Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 16.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+16&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father.  Behold, I have sent you silver and gold;  go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”  4 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all the store cities of Naphtali.  5 When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.  6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.  8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen?  Yet because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.  9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.  You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.”  2 Chronicles 16:1-9.

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“5 Thus says the Lord,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8.

“13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,
All who forsake You will be put to shame.
Those who turn away on earth will be written down,
Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise.”  Jeremiah 17:13-14.

Other doctrine may pay some amount of lip service to God, but it turns away to trust in mankind.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes in its first point of “Total Depravity” in “TULIP” that there is no hope in mankind and that from the beginning to the end its hope and trust must solely be in the LORD.  Throughout “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, Reformed Doctrine thoroughly trusts in the LORD.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 15.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+15&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin:  the Lord is with you when you are with Him.  And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him;  but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.  3 For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.  4 But in their distress they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.  5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.  6 Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.  7 But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”  2 Chronicles 15:1-7.

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We read in the rest of the chapter that Asa did institute reforms, and we also read of the reward that there was no more wars until the 35th year of Asa’s reign.  Verse 19.

“And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”  Psalm 58:11.

“The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.”  Psalm 18:20.

“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Ruth 2:12.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 14.

“1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place.  The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.

2 Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.  5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah.  And the kingdom was undisturbed under him.  6 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the Lord had given him rest.  7 For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars.  The land is still ours because we have sought the Lord our God;  we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.”  So they built and prospered.  8 Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows;  all of them were valiant warriors.

9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah.  10 So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.  11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength;  so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude.  O Lord, You are our God;  let not man prevail against You.”  12 So the Lord routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.  13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar;  and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before the Lord and before His army.  And they carried away very much plunder.  14 They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the Lord had fallen on them;  and they despoiled all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.  15 They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels.  Then they returned to Jerusalem.”   2 Chronicles chapter 14.

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Although “Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God” verse 2, and although Asa “removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment” verses 3 and 4, Asa based his prayer request in verse 11 on the following three points, rather than on what he (Asa) or they (Judah) had done.

In sharp contrast, other doctrine bases their prayer requests and expectations for what God will do for them on their works or on their alleged free-will choice of God to save them or based on the repetition and earnestness and eloquence of their prayers.

I will point out three things in Asa’s prayer that remind us of Reformed Doctrine. 

First, Asa points out their complete dependence on God:  “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength  … so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You”.

Likewise, in the first point of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, which is “Total Depravity”, Reformed Doctrine shows why there is such complete dependence on God, why “there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength”.  “Total Depravity” clearly shows that there is no personal merit in themselves which would motivate God to help them, and there is no personal merit in others that would give them a reasonable expectation that others will truly and fully help them.

Second, Asa points out that that God is their God:  “O Lord, You are our God … and in Your name have come against this multitude”.

Likewise, in the beginning of Heidelberg Catechism, Question and Answer 1, we see the comfort and expectation of believers is based on the fact that “I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ” which is consistent with Asa’s declaration “O Lord, You are our God”.

Third, Asa pleads “let not man prevail against You” recognizing that God will also act for His own sake.

We also see elsewhere in Scripture that God acts for His own sake.  For example in Ezekiel 20:44, we read:  “Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”

Likewise, Reformed Doctrine believes that even if we do not deserve such help, God unconditionally chose us, the second point of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, which is “Unconditional Election”, so God will help those whom He has chosen for His own sake.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 13.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+13&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.  2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.  3 Abijah began the battle with an army of valiant warriors, 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men who were valiant warriors.

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel:  5 Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?  6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master, 7 and worthless men gathered about him, scoundrels, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when he was young and timid and could not hold his own against them.

8 “So now you intend to resist the kingdom of the Lord through the sons of David, being a great multitude and having with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you.  9 Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands?  Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are no gods.  10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him;  and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the Lord as priests, and the Levites attend to their work.  11 Every morning and evening they burn to the Lord burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening;  for we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him.  12 Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you.  O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

13 But Jeroboam had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel was in front of Judah and the ambush was behind them.  14 When Judah turned around, behold, they were attacked both front and rear;  so they cried to the Lord, and the priests blew the trumpets.  15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.  16 When the sons of Israel fled before Judah, God gave them into their hand.  17 Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.  18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their fathers.”  2 Chronicles 13:1-18.

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In today’s Scripture, we see three elements of trust in God.  

First, there is a recognition of being chosen.  “Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?”  Verse 5.

Second, there is attendance to the things of God.  “Every morning and evening they burn to the Lord burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening;  for we keep the charge of the Lord our God …”  Verse 11.

Third, there is an expectation of reward.  “Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you.  O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”  Verse 12.  See also Hebrews 11:6.

Other doctrine may have one or two of these elements, but this is not sufficient trust in God.

There is doctrine that has quite an elaborate and detailed liturgy that they continually and faithfully follow.

There is also doctrine that focuses on personal prosperity as if one could achieve it just be believing harder.

But, Reformed Doctrine has all three elements. 

Reformed Doctrine people believe that they are chosen.  They don’t believe that they are chosen because of any personal merit.  They are humble believing that they are naturally  people of “Total Depravity”, but God unconditionally elected them to salvation.  “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone) is one of the Five Solas of the Reformation.

Reformed Doctrine people also attend to the things of God.  They believe in the Regulative Principle of Worship, that Scripture alone prescribes how we are to worship God and that we cannot add our own elements of worship no matter how much they may be “seeker sensitive” or otherwise wise to us.

Reformed Doctrine people also believe that there are rewards from God to those who seek Him.  However, in sharpest contrast to only temporary and earthly riches of the Prosperity Gospel, these rewards are eternal and heavenly.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 12.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the Lord.  2 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem 3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen.  And the people who came with him from Egypt were without number:  the Lubim, the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.  4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.  5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You have forsaken Me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.’”  6 So the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”

7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.  8 But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”  2 Chronicles 12:1-8.

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We like to think of ourselves as free.  But, we are going to be slaves of someone.  We are either going to be the slaves of God or slaves of Satan.

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”  Romans 6:16.

Other doctrine thinks it is free under its belief in free-will and teaches that we need to just try harder to do the works or at least try harder to choose correctly.  But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that due to our “Total Depravity” nature, we do not have the necessary ability nor even the necessary will to do the works or to even choose correctly.

“10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”  Romans 3:10-12.

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the outcome of those things is death.”  Romans 6:20-21.

We need the sovereignty and the almighty power of the God of Scriptures shown by Reformed Doctrine to deal with our natural condition of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

So, whom do you trust to choose?

Do you trust yourself to choose correctly or do you trust God to choose correctly?

Therefore, we should not resent and bristle against the sovereignty of God in Reformed Doctrine, but rather, we should be thankful that God made the choice and that we were chosen “before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”  Ephesians 1:4.

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”  Romans 6:20-22.

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching (Reformed Doctrine) to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”  Romans 6:17-18.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 11.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.  But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’”  So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.”  2 Chronicles 11:1-4.

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We see the will of man.  In this case, it is the will of Rehoboam to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom (of Israel) to himself.

But again, as always, the will of God prevailed against the will of man.

“9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:9-10.

Today’s Scripture also makes us think of the verses in yesterday’s devotion.

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.”  Proverbs 21:1.

“The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9.

“10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”  Psalm 33:10-11.

Other doctrine teaches about man and man’s alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine knows the sovereign God of Scripture and rightly exalts Him.

Today comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.  2 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.  3 So they sent and summoned him.  When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”  5 He said to them, “Return to me again in three days.”  So the people departed.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?”  7 They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

…

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”  13 The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.  14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it;  my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”  15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the Lord might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”  2 Chronicles Chapter 10:  Verses 1-8 and 12-15.

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Other doctrine is content to focus solely on what man should do, in this case, following the counsel of elders.

Although Reformed Doctrine also emphasizes the importance of elders and following their advice and warning against the danger of forsaking their advice, Reformed Doctrine teaches that it is not just about man and what man should do, God’s sovereignty and God’s will supersede mans’ actions.  In today’s Scripture, we learn that the king did not listen to the elders, because “it was a turn of events from God that the Lord might establish His word”.  Verse 15.

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.”  Proverbs 21:1.

“The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9.

“10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”  Psalm 33:10-11.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”   Isaiah 46:9-11.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure.  Total Perfect Triumph.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions.  She had a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and a large amount of gold and precious stones;  and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was on her heart.  2 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from Solomon which he did not explain to her.  3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house which he had built, 4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, she was breathless.  5 Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.  6 Nevertheless I did not believe their reports until I came and my eyes had seen it.  And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You surpass the report that I heard.  7 How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.  8 Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the Lord your God;  because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”  2 Chronicles 9:1-8.

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We are much more blessed than Solomon’s men who continually stood before him to hear his wisdom, because God draws us near to Him, causes us to continually stand before Him, and enables us to continually read and understand His words of wisdom in the Scriptures.  

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.”  Psalm 65:4.

“How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You.  Selah.”  Psalm 84:4.

“How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!”  Psalm 144:15.

“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”  Proverbs 16:20.

“1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”  Psalm 1:1-2.

“13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.”  Proverbs 3:13-18.

We are much more blessed than the people of Israel under Solomon’s rule, because we are under Christ’s rule. 

Christ is “our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in that salvation, he has purchased for us.”  See Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 31.

“Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;  in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good;  and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.”  See Westminister Larger Catechism Question and Answer 45.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now it came about at the end of the twenty years in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house that he built the cities which Huram had given to him, and settled the sons of Israel there.

Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it.  He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath.  He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars;  and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.”  2 Chronicles 8:1-6.

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Solomon accomplished much, but Solomon later reflected on his accomplishments and stated:  “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 2:11.

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;  …  then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.  “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”  Ecclesiastes 12:1 and 7-8.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”    Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Other doctrine is wrapped up in man’s alleged free-will and man’s accomplishments.

But, Reformed Doctrine is wrapped up in God’s will and God’s accomplishments.  We see this focus on God in “TULIP”, The Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.  2 The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.  3 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord.  5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep.  Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.  6 The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the Lord, which King David had made for giving praise to the Lord—“for His lovingkindness is everlasting”—whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew trumpets;  and all Israel was standing.

7 Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to contain the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat.

8 So Solomon observed the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly who came from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.  9 On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar they observed seven days and the feast seven days.  10 Then on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.”  2 Chronicles 7:1-10.

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In today’s Scripture, we are delighted to learn about the goodness attribute of God.  “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Verse 3.

Reformed Doctrine primarily seeks out to learn about the attributes of God and to teach them.

Other doctrine primarily seeks out attributes of man and how to remove bad attributes of man and replace them with good attributes for man.

And, the people left the assembly “rejoicing and happy of heart because of the goodness that the Lord had shown to David and to Solomon and to His people Israel.”  Verse 10.

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

Our belief in the goodness of God and His sovereignty and power is at the heart of our belief in God the Father.

“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.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“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.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”  1 Peter 2:9.