Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:1-9.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece. Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.” Exodus 25:1-9.

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Today’s Scripture gives us some descriptions of the earthly tabernacle which lead us to meditate on the heavenly temple.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2.

Like the variety of precious materials used for the earthly tabernacle that we see in today’s Scripture, we meditate on the even more precious and dazzling materials used for the heavenly temple.

“The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:9-21.

Like the earthly tabernacle provided a place for God to dwell, we meditate on the heavenly temple dwelling place of God.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4.

If you want more peeks at heaven, you can read more by clicking on my “Heaven” article tagged at the top of this home page.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 24:12-18.

“Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. But to the elders he said, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them.” Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” Exodus 24:12-18.

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“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24

“Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.” Deuteronomy 9:3

“From the Lord of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.” Isaiah 29:6

“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 30:30

“Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” Isaiah 33:14

“In fierce anger He has cut off All the strength of Israel; He has drawn back His right hand From before the enemy. And He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire Consuming round about.” Lamentations 2:3

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 24:9-11.

“Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.” Exodus 24:9-11.

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We must remember the context of this Scripture. The immediate preceding verse stated: “So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:8. In other words, the reason why they saw God and God did not kill them is that the blood of the covenant provided forgiveness of sins (cleansing of the flesh) and appeased God’s wrath.

And, this is the lesson for us.

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13-14.

“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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:19-25.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 24:1-8.

“1 Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”

3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:1-8.

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“Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:18-22.

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13-14.

“Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these (the blood of goats and bulls as in the first covenant of today’s Scripture), but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Hebrews 9:23.

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Hebrews 10:1-4.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:24.

“For by one offering He (Christ through His blood) has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:27-33.

“27 I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you. 29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 30 I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. 33 They shall not live in your land, because they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”  Exodus 23:27-33.

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Sometimes we wonder why God does not wipe out all of our enemies at once. He could wipe out all our enemies at once.

Sometimes we wonder why God gives us just enough money to get by. He could give us a fortune so we never had to worry about money again.

Sometimes we wonder why we don’t fully recover from health problems or at least recover as quickly as we could. He could perform a miracle on us as recorded in the Gospels.

Sometimes we wonder why we seem to face so many obstacles in advancing in our jobs. He could remove those obstacles and promote us.

Sometimes we wonder why …

God does not always tell us why He does not do so. But, in today’s Scripture, God explained why He planned to take years to drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before Israel: “I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.” Verse 29.

Scripture teaches us that “… God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

“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.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

There are always good reasons why God doesn’t do something for us that seems clearly good for us, or on the other hand, why God allow things to happen to us that seem clearly bad for us. We need to trust God.

Sometimes God gives us reasons. In addition to today’s Scripture, we see other Scriptures where God gives reasons. Here is another example.

“Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:24-30.

But, sometimes God does not give us a reason (or, at least as clearly and quickly as we may want).

For example, as I was struggling with the financial trouble, I thought:

“Lord, I have been good. I have been doing the right things. I have had faith. Why don’t you deliver me now?!”

Over time, I began to understand that the Lord’s delivery is not dependent on how good we are or how right we are in doing the right things or how much faith we have. We can’t treat God like a cosmic bubble gum machine and insert a coin of “good work” or “faith” and immediately receive the bubble gum of “deliverance”.

The Lord may delay delivery sometimes to allow the testing of our faith: “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:7.

In conclusion, we need to trust God.

“¹ Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
² For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”  Psalm 37:1-3.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:20-26.

“20 “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him. 22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. 24 You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their sacred pillars in pieces. 25 But you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst. 26 There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.” Exodus 23:20-26.

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God gives us provisions and instructions “to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared”. Verse 20.

“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.

If we trust God, then we will obey God and lovingkindness will surround us.

We go out on Monday and every day with God’s provisions and instructions. Are we going to trust God?

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be shocked, nor fear them. The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.’” Deuteronomy 1:29-31.

In a nutshell, remember what God has done for you! Read and remember God’s promises in His Word!

But, more important than our ability to read and remember, know that the ultimate source of our trust is God’s blessing on us. God instills trust in us.

“Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;

You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.” Psalm 22:9.

Trust in God is faith in God. And, faith is a gift of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:1-3.

We close with this exultation of trust in God.

“6 Blessed be the Lord,

Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart exults,

And with my song I shall thank Him.

8 The Lord is their strength,

And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;

Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:6-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:14-19.

“14 “Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. 16 Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.

18 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor is the fat of My feast to remain overnight until morning.

19 “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

“You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.” Exodus 23:14-19.

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We see the celebration of feasts as a part of Israel’s worship of God in today’s Scripture. We later see the celebration of feasts as part of our worship of God in heaven.

These feasts remind us that God loves us and provides lavishly for us. God wants His people to be joyful, thankful, and to praise Him.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” Matthew 22:2.

“The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;

A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,

And refined, aged wine.” Isaiah 25:6.

We also remember Jesus’ first miracle turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana, a type of feast. John 2:1-11. “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” John 2:11.

In a sense, the Lord’s Supper is a feast. “… For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.

“In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” Ephesians 2:8.

And so, in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end, we have feasts to remind us of the riches of God’s grace which He lavished on us.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:10-13.

“10 “You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. 13 Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.” Exodus 23:10-13.

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God is concerned about the needy, the beast of the field, the children of slaves, and the stranger. God provides for them.

“5 Who is like the Lord our God,

Who is enthroned on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust

And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

8 To make them sit with princes,

With the princes of His people.

9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house

As a joyful mother of children.

Praise the Lord!” Psalm 113:5-9.

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“7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;

Who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;

The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;

The Lord loves the righteous;

9 The Lord protects the strangers;

He supports the fatherless and the widow,

But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

10 The Lord will reign forever,

Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146:7-10.

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“23 Who remembered us in our low estate,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

24 And has rescued us from our adversaries,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

25 Who gives food to all flesh,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:23-26.

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“7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

Sing praises to our God on the lyre,

8 Who covers the heavens with clouds,

Who provides rain for the earth,

Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

9 He gives to the beast its food,

And to the young ravens which cry.” Psalm 147:7-9.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;” Colossians 3:12.

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10.

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:4-9.

“4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.

6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

9 “You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 23:4-9.

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We should not oppress, subvert, or pervert justice (verses 6-9). But, we should do more than just not do evil. We should do good and show mercy (verses 4-5).

We will focus on the mercy meaning of verses 4-5. Although we are not likely to come across an ox or donkey needing our help, the meaning and application for us that we will comes across people who are burdened and need our help to release or lighten their burden.

God heard the groanings of the sons of Israel and had mercy on them and brought them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

“Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:5-7.

God has mercy on us today and bears our burdens.

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19.

We should likewise show mercy and bear one another’s burdens.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 23:1-3.

“1 You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.” Exodus 23:1-3.

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“You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.” Leviticus 25:15.

By far, most of the time, the problem is with people being partial to the great and the rich. Scripture is filled with such examples. Here is just one example.

“1 Woe to those who enact evil statutes

And to those who constantly record unjust decisions,

2 So as to deprive the needy of justice

And rob the poor of My people of their rights,

So that widows may be their spoil

And that they may plunder the orphans.” Isaiah 10:1-2.

But, today’s Scripture teaches us that we should also not be partial to the poor.

So to speak, we don’t join Robin Hood and his band of merry men to rob from the rich and give to the poor.

“Social justice” (of “the ends justify the means”) is not justice. We should not be partial to the poor in a dispute that should be decided justly.

We can and should help the poor, but to do so, we don’t “bear a false report” nor “pervert justice” nor ” be partial to a poor man in his dispute.” Verses 1-3.

“The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, The wicked does not understand such concern.” Proverbs 29:7. But, the righteous is not partial to the poor so as to pervert justice.

“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:8-9.