Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote the following verses.

“1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households;  they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.  …

34 Thus the sons of Israel did;  according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father’s household.”  Numbers Chapter 2:  Verses 1, 2 and 34.

——————–

“Standard” is defined by Merriam-Webster online dictionary – http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard  One of the definitions for “standard” which seems to be the meaning of the use of “standard” in today’s Scripture is:  “a conspicuous object (as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem“.

We see the use of this meaning of “standard” in the following Scripture.

“10 Go through, go through the gates,
Clear the way for the people;
Build up, build up the highway,
Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples.
11 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.”
12 And they will call them, “The holy people,
The redeemed of the Lord”;
And you will be called, “Sought out, a city not forsaken.”  Isaiah 62:10-12.

There are those Reformed denominations, churches, and believers who seem embarrassed that they are “Reformed”.  They hide or minimize their Reformed Doctrine.  They pretend like they are like every other Christian denomination, church, or Christian.

But, praise God, there are those Reformed denominations, churches, and believers who are proud that they are “Reformed”.  They lift up their Reformed Doctrine as a standard (in the banner sense) for all to see.   They joyfully rally around their identification as “Reformed” as a sports team joyfully rallies around its name and colors.

And these Reformed denominations, churches, and believers who are proud that they are “Reformed” conspicuously lift up their standard over the peoples and say:  “Lo, your salvation comes;  Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”  And, they joyfully proclaim how they are saved through “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

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

I quote the following verses.

“1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head 3 from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.  4 With you, moreover, there shall be a man of each tribe, each one head of his father’s household.  …

44 These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household.  45 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, 46 even all the numbered men were 603,550.

47 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.  48 For the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel.  50 But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it.  They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle.  51 So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down;  and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up.  But the layman who comes near shall be put to death. 52 The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies.  53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel.  So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”  54 Thus the sons of Israel did;  according to all which the Lord had commanded Moses, so they did.”  Numbers Chapter 1:  Verses 1-4 and 44-54.

———————

“What is your number?” asks financial institutions on TV peddling their retirement investment programs.

Number can refer to the total amount of dollars needed for retirement.  Number can refer to credit score needed to get a loan or a preferable interest rate.  Number can refer to SAT score needed to get into a particular college.  Number can refer to the total number of soldiers needed to win a battle.  Numbers are important.  In a sense, they are a measure of man.

But, the highest number is not always best.  More important than the measure of man is the infinite measure of God.  To be chosen by God is more important than to be more numerous or better than most.

“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;  but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them;  He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.  Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them.”  Deuteronomy 7:7-11.

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God;  the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”    Deuteronomy 7:6.

“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.

Our number may be low.  But, God still chose us.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

In fact, our number is real low.  Reformed Doctrine teaches us that our number is zero through “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

But, there is hope!

God provides all that we need from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s Scripture comes from Leviticus Chapter 27 which mostly concerns a great amount of detail for different valuations of persons and property to determine the amount needed for redemption.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+27&version=NASB

I quote the following verses to give one sample.

“Now if a man consecrates his house as holy to the Lord, then the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.  Yet if the one who consecrates it should wish to redeem his house, then he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it, so that it may be his.”  Leviticus 27:14-15.

——————–

Today’s Scripture points us to meditate on the fact that redemption did not occur without payment of the purchase price and that the purchase price was costly.  But, if it was paid, then the person or property was truly redeemed.

Furthermore, today’s Scripture should make us appreciate even more Christ’s purchase of our redemption with His own blood.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  Acts 20:28.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”  Ephesians 1:7.

“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:18-19.

“And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9.

Finally, today’s Scripture should lead us to consider that Christ did not shed His blood for everyone, but only for God’s elect whom He intended to redeem.  If Christ did shed His blood for everyone, then everyone would be saved.  But, Christ shed His blood for only those “purchased for God”.  They may be “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation”, but they are not everyone.  This is “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 26:40-46.

“40 ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me— 41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies—or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac,  and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.  43 For the land will be abandoned by them, and will make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them.  They, meanwhile, will be making amends for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and their soul abhorred My statutes.  44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them;  for I am the Lord their God.  45 But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the Lord.’”

46 These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai.”   Leviticus 26:40-46.

———————

Much doctrine is based on what man claims:  “Look at me!  Look at my free-will!  History is established by what I do!” 

In sharp contrast, Reformed Doctrine is based on Scripture, the words of God, which states:  “Look at Me!  Look at My will!  History is My story of what I am doing!  I am the LORD!”

We see this focus on God in today’s Scripture.  “Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them;  for I am the Lord their God.  But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God.  I am the Lord.’”  Verses 44 and 45.

We also see this focus on God in Deuteronomy 4:31:  For the Lord your God is a compassionate God;  He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”

We also see this focus on God in Hebrews 8:10.

“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.”

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“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, 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‘; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.  Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46: 9-11.

Throughout Scripture, we see that “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.  Psalm 3:8.

We see this in Isaiah 59:15-17.  “Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.  Now the LORD saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.  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. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head;  And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.”

We see this in Isaiah 63:4-5.  “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come. “I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;  So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.”

We see this in Isaiah 52:10.  “The LORD has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.”

Consider that if God controls the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), then do you really think that God is giving up any control over salvation to alleged man’s free will?  Are sparrows more important than the salvation of man?  No, God saves according to His purpose according to His choice, not because of works or even the will of man.  Salvation does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy on whom He desires.  See Romans 9:11-18.

From beginning to end, Reformed Doctrine is delighted to show “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L” “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 26:14-39.  Here is a link to this Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+26&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“14 ‘But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, 15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 I, in turn, will do this to you:  I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away;  also, you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up.  17 I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you.  18 If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.  19 I will also break down your pride of power;  I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze.  20 Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.

21 ‘If then, you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins.  22 I will let loose among you the beasts of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle and reduce your number so that your roads lie deserted.

23 ‘And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me, 24 then I will act with hostility against you;  and I, even I, will strike you seven times for your sins.”     Leviticus 26:14-24.

——————

Today’s Scripture vividly displays the consequences of disobedience to the LORD.

“27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from a remote place;
Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke;
His lips are filled with indignation
And His tongue is like a consuming fire;
28 His breath is like an overflowing torrent,
Which reaches to the neck,
To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve,
And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin.
29 You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival,
And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute,
To go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.
30 And the Lord will cause His voice of authority to be heard,
And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger,
And in the flame of a consuming fire
In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones.”  Isaiah 30:27-30.

And, as bad as all of these listed these consequences are, there is a worse consequence of disobedience to the LORD.

“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:4-5.

Man may not like being subject to God’s sovereign authority and almighty power, but God will not release His grip, and He will punish all disobedience.

“1 Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
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 2:1-9.

So, what should our response be to this fair warning?

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son (Jesus Christ), that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12.

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.

————————–

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.

—————–

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.

—————–

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.

——————–

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.

—————

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.