Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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. 

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped beside the spring of Harod;  and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.

2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’  3 Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’”  So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.

4 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many;  bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there.  Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”  5 So he brought the people down to the water.  And the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.”  6 Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men;  but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water.  7 The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands;  so let all the other people go, each man to his home.”

…

19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands.  20 When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing, and cried, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”  21 Each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying out as they fled. 22 When they blew 300 trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army;  and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.”  Judges Chapter 7:  Verses 1-7 and 19-22.

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Today’s Scripture gives another example of the Lord controlling events to make sure that He gets all the credit and glory.  “The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’”  Verse 2.

Other doctrine proudly boasts “My own power has delivered me.  I was wise and strong.  My wisdom and free-will to choose Christ was the determining factor of why I was saved.”

But, Reformed Doctrine humbly starts with “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation and with bowed head confesses that man is dead in sin and hostile to God and does not seek God.

Rather than boast of anything that man contributed, Reformed Doctrine boasts “God alone saved me!  It was a miracle!  It was miraculous like the victory that God gave to Gideon and his 300 men over the Midianites “as numerous as locusts”, because I was so foolish and weak.  Maybe even more miraculous than that victory, because I was dead in sin.”   And so, Reformed Doctrine joyfully embraces the next point, “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as its only chance of salvation.

“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 1:22-31.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2 “That the leaders led in Israel,
That the people volunteered,
Bless the Lord!
3 “Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!
I—to the Lord, I will sing,
I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,
Even the clouds dripped water.
5 “The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord,
This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted,
And travelers went by roundabout ways.
7 “The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 “New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.
9 “My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
The volunteers among the people;
Bless the Lord!
10 “You who ride on white donkeys,
You who sit on rich carpets,
And you who travel on the road—sing!
11 “At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the Lord,
The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel.
Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.

12 “Awake, awake, Deborah;
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

…

24 “Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
25 “He asked for water and she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26 “She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 “Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead.

…

31 “Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord;
But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.”  Joshua Chapter 5:  Verses 1-12 and 24-27 and 31.

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The following verses in Psalm Chapter 68 reminds me of today’s Scripture.

“1  Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts,
Whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him.”

…

7 O God, when You went forth before Your people,
When You marched through the wilderness, Selah.
8 The earth quaked;
The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

…

11 The Lord gives the command;
The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
12 “Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will divide the spoil!” 

…

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
21 Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies,
The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.”  Psalm Chapter 68:  Verses 1-4 and 7-8 and 11-12 and 19-21.

Other doctrine portray a passive Santa Claus-like god who loves everyone.

Reformed Doctrine portrays the Almighty Sovereign God of Scripture Who only loves and delivers the righteous (His elect) and Who shatters the heads of all His enemies. 

Today’s devotion comes from Judges Chapter 4.

“1 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died.  2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.  3 The sons of Israel cried to the Lord; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years.

4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.  5 She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim;  and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.  6 Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun.  7 I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’”  8 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go;  but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”  9 She said, “I will surely go with you;  nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.”  Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him;  Deborah also went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.

12 Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.  13 Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.  14 Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands;  behold, the Lord has gone out before you.” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.  15 The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.  16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword;   not even one was left.

17 Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.  18 Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid.”  And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.  19 He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.”  So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.  20 He said to her, “Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyone here?’ that you shall say, ‘No.’”  21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground;  for he was sound asleep and exhausted.  So he died.  22 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.”  And he entered with her, and behold Sisera was lying dead with the tent peg in his temple.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel.  24 The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.”  Judges Chapter 4.

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The LORD did indeed “sell Sisera into the hands of a woman” as Deborah prophesied in verse 9.  Both women, Deborah and Jael, deserve some of the honor.  And, the following chapter, Judges Chapter 5, honors both in a song.

Tomorrow, God willing, our devotion will come from Judges Chapter 5.

But, for now, the following Psalm Chapter 149 seemed like a good preface to that song.  It is good to “Praise the LORD!”.  It is good to sing to the LORD a new song.  It is good to rejoice.

We also note from today’s Scripture that God will use certain individuals to either lead or contribute (sometimes by unexpected individuals and sometimes in unexpected ways) in the language of the following Psalm Chapter 149 to “execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples, To bind their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron, To execute on them the judgment written;  This is an honor for all His godly ones.  Praise the Lord!”

“1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

5 Let the godly ones exult in glory;
Let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations
And punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings with chains
And their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To execute on them the judgment written;
This is an honor for all His godly ones.
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm Chapter 149.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“7 The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

9 When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.  10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel.  When he went out to war, the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.  11 Then the land had rest forty years.  And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.  So the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.  13 And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek;  and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees.  14 The sons of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man.  …

…

29 They struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped.  30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel.  And the land was undisturbed for eighty years.

31 After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad;  and he also saved Israel.”  Judges 3: Verses 7-15 and 29-31.

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Time after time, when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them.

In the following Psalm Chapter 107, we read this pattern of Israel crying out to the LORD in their trouble, and the LORD delivering them out of their distresses, time after time.

“6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 He led them also by a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

10 There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and chains,
11 Because they had rebelled against the words of God
And spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death
And broke their bands apart.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
16 For He has shattered gates of bronze
And cut bars of iron asunder.

17 Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all kinds of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
32 Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.”  Psalm 107:6-32.

Let us too cry to our LORD in our trouble and trust our LORD to save us out of our distresses.

Let us too praise and glorify our LORD this Sabbath day in the congregation of the people.

Let us too give thanks to our Lord every day for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to us! 

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

I quote only the following verses.

“6 When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. 7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers;  and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

11 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, 12 and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them;  thus they provoked the Lord to anger.  13 So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. 14 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them;  and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.  15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.

16 Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them.  17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them.  They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord;  they did not do as their fathers.  18 When the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge;  for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.  19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them;  they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.”  Judges 2:6-19.

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Today’s Scripture reminds us of the sad history of Israel so panoramically displayed in vivid detail in Psalm Chapter 78 that we read in the devotion two days ago.  Despite all that the LORD did for Israel, Israel forgot and forsook the LORD:  “they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.”  Verse 19.

Today’s Scripture should be a warning.  But, there are those who still stubbornly cling to man’s alleged goodness and alleged free-will.  They preach and teach:  “Man just needs to learn more.  Man just needs to try harder.”

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches so that its listeners will know the true LORD, not the god of their desires.  Reformed Doctrine preaches and teaches what the LORD has done. 

Reformed Doctrine humbles man and exalts God.  Reformed Doctrine humbles man by preaching and teaching man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Reformed Doctrine exalts God by preaching and teaching what God has done for His elect 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.

Reformed Doctrine best helps us focus on the LORD and trust Him and His righteousness and His salvation.

“1 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
Who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn
And to the quarry from which you were dug.
2 “Look to Abraham your father
And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;
When he was but one I called him,
Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”
3 Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion;
He will comfort all her waste places.
And her wilderness He will make like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

4 “Pay attention to Me, O My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation;
For a law will go forth from Me,
And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait for Me,
And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
6 “Lift up your eyes to the sky,
Then look to the earth beneath;
For the sky will vanish like smoke,
And the earth will wear out like a garment
And its inhabitants will die in like manner;
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not wane.
7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
A people in whose heart is My law;
Do not fear the reproach of man,
Nor be dismayed at their revilings.
8 “For the moth will eat them like a garment,
And the grub will eat them like wool.
But My righteousness will be forever,
And My salvation to all generations.”  Isaiah 51:1-8.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”  The Lord said, “Judah shall go up;  behold, I have given the land into his hand.”  Judges 1:1-2.

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Judges Chapter 1 shows both the leadership of the tribe of Judah and the greater success over its enemies compared to the other tribes who had more problems driving out their enemies.

Today’s Scripture shows one way in which “He (God) also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.”  Psalm 78:67-68.

Today’s Scripture also partially fulfilled the prophecy of Jacob:

“8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him up?
10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”  Genesis 49:8-10.

But, most importantly, today’s Scripture points to Jesus Christ, “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah”:  “and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping;  behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”  Revelation 5:5.

Jesus Christ, this Lion of the Tribe of Judah, gives us:

“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 1:71-74.