Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 2, 2024

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 15:1-23.

“Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people, over Israel;  now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.  Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt.  Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him;  but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.  Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.  Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you with them;  for you showed kindness to all the sons of Israel when they came up from Egypt.”  So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of Egypt.  He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly;  but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.”  And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.  Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul;  and it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.”  Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD!  I have carried out the command of the LORD.”  But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”  Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God;  but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”  Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”  And he said to him, “Speak!”

Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel?  And the LORD anointed you king over Israel, and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’  Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”  Samuel said,

“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He has also rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:1-23.

—————–

Surely, our great works for the LORD excuse our small sins!

Moreover, “the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God“!  

Surely, our great worship of the LORD on Sunday excuses our small sins the rest of the week!

No!

“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”.

But, there is hope!

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  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 36:26-27.

“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”  Romans 5:19.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 31, 2024

“always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 14:36-52.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Samuel 14 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”  So Jonathan told him and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand.  Here I am, I must die!”  Saul said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”  But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel?  Far from it!  As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.”  So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.  Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.”  1 Samuel 14:43-46.  

—————–

Jonathan thought he must die.  He said:  “Here I am, I must die!” 

Saul was intent on it.  “Saul said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

“But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel?  Far from it!  As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.”  So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.”

The lesson for us is to be ready for salvation.  Today is the day of salvation!

“And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says,

“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”

Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

But, there are those who hesitate, delay, and procrastinate.  They are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:7. They believe salvation is in their alleged free-will and in a continual and endless process of their learning, rather than in a steadfast faith resting in what God has done for their salvation.

So to speak, they are satisfied by the journey, rather than arriving at the destination, “THE DAY OF SALVATION”.   Likewise we read, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” John 5:39-40.

They repeatedly hear good preaching and teaching of the doctrines of grace, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.  But, they straddle the fence.  They fear man more than God.  They fear those who reject God’s salvation preferring man’s alleged free-will. When they hear others hatefully exclaim:  “Calvinism?!  Predestination?!  Election?!  That is not the God I serve!”, they shrink back. 

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:36-39.

“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.”  And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.”  Hebrews 6:4-15. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 30, 2024

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 14:24-35.  

“Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.”  So none of the people tasted food.  All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.  When the people entered the forest, behold, there was a flow of honey;  but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.  But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under oath;  therefore, he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.  Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly put the people under oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’”  And the people were weary.  Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land.  See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.  How much more, if only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found!  For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”

They struck among the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon.  And the people were very weary.  The people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground;  and the people ate them with the blood.  Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.”  And he said, “You have acted treacherously;  roll a great stone to me today.”  Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and slaughter it here and eat;  and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’”  So all the people that night brought each one his ox with him and slaughtered it there.  And Saul built an altar to the LORD;  it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.”  1 Samuel 14:24-35.

—————-    

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23.

Saul troubled his people by putting the people under an oath.  “Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.”  So none of the people tasted food.”  Verse 24.

The people became weary and were not able to fight against their enemies, the Philistines, as well as they could have fought if they ate.  

“…  And the people were very weary.  The people rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground;  and the people ate them with the blood.  Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.”  Verses 31-33.

Saul’s own son, Jonathan, said, “My father has troubled the land.” Verse 29. 

The lesson from today’s Scripture is that our words can cause trouble.  Moreover, our words can cause more trouble than we think they possibly can.  

Saul’s words caused more trouble than just causing the people to be weary and less effective in their fight against the Philistines;  Saul’s words caused the people to sin against the LORD.  Later we will read that Saul’s words even endangered the life of his own son Jonathan.  1 Samuel 14:43-45.  

“See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity;  the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”  James 3:5-6.

But, there is hope!

Specifically, one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23.  

More generally, by the Spirit, we can put to death the deeds of the body.  Romans 8:13.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 29, 2024

“the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 14:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Samuel 14 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised (the Philistines);  perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”  …  Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him;  and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him.  That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.  And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people.  Even the garrison and the raiders trembled, and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling.”  1 Samuel 14:6 and 13-15.

——————-

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.  ‘What are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain;  and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”  Zechariah 4:6-7.

“The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’  Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many;  bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there.  Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you;  but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”  …  The LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands;  so let all the other people go, each man to his home.”  Judges 7:2-4 and 7.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 28, 2024

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel chapter 13.  Here is a link to this chapter – 1 Samuel 13 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel.

Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin.  But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.  Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it.  Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”  All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines.  The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance;  and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.  Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.  But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal;  and the people were scattering from him.  So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.”  And he offered the burnt offering.  As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came;  and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.  But Samuel said, “What have you done?”  And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’  So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”  Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly;  you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”  1 Samuel 13:1-14.

——————-

We can see Saul’s predicament and understand Saul’s explanation.  If we were Saul, we might try the same thing.  But, it still was no excuse for Saul’s not keeping the LORD’S commandment.  And, our own predicament does not provide an excuse for us to not keep the LORD’S commandment.

We tremble and fear the LORD.  How can we keep the LORD’S commandments?  How can we be a people “after His own heart”?

But, there is hope! 

The hope is not in us.  The hope is not that we will try harder and do better next time.

The hope is in the LORD.  The hope is in what the LORD provides.

“For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.”  1 Samuel 12:22.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  …  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  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 36:22-23 and 26-27.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 27, 2024

“For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name”

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 26, 2024

“He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. … it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 12:12-18.

“When you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ although the LORD your God was your king.  Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the LORD has set a king over you.  If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.  If you will not listen to the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the command of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.  Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes.  Is it not the wheat harvest today?  I will call to the LORD, that He may send thunder and rain.  Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king.”  So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day;  and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.”  1 Samuel 12:12-18.

—————

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on God’s discipline of us.  Although the discipline is sorrowful, even scary, the result of the discipline is good.

In today’s Scripture, we read the result of the discipline:  “the LORD sent thunder and rain that day;  and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.”  Verse 18.

“It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons;  for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them;  shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:7-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 24, 2024

“He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 12:1-11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – Deuteronomy 10 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.  So now, take your stand, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did for you and your fathers.  When Jacob went into Egypt and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.  But they forgot the LORD their God, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.  They cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth;  but now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’  Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security.”  1 Samuel 12:6-11.

——————-

Samuel pleads “all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did for you and your fathers”.  Praise God!

What do we primarily want to hear in a sermon?  

What man has done and what man should do?

Or, what the LORD has done for us?!  

And, even though we are called to trust and obey the LORD, we can only do so out of what the LORD has done for us.  Thoughts of what the LORD has done for us must fill our minds, hearts, and souls.  

“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.  Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day.  So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.  For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.  He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.  So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.  You shall fear the LORD your God;  you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.  He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.  Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.”  Deuteronomy 10:14-22.

“3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
4 “Trust in the LORD forever,
For in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4.

“LORD, You will establish peace for us,
Since You have also performed for us all our works.” Isaiah 26:12.

“20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20-21.

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 23, 2024

“today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel chapter 11.

“Now Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-gilead;  and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us and we will serve you.”  But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel.”  The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel.  Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.”  Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?”  So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.  Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.  He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.”  Then the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.  He numbered them in Bezek;  and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000.  They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.’”  So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh;  and they were glad.  Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.”  The next morning Saul put the people in three companies;  and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day.  Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’  Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”  But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”  So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal.  There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD;  and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”  1 Samuel chapter 11.

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Other doctrine focuses on man and what man should do and what man has done.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and what God has done. 

Notice the contrast in today’s Scripture between what man thinks he should do with what God has done. “Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel.” Verses 12-13.

Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  (The “T” of “TULIP” represents “Total Depravity” of man).  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.” Psalm 3:7-8.

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:13-14.

“O sing to the LORD a new song,
For He has done wonderful things,
His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.” Psalm 98:1.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 22, 2024

“whom the LORD has chosen”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 10:20-27.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Samuel 10 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Thus Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.  Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken.  And Saul the son of Kish was taken;  but when they looked for him, he could not be found.  Therefore they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”  So the LORD said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.”  So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.  Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen?  Surely there is no one like him among all the people.”  So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”  1 Samuel 10:20-24.

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We see this theme, “whom the LORD has chosen”, throughout Scripture.

Yet, other doctrine bristles against the LORD’S sovereignty and the exercise of His sovereignty to choose those whom He will for different positions.  “Free-will!  The people have free-will!“, they vainly exclaim.

“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 2:3-4.

But, Reformed Doctrine not only acknowledges the authority, power, and exercise of the LORD’S sovereignty to choose those whom He will for different positions; Reformed Doctrine rejoices in it and proclaims it as the basis of salvation.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  …  

Article 9.  This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.

“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),”  Ephesians 2:4-5.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

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