Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 18, 2024

“He has filled the hungry with good things” – “Then His own arm brought salvation to Him”

Today’s devotion comes from Ruth 3:14-18.

“So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another;  and he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”  Again he said, “Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it.”  So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her.  Then she went into the city.  When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?”  And she told her all that the man had done for her.  She said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”  Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out;  for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”  Ruth 3:14-18.

—————-

Boaz’ gift of the six measures of barley to Ruth to give to Naomi and his words to Ruth (“Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.”) remind us of what the LORD did for Israel when he delivered them from the Egyptians at the time of their exodus out of Egypt.

“I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians;  and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.  But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;  and you will put them on your sons and daughters.  Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”  Exodus 3:21-22.

Boaz’ gift and words also remind us of the law of the LORD to care for the Hebrew kinsman slave after he or she was released in the seventh year.

“If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free.  When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed.  You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat;  you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.  You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you;  therefore I command you this today.”  Deuteronomy 15:12-15. 

Boaz’ gift and words remind us of Christ.

“53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.” Luke 1:53-55.

In conclusion, Boaz was a redeemer kinsman who reminds us of Christ.  Naomi’s statement about Boaz (“the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”) causes us to fix our eyes on Christ’s passion and focus to redeem us.  

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:12.

“16 And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18 According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the LORD drives.” Isaiah 49:16-17.

“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 17, 2024

“a woman of excellence”

Today’s devotion comes from Ruth 3:1-13.

“Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?  Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were?  Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.  Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor;  but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.  It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down;  then he will tell you what you shall do.”  She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”

So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.  When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain;  and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.  It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward;  and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.  He said, “Who are you?”  And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid.  So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”  Then he said, “May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.  Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.  Now it is true I am a close relative;  however, there is a relative closer than I.  Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good;  let him redeem you.  But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the LORD lives.  Lie down until morning.”  Ruth 3:1-13.

————————

The main purpose of today’s devotion is to consider some qualities of “a woman of excellence”.  Although the well-known Proverbs chapter 31 praises an “excellent wife”, there are qualities in this Scripture that can inspire and guide any woman, both married and single, to be “a woman of excellence”.  Most importantly, “a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

But first, I want to present two quick side notes.

Of course, a single woman and a married woman can be “a woman of excellence”.  Single persons are certainly not second-class saints.  But, because there may be some need to address this point, consider the following Scripture. 

“Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.  I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.  Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek to be released.  Are you released from a wife?  Do not seek a wife.  But if you marry, you have not sinned;  and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.  Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.  …

But I want you to be free from concern.  One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;  but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.  The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit;  but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  This I say for your own benefit;  not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 7:25-28 and 32-35.

Second, it is profitable to consider the following words of Boaz, who though willing and planned to get married, trusted God.  “Now it is true I am a close relative;  however, there is a relative closer than I.  Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good;  let him redeem you.  But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the LORD lives.  …”  Verses 12-13.

In conclusion, here is the Scripture from Proverbs chapter 31. And, there are also many other Scriptures that present qualities of “a woman of excellence” that are worthy to seek and study. 

“10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:10-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 16, 2024

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness”

Today’s devotion comes from Ruth 2:14-23.

“At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.”  So she sat beside the reapers;  and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.  When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.  Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”

So she gleaned in the field until evening.  Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.  She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned.  She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied.  Her mother-in-law then said to her, “Where did you glean today and where did you work?  May he who took notice of you be blessed.”  So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.”  Again Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.”  Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’”  Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field.”  So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest.  And she lived with her mother-in-law.”  Ruth 2:14-23.

——————-

Above all, the LORD is kind. 

“14 The LORD sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.” Psalm 145:14-17.

The LORD made provision to take care of the poor in His Law.

“‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard;  you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger.  I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:9-10.

More generally, the LORD requires us “to love kindness”.

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

The LORD also gives us His Spirit so that we too are kind.  

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;  just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”  Colossians 3:12-13.

“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.

In conclusion, we are “a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:14. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 15, 2024

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ruth 2:1-13.

“Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.”  And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”  So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers;  and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.  Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the LORD be with you.” And they said to him, “May the LORD bless you.”  Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”  The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.  And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’  Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now;  she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter.  Do not go to glean in another field;  furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.  Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.  Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.  When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”  Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”  Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.  May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”  Ruth 2:1-13.

——————-

“May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Verse 12. 

We should do our best in our work.  But, let us not get caught up in pride, focusing on what we deserve.  Rather, let us be humble and focus on the LORD and hope for His favor.  

“For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:9-10.

What we deserve is death.  But, what we get is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:22-23.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 14, 2024

“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness”

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 12, 2024

“Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ruth 1:1-18.

“Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land.  And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.  The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi;  and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah.  Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.  Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died;  and she was left with her two sons.  They took for themselves Moabite women as wives;  the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth.  And they lived there about ten years.  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.  So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her;  and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.  And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house.  May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.  May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”  Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.  And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.”  But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters.  Why should you go with me?  Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?  Return, my daughters!  Go, for I am too old to have a husband.  If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown?  Would you therefore refrain from marrying?  No, my daughters;  for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me.”

And they lifted up their voices and wept again;  and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods;  return after your sister-in-law.”  But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you;  for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.”  Ruth 1:1-18.

——————

Ruth’s love and loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi is an example of how our love and loyalty should be to the LORD. 

First, we compare the actions of Orpah and Ruth.  We see that Orpah kissed Naomi and left.  But, Ruth clung to Naomi and stayed.  A kiss is fleeting in time and light in touch.  But, clinging is forever and heavy in commitment.  A kiss most typically separates.  But, clinging makes two people into one flesh.

Second, we notice the words of Ruth.  Ruth’s words are like a marriage vow.

Let both our actions and our words show our love and dedication to the LORD.

“He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things;  You know that I love You.”  Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  John 21:17.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night,
3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp,
With resounding music upon the lyre.
4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:1-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 11, 2024

“I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapter 21.  Here is a link to this chapter – Judges 21 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.”  So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.  They said, “Why, O LORD, God of Israel, has this come about in Israel, so that one tribe should be missing today in Israel?”  It came about the next day that the people arose early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Then the sons of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?”  For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”  And the sons of Israel were sorry for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.  What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?”  Judges 21:1-7.

——————–

We remember from the prior chapter that the sons of Israel killed 25,000 men of the tribe of Benjamin, because the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the sons of Israel to “deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.”  Judges 20:13.

But, there was a remnant of Benjamin who escaped.  “But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.”  Judges 20:47. 

And now, in today’s Scripture, Israel had compassion for this remnant of Benjamin.

The compassion of Israel in Judges chapter 28 and the concern of Israel for justice and righteousness in Judges 20:13 lead us to meditate on the compassion of the LORD and the concern of the LORD for justice and righteousness in Romans chapter 9.   

“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.

“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;  FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.”  And just as Isaiah foretold,

“UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT US A POSTERITY,
WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.”

What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;  but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.  …”  Romans 9:27-32.

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

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 10, 2024

“You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies.”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapters 19 and 20.  Here is a link to which you can access both chapters – Judges 20 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.  The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 foot soldiers who drew the sword.  (Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.)  And the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?”  So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.  But the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me;  instead, they ravished my concubine so that she died.  And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance;  for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.  Behold, all you sons of Israel, give your advice and counsel here.”

Then all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us return to his house.  But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah;  we will go up against it by lot.  And we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of 1,000, and 1,000 out of 10,000 to supply food for the people, that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may punish them for all the disgraceful acts that they have committed in Israel.”  Thus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.

Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?  Now then, deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.”  But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

…

And the LORD struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all who draw the sword.”  Numbers 10:1-14 and 35.

——————–

Regarding the importance of removing wickedness, consider the following Scriptures.

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”  Galatians 5:9.

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges.  REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”  1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

But, there is hope!

“You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.” Psalm 119:119.

“2 … Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
3 Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.” Psalm 97:2-3.

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

“The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:1-2.

“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:27.

“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 19:5.

“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

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.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.” Psalm 37:7-15.

“19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!” Psalm 103:19-20.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 9, 2024

“So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapter 18.  Here is a link to this Scripture – Judges 18 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“In those days there was no king of Israel;  and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.  So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it;  and they said to them, “Go, search the land.”  And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.  When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite;  and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here?  And what are you doing in this place?  And what do you have here?”  He said to them, “Thus and so has Micah done to me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest.”  They said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous.”  The priest said to them, “Go in peace;  your way in which you are going has the LORD’S approval.”

Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were in it living in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure;  for there was no ruler humiliating them for anything in the land, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.  When they came back to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?”  They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them;  for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good.  And will you sit still?  Do not delay to go, to enter, to possess the land.   When you enter, you will come to a secure people with a spacious land;  for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”

Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out.  They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah.  Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day;  behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.  They passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

…

Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword;  and they burned the city with fire.  And there was no one to deliver them, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone, and it was in the valley which is near Beth-rehob.  And they rebuilt the city and lived in it.  They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel;  however, the name of the city formerly was Laish.  The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.  So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh.”  Judges 18:1-13 and 27-31.

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We remember the lesson of yesterday’s devotion covering the prior chapter:  “Beware of the false prophets”.

In today’s Scripture, we see that the Danites listened to the voice of the Levite in the house of Micah and set up for themselves Micah’s graven image.

There is a warning for the Danites and for us today.

“So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.  For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

“When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it.  You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.  The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.  There you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.”  Deuteronomy 4:23-28.

But, there is hope!

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.  For the LORD your God is a compassionate God;  He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.”  Deuteronomy 4:29-31.

As the following Scriptures state, God “grants” repentance as His gift to His elect.

Other doctrine clings to their own wisdom and their own will.

But, Reformed Doctrine clings to God’s covenant of salvation as best summarized in the Canons of Dordt.

“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.”  Acts 5:31.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints in which it is stated:  “by his Word and Spirit, certainly and effectually renews them to repentance”.

Article 6.  But God, who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls;  nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of adoption, and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit sins unto death;  nor does he permit them to be totally deserted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.

Article 7.  For in the first place, in these falls he preserves them in the incorruptible seed of regeneration from perishing, or being totally lost;  and again, by his Word and Spirit, certainly and effectually renews them to repentance, to a sincere and godly sorrow for their sins, that they may seek and obtain remission in the blood of the Mediator, may again experience the favor of a reconciled God, through faith adore his mercies, and henceforward more diligently work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”  Acts 11:18.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 8, 2024

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapter 17.

“Now there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.  He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me;  I took it.”  And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.”  He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a graven image and a molten image;  now therefore, I will return them to you.”  So when he returned the silver to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah.  And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest.  In those days there was no king in Israel;  every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite;  and he was staying there.  Then the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he might find a place;  and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.  Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?”  And he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to stay wherever I may find a place.”  Micah then said to him, “Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance.”  So the Levite went in.  The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.  So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.  Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest.”  Judges chapter 17.

—————-

The words of the mother of Micah in blessing her son in the name of the LORD and dedicating the silver to the LORD does not necessarily guarantee that the LORD will bless her son Micah.  

The actions of Micah in obtaining a priest to even dwell with him to be a father and priest to him does not guarantee that the LORD will prosper Micah.  

We see the lawlessness that they practiced.  Micah stole from his mother. The mother cursed. But, even worse, “…  his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah.  And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest.  In those days there was no king in Israel;  every man did what was right in his own eyes.”  Verses 4-5.  

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;  DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”  Matthew 7:21-23.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:15-20.

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