Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴⁶  “David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

 ⁴⁷  “But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

 ⁴⁸  “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands;  as the prophet says:
    ⁴⁹  ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
         AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
         WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord,
         ‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
    ⁵⁰  ‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’ ”  Acts 7:44-50.

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In verses 49 and 50, Stephen quotes part of Isaiah 66:1-2.  We may be tempted to not check out Isaiah 66:1-2, thinking that we already know and fully believe that God is not small enough to be contained in any building.  But, if we did not check it out, we would miss the treasure of the last part of Isaiah 66:2.

“¹  Thus says the LORD,
         “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool
         Where then is a house you could build for Me?
         And where is a place that I may rest?
    ²  “For My hand made all these things,
         Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
         “But to this one I will look,
         To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”  Isaiah 66:1-2. 

Wow!  What an image and inspiration!  “him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word”!

Are we humble, contrite of spirit, and tremble at God’s word?

Or, are we proud, self-righteous, and rush through reading God’s word?

Do we slowly and carefully read each of God’s words as if each word had more value than a golden coin?

Or, do we show no remorse when we stumble reading God’s word?

Do we eagerly check footnotes for cross references to other Scriptures?

Or, do we have our own agenda and interpretation of God’s word cemented in our minds?

Do we read God’s word with joy and yet still feel “face-in-carpet” convicted by God’s word?

Or, does reading God’s word affect us like water off a duck’s back?

Isaiah 66:1-2 reminds me of Psalm 33:13-19.

“¹³  The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men;
    ¹⁴  From His dwelling place He looks out
         On all the inhabitants of the earth,
    ¹⁵  He who fashions the hearts of them all,
         He who understands all their works.
    ¹⁶  The king is not saved by a mighty army;
         A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
    ¹⁷  A horse is a false hope for victory;
         Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
    ¹⁸  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
    ¹⁹  To deliver their soul from death
         And to keep them alive in famine.”  Psalm 33:13-19.

“¹  The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble;
         He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
    ²  The LORD is great in Zion,
         And He is exalted above all the peoples.
    ³  Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
         Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-3.

 ³⁷  “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’

 ³⁸  “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

 ³⁹  “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,

 ⁴⁰  SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US;  FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT–WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.’

 ⁴¹  “At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.

 ⁴²  “But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven;  as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?

 ⁴³  ‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP.  I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ ”  Acts 7:35-43.

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Despite receiving Moses, such a great ruler, deliverer, and prophet, Israel was unwilling to be obedient to him.  Despite receiving such wonders, signs, and living words of God, Israel turned their hearts back to Egypt to their old worthless idols. 

Despite receiving such great preachers and teachers, I likewise am too often unwilling to be obedient to them.  Despite receiving such wonders, signs, and living words of God, I likewise too often turn my heart back to my old worthless idols.

It is sad and almost unbearable to read verses 39 through 43 in today’s Scripture.  And, it is sad and almost unbearable for me to face my sins.

But, there is hope!    

“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. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  Matthew 5:6. 

“¹  What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

 ²  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

 ³  For what does the Scripture say?  “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

 ⁴  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

 ⁵  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

 ⁶  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
    ⁷  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
         AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
    ⁸  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”  Romans 4:1-8.

 ³¹  “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight;  and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:

 ³²  ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’  Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look.

 ³³  “BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.

 ³⁴  ‘I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM;  COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’  Acts 7:29-34.

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Moses was an alien, an orphan, and an outcast who was disowned by his people.  But, here comes God who assures Moses that he is not alone.  Moses is not alone, because God is here!  And, God also reminds Moses of Moses’ connection with his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Also, Moses is not alone, because Moses is still part of his family, God’s people.  

How amazing it is that God would identify Himself as “THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB”!  Yet, how often we see this identification throughout Scripture. 

How amazing it also is that Christ, Who is very God and very man, would identify Himself as “the Son of Man”!  Yet, how often we see this identification throughout Scripture. 

How amazing that God would identify Himself as our Father!  How amazing that Christ would identify Himself as our Brother!  Yet, how often we see these family relationship identifications throughout Scripture.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13.         

In this Scripture for today, we view a snapshot of God’s covenant.  God comes down to rescue us.  God draws us His elect into a band of family fellowship with Himself and His people.  “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.

 ¹⁹  “It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.

 ²⁰  “It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.

 ²¹  “And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.

 ²²  “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

 ²³  “But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

 ²⁴  “And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.

 ²⁵  “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

 ²⁶  “On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’

 ²⁷  “But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?

 ²⁸  ‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’

 ²⁹“At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.”  Acts 7:17-29.

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God gave Moses to His people so that they would look forward in faith to a Savior Who would be like Moses.  Like Moses, the Savior would deliver them from their enemies.

In today’s Scripture, we see Moses delivering one of “his brethren” from the hands of an Egyptian.  Later, Moses would deliver the whole nation of Israel from the bondage of slavery from the whole nation of Egypt. 

Moses was a type of Christ “a ruler and judge”, similar to the office of a king.  Moses’ action of defending one of his brethren by killing the Egyptian is an act of justice.  Like Moses’ brethren, Christ’s brethren would not understand that “God was granting them deliverance through him”. 

Our image of Christ has been so polluted that we need to be reminded of what Scripture informs us of the attributes of Christ:  “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;  Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”  Psalm 89:14  From the beginning, by his act of justice, Moses gives us a clue of what Christ would be like.

By choosing sides and saving “his brethren” and killing the Egyptian, Moses also gives us a clue that Christ would not love everyone nor save everyone.  Like Moses, Jesus would only deliver His people, the elect of God. 

However, Christ would save many, many more than Moses both in terms of number of people but also in terms of groups of people.  Christ would also save His people from a much more important fate (spiritual death) than the fate of what Moses saved his people (physical hardships). 

The elect of God would include people from every nation.  “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

 ¹¹  “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food.

 ¹²  “But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.

 ¹³  “On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh.

 ¹⁴  “Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.

 ¹⁵  “And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died.

 ¹⁶  “From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.”  Acts 7:9-16.

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 ³  and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’

 ⁴  “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran.  From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.

 ⁵  “But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child,  He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM.

 ⁶  “But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.

 ⁷  ” ‘AND WHATEVER NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’

 ⁸  “And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day;  and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.”  Acts 7:1-8

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With this detailed and cherished review of Israel’s history, Stephen refuted his accusers by showing his respect for God and the patriarchs.  From the very beginning, Stephen’s defense is so strong that it seems like an offense.  Stephen does not stumble or bumble or sweat.  He just recites history.  He shows that God is in total control.  It is almost as if Stephen thanks his accusers for this opportunity to recount each precious sovereign act of what God has done.  Stephen is not threatened.  Stephen does not cower.  Rather, he gladly proclaims:  “Hear me, brethren and fathers!”  

We are reminded of God’s promise in Isaiah 54:14-17. 

“¹⁴  “In righteousness you will be established;
         You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
         And from terror, for it will not come near you.
    ¹⁵  “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
         Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
    ¹⁶  “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
         And brings out a weapon for its work;
         And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
    ¹⁷  “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
         And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn
         This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
         And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”  Isaiah 54:14-17.

 ¹⁰  But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

 ¹¹  Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

 ¹²  And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.

 ¹³  They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;

 ¹⁴  for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

 ¹⁵  And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”  Acts 6:8-15.

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Verse 10 reminds me of Matthew 10:19-20. 

“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say;  for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.  “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”  Matthew 10:19-20. 

Verse 15 reminds me of Psalm 34:4-5.

“⁴  I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
         And delivered me from all my fears.
    ⁵  They looked to Him and were radiant,
         And their faces will never be ashamed.”  Psalm 34:4-5. 

We can trust the LORD for our defense.

 ³⁵  And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

 ³⁶  “For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him.  But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

 ³⁷  “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him;  he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

 ³⁸  “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;

 ³⁹  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them;  or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

 ⁴⁰  They took his advice;  and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

 ⁴¹  So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

 ⁴²  And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”  Acts 5:33-42.

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How often do we read about the sovereignty of God!  

“³⁰  There is no wisdom and no understanding
         And no counsel against the LORD.
    ³¹  The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
         But victory belongs to the LORD.”  Proverbs 21:30-31. 

We can prepare well to execute our plans.  But, we will not be able to accomplish anything against the will of God.  God is so sovereign that He even laughs at those who think that they can break away from His sovereignty. 

“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.”  Psalm 2:2-4.

“¹²  The wicked plots against the righteous
         And gnashes at him with his teeth.
    ¹³  The Lord laughs at him,
         For He sees his day is coming.”  Psalm 37:12-13.

God even laughs at nations.

“⁸  But You, O LORD, laugh at them;
         You scoff at all the nations.
    ⁹  Because of his strength I will watch for You,
         For God is my stronghold.
    ¹⁰  My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
         God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.”  Psalm 59:8-10.

What should our response be to God’s sovereignty? 

“⁸  Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
    ⁹  For He spoke, and it was done;
         He commanded, and it stood fast.
    ¹⁰  The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
         He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
    ¹¹  The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
    ¹²  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
    ¹³  The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men;
    ¹⁴  From His dwelling place He looks out
         On all the inhabitants of the earth,
    ¹⁵  He who fashions the hearts of them all,
         He who understands all their works.
    ¹⁶  The king is not saved by a mighty army;
         A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
    ¹⁷  A horse is a false hope for victory;
         Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
    ¹⁸  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
    ¹⁹  To deliver their soul from death
         And to keep them alive in famine.
    ²⁰  Our soul waits for the LORD;
         He is our help and our shield.
    ²¹  For our heart rejoices in Him,
         Because we trust in His holy name.
    ²²  Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us,
         According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:8-22.

 ²⁸  saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

 ²⁹  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

 ³⁰  “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

 ³¹  “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 ³²  “And we are witnesses of these things;  and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”  Acts 5:27-32. 

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If we were only affected by sin and still had free will, then it would seem most peculiar and inconsistent that we would need “a Savior, to grant repentance“.  However, if we were dead in sin and only had a will that was bound to Satan and hostile to God, then it would seem most necessary and consistent that we would need “a Savior, to grant repentance“.   

And, this verse, that talks about God granting repentance, does not stand alone.

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states in “Question 67: What is effectual calling?  Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit;  savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.”

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states in “Question 76: What is repentance unto life?  Answer:  Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing and endeavoring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.”