Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 26:1-13.

“1 ‘You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.  2 You shall keep My sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary;  I am the Lord.  3 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, 4 then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.  5 Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time.  You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land. 6 I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble.  I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.  7 But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword;  8 five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.  9 So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you.  10 You will eat the old supply and clear out the old because of the new.  11 Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you.  12 I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.  13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”  Leviticus 26:1-13.

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Today’s Scripture provides a summary of the Old Covenant which I summarize even further:  “If you obey Me, then I will bless you.”  We know that the sons of Israel did not obey God and continue in this covenant.  But, even in this Old Covenant, there was the concluding hope:  “I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”  Verse 13.  If God did it once, then God could do it again.

And, here is how God did it again.

“7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.  8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For all will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And I will remember their sins no more.”

13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete.  But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.”  Hebrews 8:7-13.

The problem was not with the Old Covenant;  the problem was with the party:  the sons of Israel, man generally.  The problem was the “Total Depravity” in man.  Other doctrine teach than man just needs to get wiser and try harder.  Reformed Doctrine teaches that because man is dead in sin, this “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, man needs a sovereign and all-powerful God Who will do all that is necessary for man’s salvation (the “U” through “P” of “TULIP”).  Reformed Doctrine is consistent with the New Covenant.

Now, instead of the Old Covenant which is “If you obey Me, then I will bless you.”, we have the New Covenant which is “I will bless you so that you will obey me.”  “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:27.

Instead of an Old Covenant dependent on man’s wisdom and willpower, we have the New Covenant dependent on God’s power.

In summary, like the Law was never intended to be “Plan A” for salvation (that would need a “Plan B”), but the Law’s purpose was only to lead us to Christ, the one and only plan for salvation (Galatians 3:23-29), the Old Covenant was never intended to be “Plan A” for salvation, but its purpose was only to lead us to Christ, the one and only plan for salvation.  So, in a sense, there is only one Plan for salvation, only one Covenant, and only one Reformed Doctrine.  “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:4-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 25:23-55.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25&version=NASB

I quote herein only these verses.

“23 ‘The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine;  for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.  24 Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land.

25 ‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.  26 Or in case a man has no kinsman, but so recovers his means as to find sufficient for its redemption, 27 then he shall calculate the years since its sale and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and so return to his property.  28 But if he has not found sufficient means to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hands of its purchaser until the year of jubilee;  but at the jubilee it shall revert, that he may return to his property.  …

47 ‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, 48 then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold.  One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him;  or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.  50 He then with his purchaser shall calculate from the year when he sold himself to him up to the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall correspond to the number of years. It is like the days of a hired man that he shall be with him.  51 If there are still many years, he shall refund part of his purchase price in proportion to them for his own redemption;  52 and if few years remain until the year of jubilee, he shall so calculate with him.  In proportion to his years he is to refund the amount for his redemption.  53 Like a man hired year by year he shall be with him; he shall not rule over him with severity in your sight.  54 Even if he is not redeemed by these means, he shall still go out in the year of jubilee, he and his sons with him.  55 For the sons of Israel are My servants;  they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.”  Leviticus Chapter 25:  Verses 23-28 and 47-55.

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Jubilee points us toward heaven and gives us hope.  Today’s Scripture contains Jubilee element of “redemption” upon which we can meditate, which points out God’s ownership as God the Father, God’s redeeming action as God the Son (the nearest kinsman), and God’s pledging and preserving action as God the Spirit.

God the Father declares “the land is Mine” (Verse 23) and “the sons of Israel are My servants” (Verse 55).  Yes, God’s land and God’s servants may be in bondage, but they are God’s land and God’s servants, and we gain confidence through God’s ownership that He will redeem them.

Likewise, “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, should give us confidence that those whom God unconditionally elects as His ownership (His people), God will certainly redeem.

God the Son declares:  “I am the nearest kinsman!  I will redeem!”

Likewise, “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, should give us confidence that those whom God unconditionally elects as His ownership (His people), God the Son, as the nearest kinsman, will certainly redeem all and only those of God’s people.

God the Spirit declares:  “I am the Pledge of Jubilee!  I am the Preserver until redemption is fully accomplished!”

Likewise, “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, should give us confidence that those whom God unconditionally elects as His ownership (His people), those whom God the Son will certainly redeem, God the Spirit will certainly serve as both a pledge of redemption and preservation until redemption is fully accomplished.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 25:8-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“8 ‘You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years.  9 You shall then sound a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month;  on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land.  10 You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants.  It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.  11 You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor reap its aftergrowth, nor gather in from its untrimmed vines.  12 For it is a jubilee;  it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field.

13 ‘On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property.  14 If you make a sale, moreover, to your friend or buy from your friend’s hand, you shall not wrong one another.  15 Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops.  16 In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years you shall diminish its price, for it is a number of crops he is selling to you.  17 So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God;  for I am the Lord your God.”  Leviticus 25:8-17.

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Jubilee points us toward heaven and gives us hope.  Today’s Scripture contains Jubilee elements of “release” and “return” upon which we can meditate, some of which we will only experience when we arrive in heaven and some of which we experience now on our way to heaven.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”  Luke 4:18-19.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26.

“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6.

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:22-23.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”  Romans 8:2.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans.  For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.  I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord;  and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.”  Jeremiah 24:4-7.

“For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:25.

“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”  Romans 8:19-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 25:1-7.

“The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord.  Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord;  you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard.  Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year.  All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food;  yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you.  Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.”  Leviticus 25:1-7.

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Sabbatical is defined by Dictionary.com as “any extended period of leave from one’s customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.” (one of the definitions).

I consider July 1997 to December 1997 as a sabbatical in my life.  It was not rest by choice.  I moved from St. Petersburg, Florida where I had lived for more than 15 years to Gainesville, Georgia, my wife’s hometown.  Business had been slow for me in St. Petersburg, and I wanted to try a new location to work and to live.

We did not find what we were looking for, most importantly work, and we moved back to St. Petersburg, but this time turned out to be a sabbatical for me.  We lived in a beautiful apartment on a hillside with a big porch overlooking a panoramic view of Lake Lanier.  Although I did not do customary work in meeting with clients and go to Court hearings, I was able to finish up my cases through express mail, faxes, and call forwarding.  God provided enough income for the mortgage payment on my home in St. Petersburg, for the rent on my apartment in Gainesville, and for all my other financial needs.

But, what was most remarkable about this time is that I was able to rest and reflect on my life and put together “Gold Mining a/k/a Letters to Harry” in a book form.  This product is shown in my web site at the “Gold Mining” tag on top of my Home Page.

I think there was a sabbatical time in the life of Solomon too when he focused his attention and work in building the temple for the LORD.

“David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, “Is not the Lord your God with you?  And has He not given you rest on every side?  For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people.  Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;  arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”  1 Chronicles 22:17-19.

We noticed that Solomon did not use the sabbatical to just rest.  David advised all the leaders of Israel:  “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;  arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God”.

And so, we too can consider what the LORD is prompting us to do in our sabbatical or in our retirement or even on this holiday of Memorial Day.  The first step is to “set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God”.

We have God’s promises to guide us, surround us with lovingkindness, and bring forth our righteousness.

“8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:8-11.

“5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”  Psalm 37:5-11.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 24:17-23.

“17 ‘If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death.  18 The one who takes the life of an animal shall make it good, life for life.  19 If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him:  20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth;  just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.  21 Thus the one who kills an animal shall make it good, but the one who kills a man shall be put to death.  22 There shall be one standard for you;  it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the Lord your God.’”  23 Then Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, and they brought the one who had cursed outside the camp and stoned him with stones.  Thus the sons of Israel did, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”   Leviticus 24:17-23.

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Today’s Scripture teaches us two general principles of punishment in justice.

First, punishment should be set to a fixed standard according to just laws applicable to all.  “There shall be one standard for you;  it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the Lord your God.”  Verse 22.  In other words, there should be one standard of punishment applicable to all.  Punishment should not be different for different people.  Punishment should not be arbitrary, moving, subject to only the whim of the king or judge as to whether he likes or dislikes the person being punished.

Second, punishment should be proportionate to the crime:  “fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth;  just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.”  Verse 20.   A person should not fear that he will be put to death just because he knocked out an important person’s tooth.  Lighter crimes should be subject to lighter punishments, and heavier crimes should be subject to heavier punishments.

Although these two general principles should accord with our common sense, we see these general principles neglected.  There are those who think that certain people or classes of people should be punished more.  There are those who think that certain crimes should be punished more just because a family member was a victim of that particular crime.  There are those who think that they should be tough on crime no matter what.  Many politicians think that “being tough on crime no matter what” is the key to being elected.  Sadly, many Christians blindly support these shallow politicians, also thinking that they should be tough on crime no matter what, because they don’t understand or appreciate these principles of justice.

There is an interesting article titled:  “Column:  (Less) Crime (too much) Punishment” that was written by Eduardo Porter, New York Times, on April 30, 2014.  Here is a link to this article – http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/column-less-crime-and-too-much-punishment/2177628  In the article, Mr. Porter points out that the United States puts in prisons a greater percentage of its citizens than any other country, “about five times the average for fellow industrialized nations”.  And blacks bear the brunt of that neglect of justice.  “Today, a little under half the state and federal prison population is black.  … a black boy born in 2001 had a 32.2 percent chance of doing times behind bars.”

As I did a quick search of Scriptures on the importance of justice, there were too many good ones to include all of them.  Here are some of them.

“He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.”  Psalm 25:9

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

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.”  Psalm 37:30

“Vindicate the weak and fatherless;  Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.”  Psalm 82:3

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”  Psalm 89:14

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

“How blessed are those who keep justice, Who practice righteousness at all times!”  Psalm 106:3

“The works of His hands are truth and justice;  All His precepts are sure.”  Psalm 111:7

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted And justice for the poor.”  Psalm 140:12

“Who executes justice for the oppressed;  Who gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets the prisoners free.”  Psalm 146:7

“To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.”  Proverbs 21:3

“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.”  Proverbs 21:15

“The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.”  Proverbs 29:4

“Learn to do good;  Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”  Isaiah 1:17

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

“7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.”  Proverbs 2:7-9.

“15 “By me (wisdom) kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 “Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.”  Proverbs 8:15-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 24:10-16.

“Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the sons of Israel;  and the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp.  The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed.  So they brought him to Moses.  (Now his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)  They put him in custody so that the command of the Lord might be made clear to them.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head;  then let all the congregation stone him.  You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin.  Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death;  all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”  Leviticus 24:10-16.

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Like maintaining the lamps and the bread that are no longer done, but its purpose was to point us to Christ, stoning to death for blaspheming is no longer done, but it points us to the sovereign authority of God.

We live in a day and age where the sovereign authority of God is more and more ignored and blasphemed.  Today’s Scripture should give us pause to consider that God is not like a fat, jolly Santa Claus that will put up with such rebellion.  God sits on His throne and will utterly destroy His enemies.

“Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.”  Psalm 97:3.

“How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!”  Psalm 73:19.

“1 Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples!
Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it.
2 For the Lord’s indignation is against all the nations,
And His wrath against all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to slaughter.”  Isaiah 34:1-2.

“2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

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.’”  Psalm 2:2-9.

But, there are those who mock.  There are those who think they are safe by creating gods of their own imagination (idols) that they can control and ridicule.  What blasphemy!

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?  For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”  2 Peter 3:3-7.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.  …”  2 Peter 2:4-10.

So, what should our response be?

“1 The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.
4 The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 24:5-9.

“Then you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake.  You shall set them in two rows, six to a row, on the pure gold table before the Lord.  You shall put pure frankincense on each row that it may be a memorial portion for the bread, even an offering by fire to the Lord.  Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually;  it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.  It shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place;  for it is most holy to him from the Lord’s offerings by fire, his portion forever.”  Leviticus 24:5-9.

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The bread in today’s Scripture points us to Jesus Who is “the bread of life”.

“35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;  he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:35-40.

And, we notice the focus and emphasis on God’s will, not on alleged man’s free-will.  “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.  For this is the will of My Father …”  John 6:38-40.

Reformed Doctrine therefore points out this focus and emphasis on God’s will.  The basis of our salvation is God’s will:  “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13.  “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.

Rather than bristle against this Reformed Doctrine, we should joyfully embrace it.  For what is the result of God’s will being done?

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”  John 6:37-39.

“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  John 6:33.

Let us compare man’s bread with “the bread of God”.

“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;  if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;  and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”  John 6:49-51.

Let us compare man’s alleged free-will (and what it could not do) with God’s will (and what it did).

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  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 2:3-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 24:1-5.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.  Outside the veil of testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually;  it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.  He shall keep the lamps in order on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.”  Leviticus 24:1-5.

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The continually burning lamps in today’s Scripture point us to Jesus Who is “the Light of the world”.  And like, these continually burning lamps, Jesus continually gives light.  Jesus does not turn on and off His light like a light switch in a home.  

Jesus’ light is on to help the righteous walk, to show that the work of the righteous was done by God, and to glorify the righteous.  And, Jesus’ light is on the unrighteous to expose their wicked deeds.

Here is some Scripture to show what Jesus’ light does for the righteous.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world;  he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12.

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”  John 12:46.

Here is some Scripture to show what Jesus’ light does for both the righteous and unrighteous.

“There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:9-13.

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:19-21.

And so, you righteous, arise and shine, for your light has come!

“Arise, shine;  for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 “Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

4 “Lift up your eyes round about and see;
They all gather together, they come to you.
Your sons will come from afar,
And your daughters will be carried in the arms.
5 “Then you will see and be radiant,
And your heart will thrill and rejoice;
Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you,
The wealth of the nations will come to you.
6 “A multitude of camels will cover you,
The young camels of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba will come;
They will bring gold and frankincense,
And will bear good news of the praises of the Lord.
7 “All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth will minister to you;
They will go up with acceptance on My altar,
And I shall glorify My glorious house.
8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud
And like the doves to their lattices?
9 “Surely the coastlands will wait for Me;
And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
To bring your sons from afar,
Their silver and their gold with them,
For the name of the Lord your God,
And for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.

10 “Foreigners will build up your walls,
And their kings will minister to you;
For in My wrath I struck you,
And in My favor I have had compassion on you.
11 “Your gates will be open continually;
They will not be closed day or night,
So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
With their kings led in procession.
12 “For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish,
And the nations will be utterly ruined.
13 “The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
The juniper, the box tree and the cypress together,
To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
And I shall make the place of My feet glorious.
14 “The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet;
And they will call you the city of the Lord,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated
With no one passing through,
I will make you an everlasting pride,
A joy from generation to generation.
16 “You will also suck the milk of nations
And suck the breast of kings;
Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 “Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
And instead of iron I will bring silver,
And instead of wood, bronze,
And instead of stones, iron.
And I will make peace your administrators
And righteousness your overseers.
18 “Violence will not be heard again in your land,
Nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.
19 “No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory.
20 “Your sun will no longer set,
Nor will your moon wane;
For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning will be over.
21 “Then all your people will be righteous;
They will possess the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
22 “The smallest one will become a clan,
And the least one a mighty nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”  Isaiah Chapter 60.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 23:33-44.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+23&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“33 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord.  35 On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind.  36 For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.  On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord;  it is an assembly.  You shall do no laborious work.  …

40 Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.  41 You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year.  It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations;  you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.  42 You shall live in booths for seven days;  all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt.  I am the Lord your God.’”  44 So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the Lord.”  Leviticus Chapter 23:  Verses 33-36 and 40-44.

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One of the definitions of booth according to Dictionary.com is “a temporary structure of any material, as boughs, canvas, or boards, used especially for shelter; shed.”  A tent is like a booth but a little bit more permanently constructed.  It is more complex and permanently built together as one whole unit as compared to a booth which is constructed by miscellaneous loose pieces placed together.  But, a tent is much closer to a booth than a tent is close to a house.

By the Festival of Booths, the LORD was preparing the sons of Israel to live by faith in God alone.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  Hebrews 11:8-10.

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

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”  Psalm 84:10.

And so, we too travel through life.  Are we primarily and continually focused on earth such as getting finer cars, finer houses, and finer retirement plans.  Or, are we content with what we have, primarily focused on God and “things above”? 

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4.

Today’s Scripture comes from Leviticus 23:26-32.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement;  it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.  You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God.  If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people.  As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.  You shall do no work at all.  It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.  It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls;  on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”  Leviticus 23:26-32.

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Humility and rest are keys to atonement in today’s Scripture.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4:6.

“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:13-14.

“O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!  The Lord preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer.”  Psalm 31:23.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Psalm 34:18.

“Seek the Lord,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.”  Zephaniah 2:3.

“7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret;  it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”  Psalm 37:7-11.