Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote the following verses.

“1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.  3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence.  4 Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.  5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight;  its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned.  6 The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.  7 The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening.  8 The one who burns it shall also wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water, and shall be unclean until evening.  9 Now a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity;  it is purification from sin.  …

20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord;  the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.”  Numbers Chapter 19:  Verses 1-9 and 20.

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In today’s Scripture, “water to remove impurity;  it is purification from sin” (verse 9) points to the water provided by Christ.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22.

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;  in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.  Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”  1 Peter 3:18-22.

“This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ;  not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.  It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  For there are three that testify:  the Spirit and the water and the blood;  and the three are in agreement.”  1 John 5:6-8.

Here is how the Heidelberg Catechism shows the Spirit and the water and the blood are in agreement.

Question 69.  How art thou admonished and assured by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?

Answer.  Thus:  That Christ appointed this external washing with water, adding thereto this promise, that I am as certainly washed by his blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, form all my sins, as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is commonly washed away.

Question 70.  What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?

Answer.  It is to receive of God the remission of sins, freely, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which he shed for us by his sacrifice upon the cross;  and also to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and sanctified to be members of Christ, that so we may more and more die unto sin, and lead holy and unblamable lives.

Question 71.  Where has Christ promised us, that he will as certainly wash us by his blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?

Answer.  In the institution of baptism, which is thus expressed: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” “he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved;  but he that believeth not, shall be damned.”   This promise is also repeated, where the scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration, and the washing away of sins.

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

I quote the following verses.

“1 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood.  2 But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.  3 And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.  4 They shall be joined with you and attend to the obligations of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent;  but an outsider may not come near you.  5 So you shall attend to the obligations of the sanctuary and the obligations of the altar, so that there will no longer be wrath on the sons of Israel. 6 Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord, to perform the service for the tent of meeting. 7 But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”  …

“12 All the best of the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the Lord, I give them to you. 13 The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours;  everyone of your household who is clean may eat it.”  …

“21 “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.”  …

“25 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.  …”  Numbers Chapter 18:  Verses 1-7 and 12-13 and 21 and 25-26.

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The LORD specified similar but separate duties of Aaron and his sons (priesthood including everything concerning the altar and inside the veil) and the duties of the sons of Levi (to perform the service for the tent of meeting).  We remember the rebellion of Korah and certain other sons of Levi in Numbers Chapter 16 who grumbled against Moses, Aaron, and the LORD thinking that they were as holy and as fit for the same service as Moses and Aaron.

These Scriptures were written for our instruction too so that we will not become jealous and envious, and so that we do not try to assume that we have the right and the gifts (ability) to do the duties of others.

But, today’s Scripture provides much more that just separating and assigning duties.

Today’s Scripture provides the encouragement that the LORD rewards service performed for the LORD.   “All the best of the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the Lord, I give them to you (Aaron and his sons).”  Verse 12.  “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.”  Verse 21.

We see similar encouragement that the LORD rewards through Scripture.

“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Ruth 2:12.

“3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.”  Psalm 127:3-4.

“Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.”  Proverbs 13:21.

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.  Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

“But I said, “I have toiled in vain,
I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity;
Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the Lord,
And My reward with My God.”  Isaiah 49:4.

“Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes;  Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”  Isaiah 62:11.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;  for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:12.

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward;  and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:41-42.

“Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.”  And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”  Luke 18:28-30.

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one;  but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”  1 Corinthians 3:8.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”  Colossians 3:23-24.

“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”  Hebrews 6:10.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”  Revelation 22:12.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 17:12-13.

“Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying!  Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, must die.  Are we to perish completely?”  Numbers 17:12-13.

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Confronted with the overwhelming power and glory of the LORD present in the miracle of Aaron’s rod, the sons of Israel shrunk back as they realized in comparison their own weakness and sinfulness.

A similar reaction was experienced by Isaiah.

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.  Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:1-5.

And, there is this warning for us all.

“For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”  Hebrews 10:37-38.

But, there is hope!

There was hope for Isaiah.  “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips;  and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”  Isaiah 6:6-7.

And, there is hope for us.  “Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.  Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:18-22.

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  2  Corinthians 3:4-6.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

In conclusion, “… we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:39.

Today’s devotion comes Numbers 17:1-11.

“1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households.  You shall write each name on his rod, 3 and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi;  for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households.  4 You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you.  5 It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout.  Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.”  6 Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.  7 So Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.

8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.  9 Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the Lord to all the sons of Israel;  and they looked, and each man took his rod.  10 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.” 11 Thus Moses did;  just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.”  Numbers 17:1-11.

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The LORD made the miraculous provision of causing Aaron’s rod (which was a dead piece of wood) to come alive and sprout and produce buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds to show His choice of Aaron and to lessen the grumblings against Aaron and Himself.  Verses 5 and 8.

But, this miraculous provision also gives us hope that the LORD will confirm His choice of us too (who were dead in sin – “Total Depravity”) by making us alive and producing fruit in us too.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. ”  John 15:16.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”  John 15:8.

“You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:16-20.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;  joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”  Colossians 1:9-12.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 16:41-50.

“41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people.”  42 It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared.  43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”  Then they fell on their faces.  46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it;  then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!”  47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people.  So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked.  49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah.  50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked.”  Numbers 16:41-50.

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Aaron interceded.  God seemed inclined to consume the people instantly (verse 45), so Aaron interceded taking his stand between the dead and the living and making atonement for the people (verses 47 and 48).

Aaron’s intercession points to the work of the Trinity Who intercedes for us.

God the Father willed and planned and brought salvation.

“And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.”  Isaiah 59:16.

“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.

12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
13 “I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.”  Isaiah 46:9-13.

God the Son provided the atonement through His death and continues to intercede for us.

“… Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:34.

“… And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  1 John 2:1-2.

God the Spirit helps us with our weaknesses, groaning for us and guiding us and connecting us to God the Father and His will and all truth.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:13.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 16:12-40.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2016&version=NASB

I only quote the following verses.

“20 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”  22 But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” 27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram;  and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones.  28 Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds;  for this is not my doing.  29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.  30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.”

31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open;  32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.  33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol;  and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.  34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!”  35 Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.”  Numbers 16:20-35.

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“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Proverbs 13:20.

“Depart from evil and do good;  Seek peace and pursue it.”  Psalm 34:14.

“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;  He who watches his way preserves his life.”  Proverbs 16:17.

“17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 16:8-11.

“Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;  and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you?  And are you seeking for the priesthood also?  Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord;  but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?”  Numbers 16:8-11.

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Moses points to jealousy as a cause of the grumbling and rebellion by Korah and his followers.  We too need to be careful that we don’t fall into the temptation of jealousy and grumbling.  Like Korah was jealous of Moses’ position, we can be jealous of another’s position.  Even today despite reading today’s Scripture and writing some first draft notes for today’s devotion, I later read the newspaper’s recommendations for judges in our judicial election races, and I felt a twinge of jealousy and had to subdue it.

We should not be jealous.  “Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:10-12.

We entertain a twinge of jealousy, thinking it is innocent and justified.  But, it is not innocent nor justified.  It leads to grumbling and other sins.  Grumbling leads to outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying.  These sins lead to rebellion as were written for our instruction in Numbers Chapter 16.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.

But, there is hope!

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man;  and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

Korah, listen to Moses!  Don’t be jealous!  It is enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them!     

Be “… content with what you have …”.  Hebrews 13:5.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 15:37-41.

“37 The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, 38 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.  39 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, 40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God.  41 I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God;  I am the Lord your God.”  Numbers 15:37-41.

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Tassels, including a cord of blue, point us to the work of the Trinity, “accordingly” we will not break God’s commandments, but rather remember them and do them.  “… A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”  Ecclesiastes 4:12.

God the Father puts His laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts.

““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.”  Hebrews 8:10.

God the Son gives us understanding, so that we may know God and have eternal life.

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true;  and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life.”  1 John 5:20.

God the Spirit guides us into all truth.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 3:16.

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you;  but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”  1 John 2:27.

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 15:30-36.

“30 But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord;  and that person shall be cut off from among his people.  31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off;  his  guilt will be on him.’”

32 Now while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day.  33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation;  34 and they put him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done to him.  35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death;  all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”  36 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Numbers 15:30-36.

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As a quick introductory side note, although little is stated in the second paragraph of today’s Scripture about the man gathering wood on the Sabbath day, it seemed to me from the close proximity with the first paragraph and the severe punishment that this was a specific example of one who was doing something defiantly, blaspheming the LORD, and despising the word of the LORD.  That is why I included this second paragraph in today’s Scripture and did not set it aside for a separate devotion.

But, whether or not there is that connection, there is discipline in today’s Scripture that is the theme of this devotion (although no one now would advocate church discipline to include putting anyone to death).

Discipline is so important that it is considered as one of the three marks by which the true Church is known.

“…  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these:  if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin:  in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church.  …”  Article 29 of the Belgic Confession.

In Lesson 24 (concerning “The Church”) of the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine by Rev. H. Hoeksema, there are also the following two points:

“7.  What are the distinguishing marks of the church?
The pure preaching of the Word of God, the proper administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of Christian discipline. John 8:31, 47.

9.  What are the keys of the kingdom?
The preaching of the Word and the exercise of Christian discipline, by which the kingdom is opened and shut to believers and unbelievers. John 20:23.”

We should not also forget the preceding Scripture of unintentional sin (Numbers 15:22-29) and the forgiveness readily and fully given.  And, we also consider the separate classification of sin that received such severe punishment as being defiant, blasphemous, and despising the word of the LORD.

The purpose of this devotion is to generally and briefly cover the importance of discipline, particularly for those who are defiant, blasphemous, and despising the word of the LORD.  The purpose of this devotion is to not specifically cover all the sins that should be disciplined or the appropriate punishment.  I will close with only the following two specific examples in Scripture.

We see one reference to discipline in Galatians 1:9:  “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!’

Another reference to discipline is in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2:  “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.  You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.”