Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 16:23-31.

“23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.

30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”  1 Chronicles 16:23-31.

——————————

Dictionary.com defines “ascribe” as:

“1.  to credit or assign, as to a cause or source;  attribute;  impute:

The alphabet is usually ascribed to the Phoenicians.”

Other doctrine ascribes salvation in whole or in part to man.  Other doctrine teaches that man earns his salvation by his works or by his will (his faith or his free-will choice of Christ).

But, Reformed Doctrine systematically, logically, and comprehensively ascribes salvation to God alone.  Reformed Doctrine starts by humbling man with its teaching of “Total Depravity” that man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  By so doing, Reformed Doctrine prepares our hearts for “Unconditional Election”, because it makes logical sense that if “Total Depravity” is the natural condition of man, then there is no condition that man has or can produce that would motivate God to elect him for salvation.  Salvation logically must proceed from God’s “Unconditional Election”.  Reformed Doctrine then comprehensively teaches us how God accomplishes His salvation from “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”.

All points of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation combine to “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name”.  Verse 28.
 
And, Reformed Doctrine is pleased to “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.”  Verse 23.

Other doctrine trembles before man, wringing their hands and worrying others:  “What will man do?”

But, Reformed Doctrine proclaims:
“The Lord reigns.”
“Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.”  Verses 30-31.

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

But, Reformed Doctrine points out:
“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.”  Psalm 2:4-6.

Other doctrine looks down to man.

But, Reformed Doctrine looks up to God.

Other doctrine tells the glory of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine tells of the glory of God and His wonderful deeds among all the people.  Verse 24.

Other doctrine sighs at what man does.

But, Reformed Doctrine sings about what God has done:
“Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.”  Verse 27.

In summary, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name”.  “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 16:15-22.

“15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
17 He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,
20 And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”  1 Chronicles 16:15-22.

—————————–

When we meditate here on God’s covenant to give the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, we notice that God’s covenant was not given to everyone, but only to a specific group of people when they were very few.  They were chosen to receive the land of Canaan.

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

The short rhyme “To you … Very few” reminds us of this precious truth.  And it is consistent with the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:14:  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.

“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,  just as He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

“And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”  And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door;  for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”  Luke 13:23-24.

“Enter through the narrow gate;  for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14.

The narrow door of salvation, that narrow gate, is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

We humble ourselves first by acknowledging that our natural condition is “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, and then we gladly seek and embrace the precious truth of “Unconditional Election”, realizing that because of our “Total Depravity”, “Unconditional Election” is our only chance for salvation.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
10 Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
11 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,”  1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

————————-

Sadly, how often we hear preaching and teaching that focuses on us and what we are doing wrong and what we need to correct!

Gladly, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and His deeds, His wonders, His wonderful deeds.

Our natural condition is “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  It should be no wonder that we sin.  “Total Depravity” teaches us not only that we are dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  No amount of alleged free-will or increased wisdom or increased effort or eloquent preaching or teaching is going to change that “Total Depravity”.

Our only hope is God and His deeds, His wonders, His wonderful deeds.

Gladly, Reformed Doctrine make them known from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites;  for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”  3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place which he had prepared for it.

…

11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites;  consecrate yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.”  14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.  15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

…

25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers.  David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.”  1 Chronicles Chapter 15:  Verses 2-3 and 11-15 and 25-28.

———————————–

We remember what happened last time David transported the ark of the covenant.  “When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.  The anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.  Then David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza;  and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day.  David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”  1 Chronicles 13:9-12.

In today’s Scripture, we see the determination of David to be more careful in transporting the ark.  Everything was to be done “by the book”, so to speak, “as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.”  Verse 15.

But, there was still one thing missing. 

God supplied that very important missing thing.  God helped.  God gave grace.

But, this help, this grace, was not without the shedding of blood. 

“Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.”  Verse 26.

God supplied the grace through the shedding of blood by causing the Levites to sacrifice seven bulls and seven rams.

The lesson for us is that we cannot worship God as we should, or more generally we cannot live lives of obedience, without God’s grace given through the shedding of the precious blood of Christ.  1 Peter chapter 1 gives us a good summary.

First, like the Levites were “chosen”, we are “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”.  1 Peter 1:1-2.

Second, like David was “afraid of God”, “conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;  knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:17-19.

Third, like David was not paralyzed by fear, but prepared his mind for more careful action in transporting the ark, trusting God’s grace for success:  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 1:13.

Fourth, like David dressed in a robe of fine linen and also wore an ephod of linen, symbolizing holiness, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:16.  And, God clothes us with the holy righteousness of Christ.  Isaiah 61:10.

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

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

————————–

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

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

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

The primary focus of this devotion is more general.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

…

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

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

…

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

——————————

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

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

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:2-3.

But, the LORD is not worried.

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:4-9.

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

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

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

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

…

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

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

——————-

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

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

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

What does your faith cause you to do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

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

—————————–

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

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

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

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

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

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

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