Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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?    

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 5.  Here is a link to this chapter -https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David.  2 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, 3 “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side;  there is neither adversary nor misfortune.  5 Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’  6 Now therefore, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants;  and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.”  8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent me;  I will do what you desire concerning the cedar and cypress timber.  9 My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place where you direct me, and I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away.  Then you shall accomplish my desire by giving food to my household.”  10 So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber.  11 Solomon then gave Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of beaten oil; thus Solomon would give Hiram year by year.  12 The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him;  and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.”  1 Kings 5:1-12.

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The wisdom of God produces peace.  “The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him;  and there was peace …”       Verse 12.  “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side;  there is neither adversary nor misfortune.”  Verse 4.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:17-18.

“For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.”  Proverbs 3:2.

“Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.”  Proverbs 3:17.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;  And the government will rest on His shoulders;  And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6.

“How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7.

“For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:12.

“I will make a covenant of peace with them;  it will be an everlasting covenant with them.  And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.  My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”  Ezekiel 37:26-27.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:14.

“Peace I leave with you;  My peace I give to you;  not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  John 14:27.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;  I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”  Romans 5:1.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”  Romans 8:6.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”  Galatians 1:3.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”  Galatians 5:22.

“And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; ”  Ephesians 2:17.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 6-7.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.  The Lord be with you all!”  2 Thessalonians 3:16.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 4.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.

21 Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt;  they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour and sixty kors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.  24 For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River;  and he had peace on all sides around about him.  25 So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.  26 Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.  27 Those deputies provided for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month;  they left nothing lacking.  28 They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.

29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.  30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.  31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations.  32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.  33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish.  34 Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.”  1 Kings 4:20-34.

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In the very first verse of the Scripture I quoted above, we read the consequential blessings to the people that flowed from the wisdom of God given to Solomon to administer justice for others, the theme of yesterday’s Scripture.  “Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance;  they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.”  Verse 20.

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

We also read the lavish blessings that daily came to Solomon.  Verses 22-28.

More generally, and in a summary, Solomon wrote the following blessings of wisdom in one of his proverbs.

“11 “For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15 “By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
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 8:11-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.  2 The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days.

3 Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place;  Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.  8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.  9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.  For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.  11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 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.  13 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.  14 If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

…

28 When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”  1 Kings Chapter 3:  Verses 1-14 and 28.

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There is a earthly wisdom.  “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”  James 3:15-16.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”  James 3:17.

We can gain wisdom to help us take care of our own finances, our own health, and our own protection.  There are plenty of magazines and other media to help us do that.

But, it is better to have the wisdom of God to help us take care of others.  Solomon specifically asked for the wisdom of God to administer justice for others.

We may not be a judge or governor or other government leader who needs the wisdom of God to administer justice for others.

But, we need the wisdom of God to raise our children.

We need the wisdom of God to work skillfully for others.

We need the wisdom of God to best help others as a volunteer.

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

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Kings Chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%202&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1  As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am going the way of all the earth.  Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.  3  Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed;  he also shed the blood of war in peace.  And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.  6 So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace.  7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table;  for they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother.  8 Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite, of Bahurim; now it was he who cursed me with a violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim.  But when he came down to me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’  9 Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man;  and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”

10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.  11 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.  12 And Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.”  1 Kings 2:1-12.

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Joab, Adonijah, and Shimei lived longer than they deserved, but they were finally slain in this chapter.  They lived longer than they deserved for various reasons that I will generalize as “self-righteousness”.

Joab had distinguished military service and accomplishments for Israel as a commander in David’s army.  See, for example, 2 Samuel Chapters 10-12.

Adonijah was a son of David.  He was also handsome, charming, and a born leader.  1 Kings 1:5-7.

Shimei did repent after cursing David and did participate in restoring David as king.  2 Samuel 19:16-23.

We too could trust our own accomplishments, our own family, our own abilities, and our own actions.  We too could trust our own self-righteousness.  

But, we need more than a self-righteousness that keeps us out of trouble for a little while.  

As Solomon said about Adonijah, it applied to Joab and Shimei as well.  “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground;  but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.”  1 Kings 1:52.  “The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.”  1 Timothy 5:24.

We need a righteousness from Christ that endures to eternal life.  

“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:17.

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase;  but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:20-21.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“15 So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom.  Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.  16 Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king.  And the king said, “What do you wish?”  17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’  18 Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it.  19 He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.  20 As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.  21 Otherwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders.”

22 Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.  23 They told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.”  And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.  24 Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?  25 For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him;  and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’   26 But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited.  27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 Then King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.”  And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.  29 The king vowed and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30 surely as I vowed to you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’;  I will indeed do so this day.”   1 Kings 1:15-30.

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They were very different people.  Bathsheba was a woman, and Nathan a man.  Bathsheba was family (a wife of David), and Nathan was a friend.  Bathsheba was a lay person, and Nathan was a prophet.  Bathsheba was primarily worried about the safety of her and her son Solomon (verse 21), and Nathan was primarily worried about stability in the kingdom (verse 27).

But, Bathsheba and Nathan told very similar facts to David.  Good witnesses do it.  “Just the facts, Ma’am.” said Detective Joe Friday on the old TV show Dragnet.  

We tend to want to tell other people’s stories.  We tend to mold our story by embellishing it to make us look better and by making provision for what we think God will do for other people and for what other people will want to hear.  But, we should just tell the facts of our own story.  Jesus told the man who was demon-possessed whom He healed:  “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.  …”  Luke 8:39.

So, what did he do?  Did he tell others what Jesus did for others like feeding the five thousand?  Did he worry about if Jesus may not heal other demon-possessed people?  

No!  “… he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”  Luke 8:39.

There is hope for us to be good witnesses even though we are often tempted to embellish and worry:  “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;  and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 24:15-25.

“15 So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.  16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand!”  And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  17 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong;  but these sheep, what have they done?  Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

18 So Gad came to David that day and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the Lord had commanded.  20 Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him;  and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king.  21 Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”  And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people.”  22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight.  Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.  23 Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.”  And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.”  24 However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.”  So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.  25 David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.”  2 Samuel 24:15-25.

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We see that through the sin of one man (David), the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel and death spread to seventy thousand people.  “Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong;  but these sheep, what have they done?  Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”  Verse 17.

But, we also see that through the sacrifice of one man (David), the LORD was moved to hold back the plague.  “David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.”  Verse 25.

Today’s Scripture points us to the one Man, Jesus Christ, and what He has done for us.

“…  For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.”  Romans 5:15.

“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:17.

“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”  Romans 5:19.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 24:1-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+24&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”  2 The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”  3 But Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see;  but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”  4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army.  So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to register the people of Israel.

…

⁹ And Joab gave the number of the registration of the people to the king;  and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

10 Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people.  So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done.  But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”  11 When David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 “Go and speak to David, ‘Thus the Lord says, “I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.”’”  13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land?  Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you?  Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land?  Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”  14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress.  Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”  2 Samuel 24:  Verses 1-4 and 9-14.

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Rather than count our strengths like David counted his army in today’s Scripture, we need to count our blessings.  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9.

We are all in great distress because of our sins.  The only question is:  Do we want to fall into the hand of man or the hand of God?

Most doctrines choose the hand of man.  “Give us the free-will of man!  We will do the works to appease God or at least be wise enough to choose Christ.  We want our fate in our own hands.”

But, Reformed Doctrine chooses the hand of God.  “Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”  Verse 14.

And so, Reformed Doctrine embraces “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of Saints” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, all of which are in the hand of God.