It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”  28 So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.  29 When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice;  but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.”  So all the people came near to him.  And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.  31 Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”  32 So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.  33 Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.  34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”  And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time.  And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.  35 The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”  38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces;  and they said, “The Lord, He is God;  the Lord, He is God.”  40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.”  So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”  1 Kings 18:20-40.

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The vivid but futile “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” of the prophets of Baal in today’s Scripture remind us of other doctrine which is also about man and his actions:  “Just do it!  Get more people together.  Show more passion.  Plead more often.  Leap.  It is all about your blood, sweat, and tears.”   

In sharp contrast, the focus on God and the short and simple prayer of Elijah remind us of Reformed Doctrine which is all about God’s Almighty actions:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

The prayer of Elijah recognized that if the people’s hearts would be turned back to God, it would need to be God Who would do it.  “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”  Verse 38.

God’s Almighty Action (of His fire which consumed the burnt offering and surrounding elements) caused the people to fall on their faces and confess that the LORD is God.  God did turn their heart back again as Elijah requested.  “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces;  and they said, “The Lord, He is God;  the Lord, He is God.”  Verses 38-39.

“16 And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18 According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19 So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the Lord drives.
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.

21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord:  “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”  Isaiah 59:16-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 17:17-24.

“17 Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick;  and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.  18 So she said to Elijah, “What do I have to do with you, O man of God?  You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!”  19 He said to her, “Give me your son.”  Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed.  20 He called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?”  21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.”  22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 2 3 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother;  and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”  Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”  1 Kings 17:17-24.

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In this chapter, we have seen the widow of Zarephath face death three times.  We have seen the widow face death by famine, but the LORD delivered her by causing the bowl of flour and jar of oil to last.  We have seen the widow face the death of her son, but the LORD returned the life to him and he revived.  We have seen the widow face spiritual death in bringing her iniquity to remembrance, but the LORD caused her to believe.  “Then (seeing her son alive, raised from the dead) the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”  Verse 24.

The miracle of raising the boy from the dead in today’s Scripture points us to “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”  Ephesians 1:19.  “These (the ability to believe and all other spiritual blessings that God gives us) are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”  Ephesians 1:19-20.

“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 according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.

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

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 17:1-16.

“1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”  2 The word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  4 It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”  5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.  7 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there;  behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”  10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks;  and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.”  11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”  12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar;  and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.”  13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear;  go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.  14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’”  15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.”    1 Kings 17:1-16.

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If we believe that God is both Almighty and our Faithful Father, then we will believe that God can provide for us, no matter how hopeless our situation seems to us to be (because He is Almighty) and will faithfully provide all that we need (because He is our Faithful Father).

The Heidelberg Catechism exhorts us to not meaninglessly repeat the Apostle’s Creed without believing the meaning behind its words.

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

In addition to this major lesson, we can glean two minor lessons from today’s Scripture.

First, just because God helps us through one trial does not mean that there will be no more trials.  We first saw that God delivered Elijah from a drought through a miraculous provision of ravens at Cherith brook.  However, the brook dried up.  Then, God delivered Elijah through he miraculous provision of a widow and her handful of flour and a little oil in the jar.

We cannot determine or know how many trials we will face or how God will deliver us.  Too often, I set my hope on having no more trials.

After God’s financial delivery of me, I tend to think that I will face no more financial trials.  But I become faced with another financial trial.  I cannot depend on having life without troubles.  I can only depend on an Almighty God and Faithful Father Who delivers me out of all my troubles.

“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 (Emphasis added).

Second, God helps us often through humble and unexpected means.  God fed Elijah through the mouths of ravens.  God fed Elijah from a widow’s bowl who thought she did not have enough for herself and her son.  Too often, I set my hope on receiving a check in the mail.  Very often, God uses other and often humble and unexpected means to deliver me, time and time again.

For example, I remember being hungry without money and being called to visit my Pastor to do something for him.  In my heart, I grumbled at having to do this service while I felt the LORD left me hanging financially.  When I walked into the fellowship hall to meet the Pastor, I was surprised to see the ladies of the church were having a luncheon.  They invited me to sit down and eat.  Each lady seem to want to please me and show off her own food as each put her own food in front of me to eat.  I felt that I was at a loving and lavish banquet.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 16.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+16&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“25 Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.  26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins which he made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idols.  27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might which he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  28 So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son became king in his place.

29 Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.  30 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.

31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.  32 So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.  33 Ahab also made the Asherah.  Thus Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”  1 Kings 16:25-33.

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The Israelite Kings in this chapter were all bad and got worse and worse.  There was no break in this chapter as there was in the previous chapter when there was one relatively good king (Asa) who ruled over Judah as an oasis among all the other kings who were bad.

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

We too may groan.  We may turn our focus from God to man and feel overwhelmed at all the evil we see.

But, there is hope! 

“1 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning.
2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

8 O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.
9 There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself.
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.

11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm Chapter 5.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 15.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+15&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“8 And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place.

9 So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah.  10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.  11 Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father.  12 He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made.  13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah;  and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.  14 But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the Lord all his days.  15 He brought into the house of the Lord the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things:  silver and gold and utensils.”  1 Kings 15:8-15.

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Although certainly not perfect, Asa was better than most kings and seems like an oasis in a listing of kings of both Israel and Judah in 1 Kings Chapter 15 who did evil.  For example, we read about Nadab, one of the kings over Israel.  “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”  Verse 26.

We noticed what Asa did to do “what was right in the sight of the Lord”.  Asa removed idols and people in authority (Maacah his mother from being queen mother) who did the evil.

The following Scriptures also urge us to hate evil and gives us examples of how we hate evil and what God does for us.

“4 I do not sit with deceitful men,
Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.”  Psalm 26:4-7.

We notice that we do not associate with evildoers.  Instead, we associate with Christians and go to church.  We declare God’s wonders.

“Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”  Psalm 97:10.

God preserves our souls and delivers us from the hand of the wicked.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.”  Proverbs 8:13.

Pride, arrogance, and the perverted mouth are, so to speak, the tip of the iceberg of evil that we see, and we rise in opposition against those things when we see them.

“Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the gate!
Perhaps the Lord God of hosts
May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”  Amos 5:15.

Not only to we hate evil, we love good.  We see that Asa not only removed idols and people in authority who did the evil, he did good.  “He brought into the house of the Lord the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things:  silver and gold and utensils.”  Verse 15.

And, we establish justice.  Too often, we think of only God’s lovingkindness and mercy.  But, God is also a God of justice who executes punishment upon the wicked.  What would we think of an earthly judge who refused to punish anyone and let all the criminals go free?!    

In today’s Scripture, we see God’s justice in fulfilling His Word against Jeroboam.  “It came about as soon as he (Baasha) was king (of Israel), he struck down all the household of Jeroboam.  He did not leave to Jeroboam any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.”  Verses 29-30.

In conclusion, in the words “Perhaps the Lord God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”, there is the hope that as we do these things (hate evil, do good, and establish justice) we become more and more aware of God’s grace:  God is working within us and we are part of God’s elect.