Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 20:1-9.

“1  When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.  2 When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people.  3 He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today.  Do not be fainthearted.  Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, 4 for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’  5 The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it?  Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.  6 Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin to use its fruit.  7 And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her?  Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.’  8 Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted?  Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’  9 When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people.”  Deuteronomy 20:1-9.

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We may not go into literal battles.  But, we go into spiritual battles.

We may not need courage to face enemies trying to kill us.  But, we need courage to go confront the trials, troubles, and tribulations in our weekly work and daily routines.

It is Monday morning and many of us need courage to face whatever we confront today and this week.

We need to be reminded of the LORD our God, and build our faith, that He is the One Who goes before us to fight for us and to save us.

And, how we can we get this reminder and build our faith?  

Before we go out, we can read God’s Word.  Before we go out, we can pray together.  Before we go out, we can encourage each other.

Before Israel crossed the river Jordan to face their enemies and take possession of the Promised Land of Canaan, here is some of what God said to Joshua the leader of Israel, which charge applies to us today.

“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;  I will not fail you or forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous;  be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you;  do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:5-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 19:14-21.

“14 “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.

15 “A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed;  on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.  16 If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, 17 then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days.  18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother.  Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.  20 The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.  21 Thus you shall not show pity:  life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”  Deuteronomy 19:14-21.

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The importance of not being a false witness is shown by the fact that it is one of the Ten Commandments.  “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”  Exodus 20:16.

The importance of not being a false witness is also shown by the following Proverbs 6:16-19.

“16 There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.”  Proverbs 6:16-19.

There is also certain punishment for a false witness.

“A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.”  Proverbs 19:5.

In conclusion, the Heidelberg Catechism gives us a great commentary on what is required in this ninth commandment (“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”) by not only instructing us what we should not do, but by also instructing us what we should do as can be seen by the last phrase highlighted in bold italic.

Q. 112.   What is required in the ninth commandment?

A.  That I bear false witness against no man, nor falsify any man’s words;  that I be no backbiter, nor slanderer;  that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly or unheard;  but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit as the proper works of the devil, unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God;  likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it uprightly, and confess it;  also that I defend and promote, as much as I am able, the honor and good character of my neighbor.  Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 19:1-13.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+19&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 “When the Lord your God cuts off the nations, whose land the Lord your God gives you, and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set aside three cities for yourself in the midst of your land, which the Lord your God gives you to possess.  3 You shall prepare the roads for yourself, and divide into three parts the territory of your land which the Lord your God will give you as a possession, so that any manslayer may flee there.

4 “Now this is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live:  when he kills his friend unintentionally, not hating him previously— 5 as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live;  6 otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in the heat of his anger, and overtake him, because the way is long, and take his life, though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated him previously.  7 Therefore, I command you, saying, ‘You shall set aside three cities for yourself.’”    Deuteronomy 19:1-7.

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God’s provision of cities of refuge points us to Himself being our refuge.

“Trust in Him at all times, O people;  Pour out your heart before Him;  God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”  Psalm 62:8.

“But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy;  And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You.”  Psalm 5:11.

“Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.”  Psalm 16:1.

“Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.”  Psalm 17:7.

“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.”  Psalm 18:2.

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

“In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;  Let me never be ashamed;  In Your righteousness deliver me.”  Psalm 31:1.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good;  How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”  Psalm 34:8.

“The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”  Psalm 34:22.

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”  Psalm 36:7.

“The Lord helps them and delivers them;  He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.”  Psalm 37:40.

“Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You;  And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.”  Psalm 57:1.

“But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;  Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.”  Psalm 59:16.

“For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.”  Psalm 61:3.

“Let me dwell in Your tent forever;  Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah.”  Psalm 61:4.

“On God my salvation and my glory rest;  The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”  Psalm 62:7.

“The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;  And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm 64:10.

“In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;  Let me never be ashamed.”  Psalm 71:1.

“I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge.”  Psalm 71:7.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;  I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”  Psalm 73:8.

“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”  Psalm 91:2.

“He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge;  His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”  Psalm 91:4.

“For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.”  Psalm 91:9.

“But the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.”  Psalm 94:22.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.”  Psalm 118:8.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in princes.”  Psalm 118:9.

“For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord;  In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.”  Psalm 141:8.

“I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”  Psalm 142:5.

“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;  I take refuge in You.”  Psalm 143:9.

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.”  Proverbs 14:26.

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

“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”  Nahum 1:7.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 18:15-22.

“15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.  16 This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’  17 The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well.  18 I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.  19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.  20 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’  21 You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’  22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken.  The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”  Deuteronomy 18:15-22.

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The LORD our God did indeed raise up prophets like Moses.  We are reminded and become amazed at the number of “major and minor” prophets that the LORD our God raised by just reading the names of the Books of the Old Testament from Joshua to Malachi.

But, although so many prophets were raised and faithfully relayed all the words of God to the people of Israel, they did not believe.  And although these prophets also said so many things pointing to a Redeemer that would come to Israel, they still did not believe.

This Redeemer, God’s only begotten Son, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, knew the foolishness and slowness to believe that was in their hearts.

“And He (Christ) said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”  Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”  Luke 24:25-27.

“But though He (Christ) had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”  John 12:37-40.

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.  Why do you not understand what I am saying?  It is because you cannot hear My word.  You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which one of you convicts Me of sin?  If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?  He who is of God hears the words of God;  for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”  John 8:42-47.

And so, as we contemplate and meditate on these Scriptures and gain a panoramic view of the prophets and the people, our trust in man diminishes and our trust in God grows.

Man’s wisdom, man’s alleged goodness, and man’s alleged free will, despite all the prophets, the commands, the promises, and the other opportunities provided by God, are not going to lead man to salvation.  All that man produces is “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

But, there is hope!

The hope is provided by God.

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”,  the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, all of which is provided by God.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 18:9-14.

“9 “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord;  and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.  13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.  14 For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.”   Deuteronomy 18:9-14.

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Detestable is defined as “arousing or meriting intense dislike :  abominable”  by Merriam-Webster online dictionary.  We see that word used three times in today’s Scripture to describe these witchcraft, sorcery, divination, omen, medium, and other spiritists’ practices.

And yet, how often we try to get closer to these things so we can satisfy our curiosity or other sinful desire! 

We think of ways to justify it.  We are only reading about these things.  It is an academic exercise.  It is only a cartoon or other animation.  We are rooting for the good witch, not the bad witch.  Everyone’s practices enrich our lives.  Spiritism of any kind is good.

But, today’s Scripture makes it crystal clear that these things are detestable and that God will punish those who do these things.  “For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord;  and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.”  Verse 12.

We should not get close to these detestable things.  We should try hard to entirely avoid them.  Don’t read their books.  Don’t watch their TV and movies.  Don’t gaze into the crystal ball.  Don’t listen to a fortune teller or someone who is casting a spell.  Don’t get your palm read.  Don’t even play the “Ouija” board or their other games.

And just because we may have done so at one time, it doesn’t mean that we should continue to do so.  It is hard to avoid these things in today’s age and prevalence of these things.  But, through God’s grace, including forgiveness and help avoiding these detestable things, “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.”  Verse 13.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 18:1-8.

“1 “The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel;  they shall eat the Lord’s offerings by fire and His portion.  2 They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them.

3 “Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.  4 You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.  5 For the Lord your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the Lord forever.

6 “Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he desires to the place which the Lord chooses, 7 then he shall serve in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the Lord.   8 They shall eat equal portions, except what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates.”  Deuteronomy 18:1-8.

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Today is election day, and we think that we have choices.  But, today’s Scripture reminds us of God’s choices.  From the Levite in verse 5 to the king in Deuteronomy 17:15 to whomever will be elected today, God is the One Who does the choosing.

We may claim that we believe in Reformed Doctrine, in Calvinism, in God’s sovereignty.  But, how much of it goes from our head to our heart?  Do we really trust God’s choices?  Or, do our actions, words, and feelings show that we really trust our own choices?

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.”  Proverbs 21:1.

Whether we trust God’s choices or man’s choices has serious consequences. 

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 17:14-20.

“14  “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves;  you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman.  16 Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’  17 He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

18 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  19 It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.”   Deuteronomy 17:14-20.

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“2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

“14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
16 I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.”  Psalm 119:14-16.

“… Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 17:8-13.

“8 “If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God chooses.  9 So you shall come to the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case.  10 You shall do according to the terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which the Lord chooses;  and you shall be careful to observe according to all that they teach you.  11 According to the terms of the law which they teach you, and according to the verdict which they tell you, you shall do;  you shall not turn aside from the word which they declare to you, to the right or the left.  12 The man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the Lord your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die;  thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.  13 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again.”  Deuteronomy 17:8-13.

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“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;”  Deuteronomy 12:8.

“In those days there was no king in Israel;  everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  Judges 21:25.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”  Proverbs 12:15.

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 17:1-7.

“1 “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the Lord your God.

2 “If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the Lord your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded, 4 and if it is told you and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire thoroughly.  Behold, if it is true and the thing certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5 then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil deed to your gates, that is, the man or the woman, and you shall stone them to death.  6 On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death;  he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.  So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”  Deuteronomy 17:1-7.

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Again, as was made crystal clear in a prior devotion, no Christian maintains that Christians should put to death people who worship other gods.  “You shall not murder.”  Exodus 20:13.

Rather, today’s Scripture points us to Christian discipline.

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”  1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

And, church discipline does not only extend to those who practice immoral behavior within the church.  Church discipline also extends to those practice heresy within the church.

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;  which is really not another;  only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!    As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”  Galatians 1:6-9.

In summary, we purge evil from our midst by ex-communication (removing a member from membership and attendance in church) according to proper church discipline procedures done by the leaders of the church (minister, elders, and deacons).

Article 32:  Of the Order and Discipline of the Church. 

“…  Therefore we admit only of that which tends to nourish and preserve concord, and unity, and to keep all men in obedience to God. For this purpose, ex-communication or church discipline is requisite, with the several circumstances belonging to it, according to the Word of God.”  Belgic Confession. 

Today’s Scripture comes from Deuteronomy 16:18-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+16&version=NASB

I quote only the following Scripture.

“You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.  You shall not distort justice;  you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.  Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”    Deuteronomy 16:18-20.

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“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.  He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:17-18.

“He loves righteousness and justice;  The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.”  Psalm 33:5.

“For the Lord loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones;  They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.”  Psalm 37:28.

“The strength of the King loves justice;  You have established equity;  You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”  Psalm 99:4.

“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.