Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 11:1-13.

“1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.”  Solomon held fast to these in love.  3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.  4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods;  and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.  7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. 8 Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

9 Now the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods;  but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded.  11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.  12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.  13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”  1 Kings 11:1-13.

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Despite all the wisdom that God gave Solomon (“Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men, …  1 King 4:29-31), Solomon’s “heart was turned away from the LORD”.  “Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.”  Verses 6 and 9.

Despite all the riches and honor that God gave Solomon (“behold, I have done according to your words.  Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”  1 Kings 3:12-13), Solomon turned away from God.

Today’s Scripture should make us question whom we trust.  

Do we trust ourselves and our own free-will, our own wisdom, our own goodness, and our own steadfastness?  

Or, do we trust God to preserve us? 

If Solomon did not stay faithful to God, despite all his wisdom and all the blessings that God gave him, what makes us think that we can do better than Solomon? 

Other doctrine clings to its free-will, wisdom, ability, and goodness.

But, Reformed Doctrine clings to God and God’s “Preservation of the Saints” also known as “Perseverance of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.  FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints – Canons of Dordt.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 10:14-29.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“14 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country.  16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield.  17 He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.  18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold.  19 There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.  20 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other;  nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.  21 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.  22 For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram;  once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.  24 All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.  25 They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.”  1 Kings 10:14-25.

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We, Reformed Christians in the United States, don’t like to say that we are rich.  We may even preach or teach or at least nod our head in agreement against “a prosperity gospel”, but we are certainly willing to receive the considerable riches and wealth that come our way.  If we have to say anything, we will “admit” that we are “comfortable”. 
 
In one sense, that is appropriate humility.  And, there certainly are false “prosperity gospels” out there.  There are many rich people who do not have a Godly wisdom and who love their money and who are unrighteous.

But, in another sense, such mere “comfortableness” does not appropriately recognize that riches and wealth can be a blessing from God often flowing from wisdom, another blessing from God.

Today’s Scripture focuses on the riches of King Solomon and his wisdom.  So, we are going to focus on some Scripture that teach us that the reward of wisdom and being righteous are riches and wealth.

“18 “Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.”  Proverbs 8:18-21.

“Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.”  Proverbs 3:16.

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.”  Proverbs 22:4.

“Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.”  Proverbs 15:6.

If God truly does bless with riches and wealth, then we do not need to nervously walk around life, so to speak, as if we are walking on egg shells or waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

“Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;  this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”  Ecclesiastes 5:19-20.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;  The Lord gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,”  1 Corinthians 2:12.

So, what should our response be to such riches and wealth?
 
We should give thanks to God, enjoy what God has given to us, and help others. 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 136:1.

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18.

“… Freely you received, freely give.”  Matthew 10:8.

“3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6 For he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be remembered forever.”  Psalm 112:3-6.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 10:1-13.

“1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.  2 So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.  3 Solomon answered all her questions;  nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.  4 When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.  6 Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.  7 Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it.  And behold, the half was not told me.  You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.  8 How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.  9 Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”  10 She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones.  Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

11 Also the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones. 12 The king made of the almug trees supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again nor have they been seen to this day.

13 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants.”  1 Kings 10:1-13.

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“The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”  Matthew 12:42.

And, we know that “something greater than Solomon” is Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:3.

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;  and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;  having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:9-15.

“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 before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

“… to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.”    1 Corinthians 1:24.

“… by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“… thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”  2 Corinthians 2:14.

“… when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 9:10-28.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“10 It came about at the end of twenty years in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king’s house 11 (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold according to all his desire), then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.  12 So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him.  13 He said, “What are these cities which you have given me, my brother?”  So they were called the land of Cabul to this day.  14 And Hiram sent to the king 120 talents of gold.

15 Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the Lord, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.  16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.  17 So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower Beth-horon 18 and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 and all the storage cities which Solomon had, even the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.  20 As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel, 21 their descendants who were left after them in the land whom the sons of Israel were unable to destroy utterly, from them Solomon levied forced laborers, even to this day.

…

26 King Solomon also built a fleet of ships in Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.  27 And Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who knew the sea, along with the servants of Solomon.  28 They went to Ophir and took four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.”  1 Kings Chapter 9:  Verses 10-21 and 26-28.

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In today’s Scripture, we see the reign of King Solomon.  Kings brought gifts to King Solomon.  Slaves labored for King Solomon’s projects.

King Solomon’s sovereignty leads us to meditate on Christ the King’s sovereignty.  In Psalm Chapter 72, King Solomon prays for himself as king and for the future Messiah, Christ the King.

“1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness
And Your afflicted with justice.
3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy
And crush the oppressor.

5 Let them fear You while the sun endures,
And as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,
Like showers that water the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish,
And abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

8 May he also rule from sea to sea
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 Let the nomads of the desert bow before him,
And his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11 And let all kings bow down before him,
All nations serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help,
The afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy,
And the lives of the needy he will save.
14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be precious in his sight;
15 So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him;
And let them pray for him continually;
Let them bless him all day long.

16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth.
17 May his name endure forever;
May his name increase as long as the sun shines;
And let men bless themselves by him;
Let all nations call him blessed.

18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.”  Psalm 72:1-19.

Is today’s Scripture and this Psalm 72 consistent with other doctrine based on man and his alleged free-will? 

Or, is today’s Scripture and this Psalm 72 consistent with Reformed Doctrine based on God and His sovereignty?  

“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 2:7-12.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 9:1-9.

“1 Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all that Solomon desired to do, 2 that the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.  3 The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me;  I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.  4 As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

6 “But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight.  So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.  8 And this house will become a heap of ruins;  everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’  9 And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the Lord has brought all this adversity on them.’”  1 Kings 9:1-9.

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“Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”  Psalm 73:1.

“So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.

It makes no sense to turn away from our good, perfect, holy, righteous, just, and kind God.

It makes no sense to turn toward other gods and serve and worship them.

It makes no sense to not keep God’s commandments which are good for us and not burdensome.

It makes no sense to turn away from all the wonderful things that God promises us if we follow God and keep His commandments.

It makes no sense to turn toward all the adversity that God promises us if we go serve other gods and worship them and do not keep His commandments.

But, the sad history of Israel was that they did all these things which made no sense.

What is wrong?  What caused that illogical behavior?

The answer is “Total Depravity”, the “T”  of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

We don’t need more alleged free-will.

We don’t need a second chance.

Rather, we need God’s “Unconditional Election”, God’s “Limited Atonement”, God’s “Irresistible Grace”, and God’s “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:24-27.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 8:54-66 which covers Solomon’s benediction at the dedication of the LORD’s house.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+8&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“54 When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.  55 And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised;  not one word has  failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.  57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers;  may He not leave us or forsake us, 58 that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.  59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God;  there is no one else.  61 Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”  1 Kings 8:54-61.

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Man feels free to toss out his words here and there like a man feeding pigeons.  He feels successful if any of his listeners eats up any of his words.

In sharp contrast to man whose words not only fail, but whose words even contradict his other words in the same sermon or teaching, God’s words never fail:  “not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.”  Verse 55.

Verse 55 of today’s Scripture reminds us of Joshua’s farewell address in which he said:   “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed;  all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.”  Joshua 23:14.

“As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.”  Psalm 18:30.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”  Psalm 19:7.

“Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”  Proverbs 30:5.

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:8.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 8:22-53.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.  23 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him;  indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day.

…

46 “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; 47 if they take thought in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who have taken them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and have committed iniquity, we have acted wickedly’;  48 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and pray to You toward their land which You have given to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your name;  49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are Your people and Your inheritance which You have brought forth from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace), 52 that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You.  53 For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance, as You spoke through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers forth from Egypt, O Lord God.”  1 Kings Chapter 8:  Verses 22-24 and 46-53.

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Yes, we should walk before the LORD with all our heart.  Yes, we should repent when we sin.  Yes, we should make supplication to the LORD.  Yes, we should return to the LORD with all our heart.  Yes, we should pray to the LORD.

But, the “Fountain of Grace” is not our willingness nor our ability to do so.  The “Fountain of Grace” is not our goodness nor our cuteness.

“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.’”  Ezekiel 20:44.

“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.”  Romans 9:15-16.

The “Fountain of Grace” is revealed in the last verse (Verse 53) of today’s Scripture:  “For You have separated them from all the peoples of the earth as Your inheritance”.  The “Fountain of Grace” is God’s “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“That election, which is the unconditional and unchangeable decree of God to redeem in Christ a certain number of persons, is the sole cause and fountain of all our salvation, whence flow all the gifts of grace, including faith.  This is the plain teaching of our confessions in the Canons of Dordrecht, I,A,6,7.”  Declaration of Principles of the Protestant Reformed Churches.

“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 before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4. 

Consider also the following two sections of Article 7, Article 9, and Article 10 in FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination in Canons of Dordt.  

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.  …”  

Article 9.  … This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended; but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself …”

Article 10.  The good pleasure of God is the sole cause of this gracious election;  which doth not consist herein, that out of all possible qualities and actions of men God has chosen some as a condition of salvation;  but that he was pleased out of the common mass of sinners to adopt some certain persons as a peculiar people to himself …”

“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;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.”  Psalm 28:9.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings 8:1-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David, which is Zion.  2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.  3 Then all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.  4 They brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils, which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites brought them up.  5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim.  7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above.  8 But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside;  they are there to this day.  9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.  10 It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. 

12 Then Solomon said,

“The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.”    1 Kings 8:1-12.

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What does the dwelling of the LORD in the thick cloud teach us about the LORD? 

Let us look at some of the Scriptures.

“The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.”  Exodus 19:9.

“So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.”  Exodus 19:16.

“All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking;  and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.  Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen;  but let not God speak to us, or we will die.”  Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid;  for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”  So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.”  Exodus 20:18-21.

“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom, with a great voice, and He added no more.  He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.”  Deuteronomy 5:22.

“12 “And He made darkness canopies around Him,
A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky.
13 “From the brightness before Him
Coals of fire were kindled.
14 “The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
15 “And He sent out arrows, and scattered them,
Lightning, and routed them.
16 “Then the channels of the sea appeared,
The foundations of the world were laid bare
By the rebuke of the Lord,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.”  2 Samuel 22:12-16.  See also Psalm 18:11-15 which is very similar.

“22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”  Job 37:22-24.

“1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.
4 His lightnings lit up the world;
The earth saw and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”  Psalm 97:1-6.

First, the thick cloud separates us from the LORD, so that we on our own can not easily or casually approach Him and think we are equal or comparable in any way.  We need Him to draw us to Himself through His Almighty Power.

“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,”  Isaiah 46:9.

Jesus Christ “… is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and eternal dominion!  Amen.'”  1 Timothy 6:15-16.

Second, the thick cloud leads us to fear the LORD and tremble in His presence.    Exodus 19:16 and Exodus 20:18-21 as quoted above.

“Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord.
‘Do you not tremble in My presence?  …”  Jeremiah 5:22.

Third, the thick cloud helps us to understand that we cannot know everything about the LORD.

“The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power”  Job 37:23 as quoted above.

Fourth, the thick cloud makes us willing to generally talk about the LORD’s absolute sovereignty.  We can not see all the details of the  LORD’s works behind the scene, so we are inclined to trust the LORD and His absolute sovereignty and His righteousness and His justice without even trying to explain all the details of why and how the LORD acts as He does.

“Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”  Psalm 97:2 as quoted above.

In conclusion, it is noteworthy in today’s Scripture that the thick cloud did not enter the LORD’s house until the priests left the holy place and was such “so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud”.  Verses 10-11.  This humbles the proud priests and preachers who think that they are righteous enough to draw the LORD to appear in their midst.  This is consistent with man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, which leads us to give up in trusting man in any way and which leads us to trust the LORD alone to handle all the points of salvation from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints” (the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”) as if the LORD was saying:  “Priests, you can leave My temple now.  I will do My work.  This is not a joint venture.  You do not need to understand those things that are hidden in My cloud and not revealed to you.  Fear Me.  Trust Me.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.  2 He built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was 100 cubits and its width 50 cubits and its height 30 cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams on the pillars.  3 It was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the 45 pillars, 15 in each row.  4 There were artistic window frames in three rows, and window was opposite window in three ranks.  5 All the doorways and doorposts had squared artistic frames, and window was opposite window in three ranks.

6 Then he made the hall of pillars;  its length was 50 cubits and its width 30 cubits, and a porch was in front of them and pillars and a threshold in front of them.

7 He made the hall of the throne where he was to judge, the hall of judgment, and it was paneled with cedar from floor to floor.

8 His house where he was to live, the other court inward from the hall, was of the same workmanship.  He also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Solomon had married.

9 All these were of costly stones, of stone cut according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside; even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court.

10 The foundation was of costly stones, even large stones, stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits.  11 And above were costly stones, stone cut according to measure, and cedar.  12 So the great court all around had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams even as the inner court of the house of the Lord, and the porch of the house.

13 Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre.  14 He was a widow’s son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze;  and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze.  So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work.

…

51 Thus all the work that King Solomon performed in the house of the Lord was finished.  And Solomon brought in the things dedicated by his father David, the silver and the gold and the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.”  1 Kings Chapter 7:  Verses 1-14 and 51.

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King Solomon was wise and skillful in building both the house of the LORD and in building his own house.  Hiram of Tyre was also wise and skillful in making the bronze items for the house of the LORD.

We too may be wise and skillful literally or figuratively in building our house.  Figuratively, we may have our finances in perfect order.  We may have our health in perfect shape.  We may have well-behaved children in the best schools.  We may live in a dream home in the best neighborhood.

But, if the LORD has not blessed us and built our house for us, it is all for naught.

“1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.”  Psalm Chapter 127.

Other doctrine focuses on the will and skill of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on the will and skill of God.

Other doctrine focuses on what man does for God.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on what man receives from God.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and it fell—and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27.

Which doctrine is built “on the rock”?

Other doctrine built on man’s alleged free-will?

Or, Reformed Doctrine built by God through His Almighty Actions specified in “TULIP”?

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 6.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon saying, “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father.  I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”  1 Kings 6:11-13.

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Here is our LORD.

I will build My house.  “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”  Revelation 21:2.  “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.”  Revelation 21:10-11.

“… I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”  Matthew 16:18.  “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;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:27.

“I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”  Verse 13.  “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4.

Which doctrine knows our LORD better? 

Other doctrine which focuses on man, man’s alleged free-will, and what man can do and will do?  Whose lord is only a reactor to what man does? 

Or, Reformed Doctrine which focuses on the LORD, His absolute sovereignty, and His willingness to initiate and do all the things to fully accomplish man’s salvation such as stated in the Scripture quoted in today’s devotion?