Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 22:1-7.

“1 And David spoke the words of this song to the Lord in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  2 He said,

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4 “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
5 “For the waves of death encompassed me;
The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress I called upon the Lord,
Yes, I cried to my God;
And from His temple He heard my voice,
And my cry for help came into His ears.”  2 Samuel 22:1-7.

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Today’s Scripture reminds us the depths of our distress. 

“5 “For the waves of death encompassed me;
The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.”  Verses 5-6.

Some doctrine teach that we need just a little help.  It teaches that we are basically good and capable of getting ourselves out of trouble.

But, Reformed Doctrine, through its teaching of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, teaches that we were dead in sin, hostile to God, and in bondage to sin and Satan.  It teaches that we need to be made alive.  It teaches that we need our hearts to be changed from hostility to God to love to God.  It teaches that we need the cords binding us to sin and Satan to be cut.  It teaches that all of these needed actions need to be done by an Almighty God.

We see similar Scripture in the following two Scriptures.

“1 “I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”  Psalm 18:1-6.

“1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said,

“I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 “For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The great deep engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
7 “While I was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.”  Jonah 2:1-9.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel Chapter 21.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+21&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the Lord.  And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”  2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah).  3 Thus David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you?  And how can I make atonement that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?”  4 Then the Gibeonites said to him, “We have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.”  And he said, “I will do for you whatever you say.”  5 So they said to the king, “The man who consumed us and who planned to exterminate us from remaining within any border of Israel, 6 let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord.”  And the king said, “I will give them.”

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the oath of the Lord which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.  8 So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.  9 Then he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before the Lord, so that the seven of them fell together;  and they were put to death in the first days of harvest at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until it rained on them from the sky;  and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.  11 When it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, 12 then David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the open square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines struck down Saul in Gilboa.  13 He brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.  14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the grave of Kish his father;  thus they did all that the king commanded, and after that God was moved by prayer for the land.”  2 Samuel 21:1-14.

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We read:  “…  thus they did all that the king commanded, and after that God was moved by prayer for the land.”  Verse 14.

We may not have an earthly king, but we have a Heavenly King.  And, we do have earthly rulers.

The lesson for us today is to, first of all, honor, respect, and obey our Sovereign Heavenly King.  But, also we should honor, respect, and obey our earthly rulers.

“He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, …”  Ecclesiastes 8:5.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  1 Timothy 2:1-2.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.  Do you want to have no fear of authority?  Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  for it is a minister of God to you for good.  But if you do what is evil, be afraid;  for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.  Render to all what is due them:  tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom;  fear to whom fear;  honor to whom honor.”  Romans 13:1-7.

There are those who bristle against the sovereign rule of God.  They cling to their alleged free-will.  They are like those who say:

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

But, we see the response of the Lord.

“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.’”

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 2:4-12.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite;  and he blew the trumpet and said,

“We have no portion in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

2 So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri;  but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”  5 So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.  6 And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom;  take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”  7 So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men;  and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.  8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them.  Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist;  and as he went forward, it fell out.  9 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?”  And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died.  Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.  11 Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.”  2 Samuel 20:1-11.

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Here is a revolt led by Sheba, and the command of King David to quash the revolt.  But, we see the lukewarm response of delay by Amasa to the command of King David.

“He who is not with Me is against Me;  and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”  Matthew 12:30.  Also in Luke 11:23.

Joab recognized that the lukewarm response of delay by Amasa was not just negligence but rebellion (“he who does not gather with Me scatters”).  And, Joab treated Amasa as one of those who revolted by killing him.

One of Joab’s young men also recognized that those who favor David should follow David.  “Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.”   Verse 11.

The lesson of Amasa is for us today.  Too many people “straddle the fence” like Amasa.  They delay committing to one side or the other.  They want to wait to see who is watching.  They want to see in which direction the winds are blowing of their own prosperity, welfare, family and friendships, and popular pressure.

They are neither hot or cold.  They are lukewarm.

“‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;  I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed;  and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;  therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock;  if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”  Revelation 3:15-22.

In conclusion, we know the truth of Reformed Doctrine.  We see it everywhere in Scripture.  Are we going to commit to it and follow it?  Or, are we going to delay, be lukewarm, and continue to “straddle the fence”?  Whoever favors Reformed Doctrine, let him follow it! 

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

I quote only the following verses.

“15 The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan.  And Judah came to Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.

…

31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old;  and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me and I will sustain you in Jerusalem with me.”  34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?  35 I am now eighty years old.  Can I distinguish between good and bad?  Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink?  Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women?  Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?  36 Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king.  Why should the king compensate me with this reward?  37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother.  However, here is your servant Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”  38 The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you require of me, I will do for you.”  39 All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too.  The king then kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.”  2 Samuel Chapter 19:  Verses 15 and 31-39.

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Our LORD will care for us in old age, and He will carry us “over the Jordan into the Promised Land” (through death into Heaven), and He will care for us forever in Heaven.

“Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.”  Isaiah 46:4.

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;  if it were not so, I would have told you;  for I go to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:2.

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Psalm 23:6.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.  7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men.  8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David.  For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak.  And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.  10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”  11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him!  Why then did you not strike him there to the ground?  And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”  12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son;  for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect for me the young man Absalom!’  13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”  14 Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.”  So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.  15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

…

33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept.  And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”  2 Samuel Chapter 18:  Verses 6-15 and 33.

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Although God had ordained the death of Absalom, and although Absalom tried so hard to kill David, we see how deeply David grieved for the death of his son Absalom.

We are reminded of similar emotions from Paul in Romans Chapter 9.

“I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed.  For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;  nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but:  “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”  Romans 9:1-8.

Our affections are naturally inclined to our children and other relatives.  We even try to fit our theology according to these affections.

The Protestant Reformed Churches also struggled with this issue.  A substantial part of those churches wanted to stretch God’s covenant blessings over all of their baptized children, rather than just acknowledging that God’s covenant blessings were only over the unconditional elect.  In effect, this substantial part formed their theology to be “conditional”.

But, at an eventual substantial membership loss, the Protestant Reformed Churches firmly repudiated this substantial part in its “Declaration of Principles” adopted by its Synod in 1951:

“A. We repudiate:

1. The teaching:

a. That the promise of the covenant is conditional and for all that are baptized.

b. That we may presuppose that all the children that are baptized are regenerated, for we know on the basis of Scripture, as well as in the light of all history and experience, that the contrary is true.”

The Protestant Reformed Churches further provided this summary in its “Declaration of Principles”:

“This article very clearly teaches:

1. That all the covenant blessings are for the elect alone.

2. That God’s promise is unconditionally for them only:  for God cannot promise what was not objectively permitted by Christ.

3. That the promise of God bestows the objective right of salvation not upon all the children that are born under the historical dispensation of the covenant, that is, not upon all that are baptized, but only upon the spiritual seed.” 

David, Paul, the Protestant Reformed churches, and we are eventually forced to realize that Scripture keeps coming back to “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP’ the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.   For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel Chapter 17.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2016&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight.  2 I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee.  Then I will strike down the king alone, 3 and I will bring back all the people to you.  The return of everyone depends on the man you seek;  then all the people will be at peace.”  4 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.”  6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has spoken thus.  Shall we carry out his plan?  If not, you speak.”  7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good.”  8 Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field.  And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people.  9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place;  and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’  10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart;  for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.  11 But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle.  12 So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground;  and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a small stone is found there.”  14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.”  For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.”  2 Samuel 17:1-14.

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Today, we read this facet of God’s sovereignty:  “…    For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.”  Verse 14.

No churches (maybe few churches) flatly deny God’s sovereignty.

But, does the preacher or teacher seem content to only generally teach that God ordained things such as the moon and stars?  Psalm 8:3.   

Or, does the preacher or teacher seem eager to specifically teach God’s sovereignty over salvation?

If God controls the moon and the stars, and even the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), then is it so hard to believe that God would also have sovereign control over salvation of man? 

If God will not allow a sparrow to fall to the ground apart from His will, then will God allow man to fall to hell apart from His will?

Does God care more about the moon and the stars and the sparrows than He cares about man?

There certainly are Reformed churches and Presbyterian churches and other churches with creeds by which they can not deny God’s sovereignty over salvation, but one gets the feeling too often that the preacher or teacher wants to avoid the subject.

It seems as if very few churches specifically and systematically and enthusiastically talk about God’s sovereignty over salvation.

The purpose of this Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions is to specifically and systematically and enthusiastically talk about God’s sovereignty over salvation.  Praise God! 

“TULIP” consists of “Total Depravity”, “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

One would think that members of a church would know these five points, particularly considering the supreme importance of this subject and the clue of the starting letter for each blessed truth.

But, how many members of a church do know those five points without someone giving them a point or two or more? 

How many members of a church know which major Reformed creed focuses only on this subject of “TULIP”? 

(Answer is Canons of Dordt.)

God has ordained redemption for His people.

“He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.”   Psalm  111:9.

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord:  and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”  Acts 13:48.  King James Version.

Are we glad about it and want to shout it from the rooftops? 

Or, do we want to hide it or minimize it? 

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

I quote only the following verses.

“5 When King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out cursing continually as he came.  6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.  7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!  8 The Lord has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned;  and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom.  And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?  Let me go over now and  cut off his head.”  10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah?  If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”  11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life;  how much more now this Benjamite?  Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.  12 Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”  13 So David and his men went on the way;  and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.  14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.”  2 Samuel 16:5-14.

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David showed humility, perspective, tolerance, patience, and hope in today’s Scripture that proved his faith.

Who thought so much good would come out of this affliction of receiving curses, insults, rocks, and dust?

David showed humility through his words:  “Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.”  Verse 11.

David showed perspective, tolerance, and patience through his words:  “Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life;  how much more now this Benjamite?”  Verse 11.  In other words, David was saying:  “If I am patient and tolerant dealing with my son Absalom who seeks to kill me, why should I not be patient and tolerant with Shimeir who is not my son and for whom I do not care and who is only doing these little things (curses, insults, rocks, and dust)?!” 

David showed hope through his words:  “Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.”  Verse 12.

We too are distressed by various trials, and through God’s grace, we too can show humility, perspective, tolerance, patience, and hope that prove our faith.  And, this faith is more precious than gold.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:6-9.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment;  so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.  8 For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”  9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.”  So he arose and went to Hebron.  10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”  11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and went innocently, and they did not know anything.  12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”  14 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom.  Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

…

23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over.  The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.

24 Now behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God.  And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city.  25 The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city.  If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation.  26 But if He should say thus, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”  2 Samuel Chapter 15:  Verses 6-14 and 24-26.

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There are Scriptures like Psalm Chapter 43 where David strongly pleads and cries out:

“1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation;
O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
2 For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.”  Psalm 43:1-4.

But, in verses 25-26 of today’s Scripture, we see more of the quiet deference to God in David’s words:  “If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation.  But if He should say thus, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

There is a place for both the passionate pleas and the quiet deference in Scripture and in the righteous man’s relationship to God.

But since today, we see the quiet deference, we will comment more on it.

The quiet deference in today’s Scripture does remind us of the Christian’s quiet deference to the “Unconditional Election” of God, the “U” of “TULIP’ the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

In sharp contrast, there are others who totally revolt against God’s “Unconditional Election”.  They say:  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

Although the Christian will rightly from time to time strongly plead out and cry like in Psalm 43 as shown above, the Christian will also from time to time only simply show quiet deference to God as David showed in today’s Scripture.

We look to Christ as our example who said in Luke 22:42:  “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me;  yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

And, as David was surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses as to how he would endure such hostility from Absalom, we have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us too as to how we will endure.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel Chapter 14.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+14&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was inclined toward Absalom.  2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments now, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days;  3 then go to the king and speak to him in this manner.”  So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself and said, “Help, O king.” 5 The king said to her, “What is your trouble?”  And she answered, “Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead.  6 Your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him.  7 Now behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.’  Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”  9 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord, the king, the iniquity is on me and my father’s house, but the king and his throne are guiltless.”  10 So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.”  11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.”  And he said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

12 Then the woman said, “Please let your maidservant speak a word to my lord the king.”  And he said, “Speak.”  13 The woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God?  For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one. 14 For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again.  Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him.”  2 Samuel 14:1-14.

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“For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again.  …”  Verse 14.

“7 For we have been consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.
8 You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.”  Psalm 90:7-10.

But, there is hope!

“… Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him.”  Verse 14.

We saw one specific example of God’s plans in the Cities of Refuge established by God to protect unintentional manslayers from the avengers in Numbers 35:6-34.

We saw another specific example of God’s plans to save a remnant of Israel in Romans 11:1-6.

“I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He?  May it never be!  For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.  Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?  “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”  But what is the divine response to him?  “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.”  Romans 11:1-6.

In conclusion, here is the general example for all of us to ponder and treasure.

“9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.”  Psalm 103:9-14.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her.  2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.  3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.  4 He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning?  Will you not tell me?”  Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”  5 Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill;  when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’”  6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill;  when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”  8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down.  And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat.  And Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.”  So everyone went out from him.  10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.”  So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon.  11 When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”  12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel;  do not do this disgraceful thing!  13 As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach?  And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel.  Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”  14 However, he would not listen to her;  since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred;  for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her.  And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!”  16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!”  Yet he would not listen to her.

…

20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you?  But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.”  So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.  21 Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry.  22 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

…

28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death.  Do not fear;  have not I myself commanded you?  Be courageous and be valiant.”  29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled.

…

37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom;  for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.”  2 Samuel Chapter 13:  Verses 1-16 and 20-22 and 28-29 and 37-39.

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We see the trail of misery of Amnon.  Amnon was tempted and carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Amnon seized Tamar, Absalom’s sister, and dragged her into his trail of misery, violating her and then later abandoning her to desolation.

Amnon’s actions caused David and Absalom to enter the trail of misery of Amnon.  David was very angry at Amnon.  Absalom hated Amnon.

In this trail of misery, Absalom plotted to avenge what Amnon did to his sister Tamar and brought all the kings sons into this trail of misery through the plot.

Finally, Absalom accomplished the death of Amnon through the death of his servants whom Absalom commanded and who also entered this trail of misery.

But, the trail of misery does not even end at the death of Amnon, because Absalom fled out of fear for what he had done and went to Geshurand was there three years, causing more grief for David who missed Absalom.

“Destruction and misery are in their paths,
And the path of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Romans 3:16-18.

But, before we single out Amnon and wag our finger at Amnon, we need to read the context of Romans 3:16-18 to realize that in our natural condition all of us are in this “one common misery” called “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“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.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,”  Romans 3:10-15.

But, there is hope!

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation. 

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.