Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

“Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?  Fill your horn with oil and go;  I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”  But Samuel said, “How can I go?  When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”  And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’  You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do;  and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”  So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem.  And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”  He said, “In peace;  I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.  Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.”  He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.”  But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him;  for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel.  And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”  Next Jesse made Shammah pass by.  And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”  Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.  But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”  And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?”  And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.”  Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him;  for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

So he sent and brought him in.  Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance.  And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him;  for this is he.”  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.  And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”  1 Samuel 16:1-13.

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The LORD did not choose Eliab.  Verses 6-7.  The LORD did not choose Abinadab nor Shammah.  Verses 8-9.  The LORD did not choose Jesse’s other sons.  Verse 10.  The LORD chose David.  Verse 12.  Thus, the first theme of today’s devotion is The LORD’S choice.  

The LORD does not look at outward appearance and choose on that basis as man does, “but the LORD looks at the heart.”  Verse 7.  Thus, this is the second theme of today’s devotion.

In summary of these two themes, the LORD’S choice of us is the basis of His lovingkindness to us. As one example, we see that the LORD’S choice of David was the basis of “the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.”  Verse 13.

“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 33:12-22.

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

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, …

And God freely gives us all other good things.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  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 8:29-32.

“… You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:5-6.

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.  

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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. 

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.

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“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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.