Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 8:1-13.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting.”  So Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting, Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded to do.”

Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water.  He put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him.  He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.  He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.  He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.  Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.  Next Moses had Aaron’s sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with sashes and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Leviticus 8:1-13.

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In today’s Scripture, we see quite a magnificent spectacle of Aaron clothed in all the priest garments and anointed with oil.  But, something much more glorious is in store for all of God’s people who are called the “royal priesthood”.  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on how we, the “royal priesthood”, are clothed in righteousness and anointed with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the excellencies of God.

“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God;  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Isaiah 61:10.

“1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the priests of the Lord;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.”  Isaiah 61:1-6.

Here is a link to Calvin’s Commentary on Isaiah 61 – http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom16.xiv.i.html

Here is a partial quote from it.

“As Christ explains this passage with reference to himself, (Luke 4:18) so commentators limit it to him without hesitation, and lay down this principle, that Christ is introduced as speaking, as if the whole passage related to him alone. The Jews laugh at this, as an ill­advised application to Christ of that which is equally applicable to other prophets. My opinion is, that this chapter is added as a seal to the former, to confirm what had hitherto been said about restoring the Church of Christ; and that for this purpose Christ testifies that he has been anointed by God, in consequence of which he justly applies this prophecy to himself; for he has exhibited clearly and openly what others have laid down ill an obscure manner.

But this is not inconsistent with the application of this statement to other prophets, whom the Lord has anointed; for they did not speak in their own name as individuals, or claim this authority for themselves, but were chiefly employed in pointing out the office of Christ, to whom belongs not only the publication of these things, but likewise the accomplishment of them. This chapter ought, therefore, to be understood in such a sense, that Christ, who is the Head of the prophets, holds the chief place, and alone makes all those revelations; but that Isaiah, and the other prophets, and the apostles, contribute their services to Christ, and each performs his part in making known Christ’s benefits. And thus we see that those things which Isaiah said would be accomplished by Christ, have now been actually accomplished.  …”

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:28-38.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+7&version=NASB

We will focus on the following verses.

“31 The priest shall offer up the fat in smoke on the altar, but the breast shall belong to Aaron and his sons.  32 You shall give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifices of your peace offerings.  33 The one among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat, the right thigh shall be his as his portion.  34 For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their due forever from the sons of Israel.

35 ‘This is that which is consecrated to Aaron and that which is consecrated to his sons from the offerings by fire to the Lord, in that day when he presented them to serve as priests to the Lord.  36 These the Lord had commanded to be given them from the sons of Israel in the day that He anointed them.  It is their due forever throughout their generations.’”  Leviticus 7:31-36.

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Our LORD’s concern for the priests is abundantly clear for all of His provisions for the priests and for His emphasis of it in today’s Scripture.  This concern should be comforting for us all as the “royal priesthood”.  And, it should also be comforting to those who work full-time as ministers, missionaries, and other church employees.

As for us all as the “royal priesthood”, here is another example of God’s concern and care for you so that “you may proclaim the excellencies of Him”.  See 1 Peter 2:9.  “For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  …”  Psalm 95:7.  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield;  The Lord gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.”  Psalm 23:5.

As for those who work full-time as ministers, missionaries, and other church employees,  “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?  So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14.

We know of God’s concern and care for us.  But, it is good to be reminded of it.

From time to time, particularly when I am experiencing financial troubles, I read “Letters to Harry” now known as “Gold Mining”.  Here is a link to them at my web site – https://reformeddoctrine.com/covenant-protestant-church-and-quotes-for-the-day/  Here is one of my favorites.

GOLD MINE 3: RUTH 2:12
MAY THE LORD REWARD YOUR WORK AND MAKE YOUR WAGES FULL

August 21, 1992

Harry:
I am still struggling financially.  This is a hard fight.  “God give me faith”:  I pray.  The Lord must think that I can bear a lot and have a lot of faith.  I think it is more than I can stand through the flesh, but I trust God for strength.

My daily devotion today covered the book of Ruth.  God particularly gave me Ruth 2:12:  “’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.’”

What struck me was the focus on the LORD:

1. “the LORD reward your work”

2. “your wages be full from the LORD“

3. “the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge”.

The LORD is able to make me stand.  He has helped me in the past and delivered me.  He can do it now.  He can do it later, even when I think it is too late.  But He will rescue me. Psalm 91:15.

Yours truly,                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bill

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:19-27.

“19 ‘Also the flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten;  it shall be burned with fire.  As for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh.  20 But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, in his uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from his people.  21 When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

22 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep or a goat. 24 Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is offered to the Lord, even the person who eats shall be cut off from his people.  26 You are not to eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your dwellings.  27 Any person who eats any blood, even that person shall be cut off from his people.’”  Leviticus 7:19-27.

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Today’s Scripture leads us to remember what it is to be cut off from God’s people. 

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  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.”  Ephesians 2:1-3.

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”  Ephesians 2:11-12.

“… you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,”  Colossians 1:21.

But, there is hope! 

“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.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  Ephesians 2:13-16.

“yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ”  Colossians 1:22.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 7:1-18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%207&version=NASB

We focus on the following verses.

“‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering;  he shall not leave any of it over until morning.  But if the sacrifice of his offering is a votive or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what is left of it may be eaten;  but what is left over from the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.  So if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings should ever be eaten on the third day, he who offers it will not be accepted, and it will not be reckoned to his benefit.  It shall be an offensive thing, and the person who eats of it will bear his own iniquity.”  Leviticus 7:15-18.

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There was a share from the offerings for the priests to be eaten by them.  Today’s Scripture focuses on the timing of when it should be eaten and reminds of at least two things.  We are reminded of God’s commands for consumption of the manna and for consumption of the Lord’s Supper.

First, regarding the manna, “This is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat;  you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.’”  The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little.  When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.  Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.”  But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul;  and Moses was angry with them.  They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat;  but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.”  Exodus 16:16-21.

God commands and leads us to trust Him that He will timely provide for us on a daily basis.  God does not want us to hoard and trust only ourselves.

Second, regarding the Lord’s Supper, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you;  do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood;  do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.  But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.  The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.”  1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

God commands us and leads us to eat the Lord’s Supper together (communion with God and communion with each other, all together) during the time of the worship service.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 6:14-30.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+6&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“16 What is left of it Aaron and his sons are to eat. It shall be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place;  they are to eat it in the court of the tent of meeting.  17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their share from My offerings by fire;  it is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.  18 Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it;  it is a permanent ordinance throughout your generations, from the offerings by fire to the Lord.  Whoever touches them will become consecrated.’”  …

26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it.  It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting.  …

29 Every male among the priests may eat of it;  it is most holy.  …”  Leviticus Chapter 6:  Verses 16-18 and 26 and 29.

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We see a share given for the priests in today’s Scripture.

And we see the principle applied to ministers of the gospel.  “Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?  So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:13-14.

We see David defended even though he took some of the consecrated bread and this principle applied to also defend Christ’s disciples for their actions on the Sabbath.  “And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.  The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;  how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”  Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:23-28.

But, Jesus Christ, this Son of Man, this Lord of the Sabbath, provided much more as we consider the Lord’s Supper this Sunday.

“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.”

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”  So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”  John 6:51-56.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it.  The priest is to put on his linen robe, and he shall put on undergarments next to his flesh;  and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire reduces the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar.  Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.  The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it.  It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning;  and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.  Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar;  it is not to go out.”  Leviticus 6:8-13.

“for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:29.

“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”  Malachi 3:3.

“… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor;  and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12.

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”  Acts 2:3-4.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3:10-13.

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 6:1-7.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the Lord, and deceives his companion in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his companion, or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do;  then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely;  he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more.  He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering.  Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt.”  Leviticus 6:1-7.

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It is not enough to deceive and steal, keep the proceeds, and then only make a guilt offering.  There is a duty to make restitution.

“And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus;  he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.  Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.  When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.  When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”  Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Luke 19:2-9.

Zaccheus understood this duty of restitution, and he went way beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law, because he had “his eyes fixed on the prize”:  the Savior Jesus Christ.

But, this noble impulse of Zaccheus was given to Zaccheus by His Savior Jesus Christ.  When Jesus calls Zaccheus “a son of Abraham”, he does not praise Zaccheus, but rather he indicates that Zaccheus was one of the elect in the sense we see in Romans 11:26-27 and that He (Christ) is the One Who saves the lost.

“26 … all Israel will be saved;  just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”  Romans 11:26-27.

Christ is the One Who restores.

“Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!  When the Lord restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.”  Psalm 14:7.

“He restores my soul;  He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3.

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”  Psalm 51:12

“O God, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”  Psalm 80:3.  See also Psalm 80:7 and Psalm 80:17.

“Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.”  Psalm 85:4.

“5 And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him
(For I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
And My God is My strength),
6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One,
To the despised One,
To the One abhorred by the nation,
To the Servant of rulers,
“Kings will see and arise,
Princes will also bow down,
Because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”

8 Thus says the Lord,
“In a favorable time I have answered You,
And in a day of salvation I have helped You;
And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people,
To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;
9 Saying to those who are bound, ‘Go forth,’
To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
Along the roads they will feed,
And their pasture will be on all bare heights.
10 “They will not hunger or thirst,
Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down;
For He who has compassion on them will lead them
And will guide them to springs of water.
11 “I will make all My mountains a road,
And My highways will be raised up.
12 “Behold, these will come from afar;
And lo, these will come from the north and from the west,
And these from the land of Sinim.”
13 Shout for joy, O heavens!  And rejoice, O earth!
Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people
And will have compassion on His afflicted.”  Isaiah 49:5-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 5:7-13.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+5&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“7 ‘But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.  …

11 ‘But if his means are insufficient for two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then for his offering for that which he has sinned, he shall bring the tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall not put oil on it or place incense on it, for it is a sin offering.  12 He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, with the offerings of the Lord by fire:  it is a sin offering.  13 So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has committed from one of these, and it will be forgiven him;  then the rest shall become the priest’s, like the grain offering.’”  Leviticus Chapter 5:  Verses 7 and 11-13.

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“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.”  Psalm 34:6.

“He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save.”  Psalm 72:13.

“He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.”  Psalm 112:9.

“He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,”  Psalm 113:7.

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

“1 Ho!  Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
3 “Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
4 “Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
A leader and commander for the peoples.
5 “Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:1-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 5:1-6.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+5&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned.  He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering.  So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin.”  Leviticus 5:5-6.

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“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  James 5:16.

“For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.”  Psalm 38:18.

“13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”  Proverbs 28:13-14.

“1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.  Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.  Selah.”  Psalm 32:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 4:13-35.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+4&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“13 ‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they commit any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty;  when the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a bull of the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting. … 20 He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering;  thus he shall do with it.  So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.  …

22 ‘When a leader sins and unintentionally does any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done, and he becomes guilty, 23 if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a male without defect.  …26 All its fat he shall offer up in smoke on the altar as in the case of the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings.  Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he will be forgiven.

27 ‘Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty, 28 if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has committed.  … 31 Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar for a soothing aroma to the Lord.  Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.

32 ‘But if he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring it, a female without defect.  … 35 Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar, on the offerings by fire to the Lord.  Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.  Leviticus Chapter 4:  Verses 13, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, and 35.

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We notice the repetition of the provision for atonement through the offerings.  We also notice for whom atonement was intended.

One atonement was intended for the “whole congregation of Israel”.  Verse 13.  Another atonement was intended for “a leader”.  Verse 22.  Another atonement was intended for “anyone of the common people”.  Verse 27.

One the one hand, atonement could be made for a group of people.   Verse 13.  On the other hand, atonement was specifically directed to specific people.  Verses 22 and 27.  But, for both the group and the specific people, atonement was directed to cover specific sins.  Verses, 13, 22, and 27.

Today’s Scripture should at least make us to start to think about “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

The issue ultimately is did Christ love everyone, die for everyone, and thus show grace to everyone?

Although today’s Scripture does not answer all of the questions, it leads us toward “Limited Atonement”.  Yes, atonement could be offered for a group of people.  But, atonement is specifically directed to specific people who committed specific sins.  And, all those for whom atonement is offered, they “will be forgiven”.

If Christ died for everyone, and thus made atonement for everyone, everyone would be forgiven.  However, if Christ died only for God’s elect, atonement would be limited to God’s elect, and only God’s elect would be forgiven.

If you want to read more about “Limited Atonement”, you can do so under the tag “TULIP” at the top of my web site.  Here is a link –      https://reformeddoctrine.com/tulip/