Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 23:8-39.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+23&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had:  Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time;  9 and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. 10 He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines.  12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.

…

39 Uriah the Hittite;  thirty-seven in all.”  2 Samuel Chapter 23:  Verses 8-12 and 39.

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Today’s Scripture names David’s thirty-seven mighty men and recounts some of their mighty acts.  But, it reminds the reader twice (verses 10 and 12) that “the Lord brought about a great victory”.

Today’s Scripture concludes by naming the man (Uriah the Hittite) whom David arranged to be killed to try to hide David’s adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife.

Scripture humbles us and reminds us Who gives us the victory. 

“16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. 

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:16-22.

“But 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 2 Samuel 23:1-7.

“1 Now these are the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse declares,
The man who was raised on high declares,
The anointed of the God of Jacob,
And the sweet psalmist of Israel,
2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 “The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
‘He who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,
4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.’
5 “Truly is not my house so with God?
For He has made an everlasting covenant with me,
Ordered in all things, and secured;
For all my salvation and all my desire,
Will He not indeed make it grow?
6 “But the worthless, every one of them will be thrust away like thorns,
Because they cannot be taken in hand;
7 But the man who touches them
Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And they will be completely burned with fire in their place.”  2 Samuel 23:1-7.

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In his last days, David testified to his salvation.  God “has made an everlasting covenant with me”.  And that everlasting covenant is :  “Ordered in all things, and secured;  For all my salvation and all my desire”.  Verse 5.

Most doctrine’s salvation is not ordered, but subject to man’s alleged and rambling free-will.  Man may believe one day but not the next.  Man may do good works one day but do evil deeds the next.  Under most doctrine, salvation is as chaotic as man is, and salvation will not be determined until death.

But, Reformed Doctrine’s salvation, expressed in “TULIP”, is “ordered” by God.  Salvation is “ordered” by God from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of Saints” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Most doctrine’s salvation is not secure.  Most doctrine shows by their preaching and teaching that salvation is ultimately in man’s feeble hands.  So to speak, most doctrine teaches that we should take our hand and grab hold of God’s hand and not let go of God’s hand.

But, Reformed Doctrine’s salvation is “secured” by God.  Reformed Doctrine shows clearly and strongly that salvation is in God’s hand.  We may let go of God’s hand, but God will never let go of our hand.  “Unconditional Election” is in God’s hand.  “Limited Atonement” is in God’s hand.  “Irresistible Grace” is in God’s hand.  And, “Preservation of Saints” is in God’s hand.  “…I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  John 10:28-29.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 22:37-51.

“37 “You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.
38 “I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
39 “And I have devoured them and shattered them, so that they did not rise;
And they fell under my feet.
40 “For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
41 “You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
42 “They looked, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43 “Then I pulverized them as the dust of the earth;
I crushed and stamped them as the mire of the streets.
44 “You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people;
You have kept me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
45 “Foreigners pretend obedience to me;
As soon as they hear, they obey me.
46 “Foreigners lose heart,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.
47 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
48 The God who executes vengeance for me,
And brings down peoples under me,
49 Who also brings me out from my enemies;
You even lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
50 “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
51 “He is a tower of deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.”  2 Samuel 22:37-51.

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Today’s Scripture about King David’s destruction of his enemies points us to Christ our King’s destruction of His enemies. 

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems;  and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron;  and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelation 19:11-16.

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:15.

“For it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”  Romans 14:11.

“68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”  Luke 1:68-75.

Question 45:  How does Christ execute the office of a king? 

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good;  and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.  Westminster Larger Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 22:29-36.

“29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord;
And the Lord illumines my darkness.
30 “For by You I can run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 “As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tested;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32 “For who is God, besides the Lord?
And who is a rock, besides our God?
33 “God is my strong fortress;
And He sets the blameless in His way.
34 “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
And sets me on my high places.
35 “He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your help makes me great.”

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Most doctrine portray salvation as a joint venture between God and man.  According to most doctrine, man must perform an indispensable condition whether it be man’s works or only man’s will to be saved.

But, Reformed Doctrine portrays salvation as a gift of God unconditionally and totally performed by God.  According to this Reformed Doctrine, God does everything from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“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 1:30-31.

“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.

“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 2 Samuel 22:20-28.

“20 “He also brought me forth into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
21 “The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
22 “For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not acted wickedly against my God.
23 “For all His ordinances were before me,
And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.
24 “I was also blameless toward Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
25 “Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness before His eyes.
26 “With the kind You show Yourself kind,
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
27 With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the perverted You show Yourself astute.
28 “And You save an afflicted people;
But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase.”  2 Samuel 22:20-28.

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At first reading, we may think David is bragging in today’s Scripture.  But, then we meditate a little more on the bookend verses of today’s Scripture, and we realize how David starts with crediting God for rescuing him (verse 20) and how David recognizes that God abases the haughty (verse 28).  We also remember other Scripture such as Psalm 51 which shows the depth of David’s humility.

There are times for all of us Christians, like for David in today’s Scripture, that we can and should praise God for the righteousness, steadfastness, cleanness, and even blamelessness that He has developed within us and continues to do within us.

Our praise should not be limited to God healing us.  Our praise should not be limited to God delivering us from some dangerous situation.  Our praise should not be limited to God giving us food.  

Our praise should extend to those spiritual blessings that God has given us. 

“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.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“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 1:2-3.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 22:8-19.

“8 “Then the earth shook and quaked,
The foundations of heaven were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
9 “Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
Fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
10 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
11 “And He rode on a cherub and flew;
And He appeared on the wings of the wind.
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.
17 “He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
18 “He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
19 “They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.”   2 Samuel 22:8-19.

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Many people worship their “Santa Claus” image and idol.  Their “god” bows down to the alleged free-will of man.  Their “man upstairs” is at the beck and call of man downstairs.

We, Reformed Doctrine people, worship the Almighty God of Scripture Who in the greatness of His excellence (justice) shatters His enemy.  The heavens bow down to our God.  The foundations of the world are laid bare by the rebuke of our God.  Our God is truly sovereign and does whatever He pleases.

“6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;
You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.”  Exodus 15:6-7.

“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.”  Psalm 97:3-5.

“5 Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens

8 Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”  Psalm 144:5-8.

“5 For I know that the Lord is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”  Psalm 144:5-6.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We see similar Scripture in the following two Scriptures.

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

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

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

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But, we see the response of the Lord.

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

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

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:4-12.

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They are neither hot or cold.  They are lukewarm.

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

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

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

I quote only the following verses.

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

…

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

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

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

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

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