Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote only the following verses.

“4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned the foxes tail to tail and put one torch in the middle between two tails.  5 When he had set fire to the torches, he released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, thus burning up both the shocks and the standing grain, along with the vineyards and groves.  6 Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?”  And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.”  So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.  7 Samson said to them, “Since you act like this, I will surely take revenge on you, but after that I will quit.”  8 He struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter; and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines went up and camped in Judah, and spread out in Lehi.  10 The men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?”  And they said, “We have come up to bind Samson in order to do to him as he did to us.”  11 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us?  What then is this that you have done to us?”  And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”  12 They said to him, “We have come down to bind you so that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.”  And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not kill me.”  13 So they said to him, “No, but we will bind you fast and give you into their hands;  yet surely we will not kill you.”  Then they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him.  And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands.  15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it.  16 Then Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,
Heaps upon heaps,
With the jawbone of a donkey
I have killed a thousand men.”

17 When he had finished speaking, he threw the jawbone from his hand;  and he named that place Ramath-lehi.  18 Then he became very thirsty, and he called to the Lord and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant, and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”  19 But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi so that water came out of it.  When he drank, his strength returned and he revived.  Therefore he named it En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.  20 So he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.”  Judges 15:4-20.

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Here in today’s Scripture, Samson experienced a physical affliction (thirst) for which he needed to be revived.  And, God indeed did revive him.

We all experience physical, mental, and spiritual afflictions for which we need to be revived.

But, there is hope!  

“For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.”  Isaiah 57:15.

“1 Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
2 “He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”  Hosea 6:1-3.

“Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear.
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.”  Habakkuk 3:2.

“… Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
O Lord God of hosts, restore us;
Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”  Psalm 80:18-19.

“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.”  Psalm 119:88.

“I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have revived me.”  Psalm 119:93.

“I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.”  Psalm 119:107.

“Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances.”  Psalm 119:149.

“154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.”  Psalm 119:154-156.

“7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 138:7-8.

“17 O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?
20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses
Will revive me again,
And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 May You increase my greatness
And turn to comfort me.”  Psalm 71:17-21.

“4 Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.”  Psalm 85:4-7.

“37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.”  Psalm 119:37-40.

“49 Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.”  Psalm 119:49-50.

Today’s devotion comes from Judges Chapter 14.

“1 Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.  2 So he came back and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines;  now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”  3 Then his father and his mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”  But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me.”  4 However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

5 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah;  and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him.  6 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand;  but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.  7 So he went down and talked to the woman;  and she looked good to Samson.  8 When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion;  and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.  9 So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went.  When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it;  but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.

10 Then his father went down to the woman;  and Samson made a feast there, for the young men customarily did this. 11 When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me now propound a riddle to you;  if you will indeed tell it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes.  13 But if you are unable to tell me, then you shall give me thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes.”  And they said to him, “Propound your riddle, that we may hear it.”  14 So he said to them,

“Out of the eater came something to eat,
And out of the strong came something sweet.”

But they could not tell the riddle in three days.

15 Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s house with fire.  Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is this not so?”  16 Samson’s wife wept before him and said, “You only hate me, and you do not love me;  you have propounded a riddle to the sons of my people, and have not told it to me.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told it to my father or mother; so should I tell you?”  17 However she wept before him seven days while their feast lasted.  And on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so hard.  She then told the riddle to the sons of her people.  18 So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?
And what is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
You would not have found out my riddle.”

19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of them and took their spoil and gave the changes of clothes to those who told the riddle.  And his anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.  20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.”  Judges Chapter 14.

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We see that the Spirit of the LORD is stronger than a lion in verses 5, 6, and 19 of today’s Scripture and other Scripture such as the following Romans 15:18-19.

“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit;  so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”   Romans 15:18-19.

But, we also see that the Spirit of the LORD is sweeter than honey in the following Psalm 19:7-10 and other Scripture.

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

Although Psalm 19:7-10 only mentions the law of the LORD, the Spirit of the LORD transforms us, His chosen ones, so that the words of the LORD taste sweet to us.

The Canons of Dordt state in part that the “… grace of regeneration … spiritually quickens, heals, corrects, and at the same time sweetly and powerfully bends it (our will) …”  See Article 16 of THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE  Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

“But 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.  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.  And who is adequate for these things?”  2 Corinthians 2:14-16.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah;  and his wife was barren and had borne no children.  3 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.  4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb;  and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.  6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. ”

…

15 Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you.”  16 The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I will not eat your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord. 17 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?”  18 But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”  19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the Lord, and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on.  20 For it came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar.  When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 Now the angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah or his wife again.  Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord.  22 So Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, for we have seen God.”  23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time.”

24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him.  25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.”  Judges Chapter 13:  Verses 1-6 and 15-25.

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We see too that the LORD is “wonderful”!  Verse 18.  The LORD indeed is “very awesome”!  Verse 6.

Other doctrine focuses on man, trying to “puff” man up.

But, our Reformed Doctrine focuses on our Wonderful God and His wonderful deeds.

“On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.”  Psalm 145:5.

“24 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”  1 Chronicles 16:24-31.  Psalm Chapter 96 is very similar Scripture.

“1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
For He has done wonderful things,
His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  Psalm 98:1-3.

“6 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.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:6-7.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you?  We will burn your house down on you.”  2 Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon;  when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand.  3 When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hand.  Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”  Judges 12:1-3.

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Compare trusting in man with trusting in God.  In verse 2, we see the result of trusting in man:  “you did not deliver me from their hand.”  In verse 3, we see the result of trusting in God:  “the Lord gave them into my hand.”

We also see this simple and sharp contrast of trusting in man versus trusting in God in the following Scripture.

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

And yet, we see something more in today’s Scripture and in Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Jephthah (and we too) could be boastful and think:  “I was wise enough to trust in God.  I exercised my free will to choose to believe in God and trust him.”   But, it would be wrong to be boastful and to think that way.

In today’s Scripture, we notice that Jephthah admitted that he called them (men of Ephraim) to help him, and that when he saw that they would not help him, he took his life in his hands.  Verses 2-3.  By doing these things, he first trusted in man (in men of Ephraim and later in himself).  Only at the end did he recognize that the LORD gave them into his hands.

In Jeremiah 17:5-8, we notice that there is more than just “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind”, we read that this man “makes flesh his strength”.  In other words, it is not just that he trusts in mankind, he actively builds up (“makes’) his faith in man.

In Jeremiah 17:5-8, we also notice that there is more than just “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord”, we read that this trust “is the LORD”.  In other words, this trust comes from the LORD.  The LORD gives and infuses this trust in the LORD in this man.

Here is what the Canons of Dordt state in part about this gift of faith.

“Article 14.  Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ;  but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE  Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.”

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:1-3.

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But 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 1:26-31.

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 11:29-40.

“29 Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon.  30 Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, 31 then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”  32 So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord gave them into his hand.  33 He struck them with a very great slaughter from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim.  So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.  35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter!  You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me;  for I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”  36 So she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the Lord;  do to me as you have said, since the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.”  37 She said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me;  let me alone two months, that I may go to the mountains and weep because of my virginity, I and my companions.”  38 Then he said, “Go.”  So he sent her away for two months;  and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.  39 At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made;  and she had no relations with a man.  Thus it became a custom in Israel, 40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.”   Judges 11:29-40.

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Today’s Scripture show the harsh consequences of making a rash and foolish vow (which appear to be that Jephthah’s daughter could not have relations with a man thus likely depriving Jephthah and his daughter of descendants).

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’  But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’;  anything beyond these is of evil.”  Matthew 5:33-37.

But, there is more that we can learn from today’s Scripture than the simple and superficial lesson that we should not make vows.

The deeper, more important lesson is that the LORD loves His elect, His chosen ones, and gladly gives them what is good without the need for us to make a bribe, vows, or somehow otherwise earn the gifts of God.  

“Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.  So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.  For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.”  Deuteronomy 10:15-17.

Reformed Doctrine understands and teaches that we cannot earn God’s grace.  It should make sense that if indeed our natural condition was one of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, then there is nothing within us that could motivate God to save us or otherwise give us good gifts.

One of the Five Solas of the Reformation is “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone).  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-8.  “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.”  Romans 11:6.

Therefore, we do not need to bribe the LORD or otherwise try somehow to earn His favor and gifts.

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

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 11:1-28.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”  13 The king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok and the Jordan;  therefore, return them peaceably now.”  14 But Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the sons of Ammon, 15 and they said to him, “Thus says Jephthah, ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.

…

21 The Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.  22 So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan.  23 Since now the Lord, the God of Israel, drove out the Amorites from before His people Israel, are you then to possess it?  24 Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has driven out before us, we will possess it.  25 Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab?  Did he ever strive with Israel, or did he ever fight against them?  26 While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?  27 I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me;  may the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’”  28 But the king of the sons of Ammon disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.”  Judges Chapter 11:  Verses 12-15 and 21-28.

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Other doctrine is more interested in man and what man has done and should do.

Reformed Doctrine is more interested in God and what God has done and will do.

Reformed Doctrine searches Scripture to understand and know God.

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

Today, Reformed Doctrine delights to find this insight about the LORD that He is “the Judge” in verse 27 of today’s Scripture.  The LORD exercises justice, righteousness, and lovingkindness as “the Judge”, declaring “I delight in these things”.  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“8 The Lord judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.”  Psalm 7:8-11.

“19 Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before You.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord;
Let the nations know that they are but men.  Selah.”  Psalm 9:19-20.

“1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken,
And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shone forth.
3 May our God come and not keep silence;
Fire devours before Him,
And it is very tempestuous around Him.
4 He summons the heavens above,
And the earth, to judge His people:
5 “Gather My godly ones to Me,
Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge.  Selah.”  Psalm 50:1-6.

“10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.”  Psalm 96:10-13.

“For the Lord will judge His people
And will have compassion on His servants.”  Psalm 135:14.

“For the Lord is our judge,
The Lord is our lawgiver,
The Lord is our king;
He will save us—”  Isaiah 33:22.

I will be leaving on Thursday, February 26, 2015 on a hiking trip to the Grand Canyon/Sedona/Phoenix areas with 7 other high school classmates.  God willing, my next devotion will be on Sunday, March 8, 2015.

The Canons of Dordt present “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

While I am away, I thought that it would be best to recommend the following parts of the Canons of Dordt.  You can click on the link to the part that you want to read, and you will be pleasantly surprised how succinctly and clearly these truths are presented.

FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE
Of Divine Predestination

SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE
Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby

THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE
Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE
Of the Perseverance of the Saints

CONCLUSION

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

I quote only the following verses.

“6 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines;  thus they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him. 7 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon.  8 They afflicted and crushed the sons of Israel that year;  for eighteen years they afflicted all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the Amorites.  9 The sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

10 Then the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.”  11 The Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines?  12 Also when the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hands.  13 Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods;  therefore I will no longer deliver you.  14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen;  let them deliver you in the time of your distress.”  15 The sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You;  only please deliver us this day.”  16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord;  and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.”  Judges 10:6-16.

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“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  Psalm 51:17.

Reformed Doctrine starts with humility.  It recognizes man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Other doctrine starts with pride.  It claims that God loves everyone and gives everyone an equal chance at salvation and that the only difference between those who are saved and those who are not saved is man’s works or at least man’s wisdom to choose Christ.

Reformed Doctrine cries out:  “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You;  only please deliver us this day.”   Because of its “Total Depravity”, Reformed Doctrine realizes that its only chance for salvation is “Unconditional Election”, the “U”  of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Other doctrine will not accept such salvation.  To the Sovereign God of Scripture who predestines some to salvation and leaves others to perish according to His “Unconditional Election” alone, other doctrine exclaims:  “That is not the God I worship!”  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

“He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.”  Psalm 2:4.

“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.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’  Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”  3 And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem;  and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.”  4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.  5 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone.  But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.  6 All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

…

22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.  23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.  25 The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road;  and it was told to Abimelech.

…

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.  51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in;  and they went up on the roof of the tower.  52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.  53 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.  54 Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’”  So the young man pierced him through, and he died.  55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.  56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.  57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.  Joshua Chapter 9:  Verses 1-6 and 22-25 and 50-57.

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Today’s Scripture shows us God’s justice in His returning all the wickedness on their heads.

Today’s Scripture shows God’s sovereignty over evil spirits (verses 23-24) and millstones (verse 53).

Today’s Scripture gives us another vivid example of God shattering the heads of His enemies (Abimilech, verse 53).

“Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies,
The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.”  Psalm 68:21.

“2 A jealous and avenging God is the Lord;
The Lord is avenging and wrathful.
The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
In whirlwind and storm is His way,
And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
He dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
The blossoms of Lebanon wither.
5 Mountains quake because of Him
And the hills dissolve;
Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence,
The world and all the inhabitants in it.
6 Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire
And the rocks are broken up by Him.”  Nahum 1:2-6.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him vigorously.  2 But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you?  Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?  3 God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands;  and what was I able to do in comparison with you?”  Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

4 Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing.  5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”  6 The leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?”  7 Gideon said, “All right, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about 15,000 men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east;  for the fallen were 120,000 swordsmen.

…

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”  23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.”  24 Yet Gideon said to them, “I would request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his spoil.”  (For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)  25 They said, “We will surely give them.”  So they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil.  26 The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.”  Judges Chapter 8:  Verses 1-10 and 22-27.

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We walk through the wilderness of life and prickers attach to the bottoms of our pants, and we must pick them off one by one.  At best, they are only an irritation as we pick some of them off skillfully and easily without a problem.  At worse, they are painful as some of them prick us bad and maybe even draw a little blood.   

Although Gideon was in the middle of a miraculous victory, we read about the prickers that Gideon encountered in today’s Scripture.  

In verses 1 to 3, we first read of those jealous prickers, fellow Israelites, who rather than be thankful for what Gideon had done for them, they “contended with him vigorously”.  They were only a source of irritation, and Gideon, with a few flattering words, plucked them off skillfully and easily without a problem.

In verses 5 to 8, we read of lazy, non-helpful prickers, the leaders of Succoth, who rather than easily provide some bread to Gideon and his 300 men, withheld it on the flimsy excuse that Gideon had not yet won total victory.  They were more of a problem.  Gideon rebuked them and left, but later he had to come back and discipline them.

In verse 10, we read of straggling enemy prickers, the 15,000 men (“all who were left of the entire army …  for the fallen were 120,000 swordsmen).  They were more of a problem;  Gideon had to chase them and ambush them and pursue them more, but he did rout them.

In verses 22 to 27, we read of the totally unexpected pricker, the ephod, which came after the victory and was made from the spoils of war, but yet “became a snare to Gideon and his household.”  This was the biggest problem.

In summary, we may think that everything is going well for us.  We are close to God.  God is giving us the victory.  And yet, we still have to deal with the prickers of life.

But, there is hope! 

There is “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Here is some of what the Canons of Dordt teach about “Preservation of the Saints” in FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

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.  

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated. 

Article 9.  Of this preservation of the elect to salvation, and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers for themselves may and ought to obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they arrive at the certain persuasion, that they ever will continue true and living members of the church;  and that they experience forgiveness of sins, and will at last inherit eternal life.