Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 26, 2024

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 13:1-7.  

“Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.

There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah;  and his wife was barren and had borne no children.  Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.  Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.  For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb;  and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”  Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome.  And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.  But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”  Judges 13:1-7.  

————     

Other doctrine proudly focuses on their own actions to dedicate and raise their own children.  

But, Reformed Doctrine humbly seeks and clings to the promises of God and follows His lead, even before conception.

“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.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

“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.   

“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.

“13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:13-16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 25, 2024

“There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, …, To establish it and to uphold it with justice”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 12:7-15.

“Jephthah judged Israel six years.  Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him.  He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons.  And he judged Israel seven years.  Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Now Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him;  and he judged Israel ten years.  Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.  He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys;  and he judged Israel eight years.  Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.”  Judges 12:7-15.

————–

A lot of “Now”s and “Then”s in today’s Scripture.  Judges come and go.  More generally, our leaders come and go.  

But, there is One Who has come and Who stays and reigns and righteously governs forever.

We may drift away distracted by the world’s amusements.  We may forget about Him.

We may rebel.

“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.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:3-6.

But, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is here and sovereignly reigns justly and righteously over everything.

“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

“68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.” Luke 1:68-75.

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

“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.

“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 24, 2024

“Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 12:1-6.

“Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you?  We will burn your house down on you.”  Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon;  when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand.  When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand.  Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”  Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim;  and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, O Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.”  The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim.  And it happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?”  If he said, “No,” then they would say to him, “Say now, ‘Shibboleth.’”  But he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly.  Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan.  Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim.”  Judges 12:1-6.

——————- 

We are reminded of a similar contention by the men of Ephraim against Gideon.

“Then the men of Ephraim said to him (Gideon), “What is this thing you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?”  And they contended with him vigorously.  But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you?  Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?  God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands;  and what was I able to do in comparison with you?”  Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.”   Judges 8:1-3.

The lesson from today’s Scripture is to recognize the danger of contentions and to meditate on how we can deal with contentions, our own contentions against others and the contentions of others against us.  

First, let us recognize that just because we escape punishment for the bad (without cause) contentions that we have against others, does not mean that we will escape punishment for the future bad (without cause) contentions that we have against others.  Notice in today’s Scripture that although Gideon let the contentions by the men of Ephraim go unpunished;  “Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim;  and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim … Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim.”  Verses 4 and 6.   

“Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.” Proverbs 3:30.

“A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.” Proverbs 19:13.

“29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;
32 At the last it bites like a serpent
And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will utter perverse things.” Proverbs 23:29-35.

But, there is hope!

“For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.” Proverbs 26:20.

“Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
Even strife and dishonor will cease.” Proverbs 22:10.

“10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
12 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
13 “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
14 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;
I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:10-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 22, 2024

“do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no.”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 11:29-40.

“Now the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh;  then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon.  Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”  So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them;  and the LORD gave them into his hand.  He struck them with a very great slaughter from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim.  So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing.  Now she was his one and only child;  besides her he had no son or daughter.  When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter!  You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me;  for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back.”  So she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the LORD;  do to me as you have said, since the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the sons of Ammon.”  She said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me;  let me alone two months, that I may go to the mountains and weep because of my virginity, I and my companions.”  Then he said, “Go.”  So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity.  At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made;  and she had no relations with a man.  Thus it became a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.”  Judges 11:29-40.

——————–

Although I checked out the vow highlighted in bold italic font above in several versions (King James Version, New King James Version, NIV, and ESV in addition to the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) which I use for quoting Scripture in my Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions), each of these versions described the vow as “burnt offering”.  Nevertheless, there is no way that we should consider that fulfilling his vow necessitated to literally offer his daughter up as a burnt offering.  The LORD condemned the practice of offering children as burnt offerings.  See Jeremiah 19:5, Ezekiel 16:21, and Ezekiel 20:31.

Rather, we should consider that his vow was to keep his daughter as a virgin. “At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made;  and she had no relations with a man.” Verse 39. 

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate more generally on the importance of making any vows.

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.  But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.  Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’;  anything beyond these is of evil.”   Matthew 5:33-37. 

Although generally we should not make vows, there are specific situations when it is allowed according to the Heidelberg Catechism.  

Q. 101.  May we then swear religiously by the name of God?

A.  Yes;  either when the magistrates demand it of the subjects, or when necessity requires us thereby to confirm fidelity and truth to the glory of God and the safety of our neighbor;  for such an oath is founded on God’s Word, and therefore was justly used by the saints both in the Old and New Testament.  Heidelberg Catechism citing the following verses as support – Ex. 22:11. Neh. 13:25.  Deut. 6:13. Heb. 6:16. Gen. 21:24. Josh. 9:15, 19. 1 Sam. 24:22. 2 Cor. 1:23. Rom. 1:9.

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath;  but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.”  James 5:12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 21, 2024

“perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 11:1-28.  Here is a link to this Scripture – Judges 11 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot.  And Gilead was the father of Jephthah.  Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.”  So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob;  and worthless fellows gathered themselves about Jephthah, and they went out with him.

It came about after a while that the sons of Ammon fought against Israel.  When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob;  and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.”  Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house?  So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?”  The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon and become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”  So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?”  The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is witness between us;  surely we will do as you have said.”  Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them;  and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”  Judges 11:1-12.

—————

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior, but he was the son of a harlot.  …”  Verse 1. 

“Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”  Verse 12.

It is a little surprising that Jephthah, who was described that way in verse 1, would go to such lengths to try to regain peace through his pleas and arguments in the following verses (verses 13-27 which I do not have space to quote them herein) rather than immediately go to war.  

“But the king of the sons of Ammon disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.”  Verse 28.

Even though Jephthah was unsuccessful in his attempts, it was the right thing for him to try to do.

The lesson for today’s devotion is that sometimes we are called to do the right thing even though it will not be successful.

“A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.” Proverbs 13:1-2.

“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’  But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the LORD.”  Zephaniah 1:4.

If many did not listen or give heed to the LORD, why should we be surprised when there are those who do not listen or give heed to us?! 

Moreover, when we speak to them, even though they may not listen to us or heed us, they will be held accountable for their actions.  

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;  if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.”  John 15:20-22.

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”  Romans 3:19.

And, there may be some whom we do not expect will listen to us or heed us, but they do so.

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”  2 Timothy 2:24-26.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 20, 2024

“Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – Bible Gateway passage: Judges 10 – New American Standard Bible 1995

“Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines;  thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.  The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon.  They afflicted and crushed the sons of Israel that year;  for eighteen years they afflicted all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the Amorites.  The sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

Then the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.”  The LORD said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines?  Also when the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hands.  Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods;  therefore I will no longer deliver you.  Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen;  let them deliver you in the time of your distress.”  The sons of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You;  only please deliver us this day.”  So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD;  and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.”  Judges 10:6-16.

——————

We want the right to chose all kinds of different things in our lives, including as we see in today’s Scripture which god we serve.

But, we do not want the Almighty, All-wise, Sovereign LORD of Scripture to choose whom He will save.  Which church fully, openly, and joyfully preaches the “Unconditional Election” of Scripture as summarized in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as fully taught in the Canons of Dordt?!    

Man thinks he chooses.

“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!” Psalm 2:3.

But, the LORD nevertheless chooses according to His will.

“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:4-6.

“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.

“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.

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.  … 

… 

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.  

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

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:7-8.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.

“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.

“36 “For the LORD will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
37 “And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they sought refuge?
38 ‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your hiding place!
39 ‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.” Deuteronomy 32:36-39.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 19, 2024

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him And burns up His adversaries”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%209&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying, “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’  Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”  And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem;  and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.”  They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.  Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone.  But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.  All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

…

Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.  Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem;  and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 

…

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.  But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in;  and they went up on the roof of the tower.  So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.  But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.  Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’”  So the young man pierced him through, and he died.  When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.  Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.  Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.”  Judges 9:1-6 and 22-24 and 50-57.

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God is a righteous judge Who hates wickedness, Who fights against wickedness, Who destroys wickedness, and Who establishes justice and righteousness.

“11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.” Psalm 7:11-13.

“6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your fellows.” Psalm 45:6-7.

“6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them flow away like water that runs off;
When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
8 Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along,
Like the miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!” Psalm 83:6-11.

“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.

“3 “The LORD is a warrior;
The LORD is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.” Exodus 15:3-6.

“And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;
You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.” Exodus 15:7.

“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 12:5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 18, 2024

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 8:28-35.

“So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and they did not lift up their heads anymore.  And the land was undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.

Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.  Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives.  His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.  And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.  Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;  nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel.”  Judges 8:28-35. 

—————–

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?  Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life;  but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”  Deuteronomy 4:7-9. 

But, there is hope!

“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 1:30-31.

“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. 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you;  My peace I give to you;  not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  John 14:26-27.

“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.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-8.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 17, 2024

“Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 8:22-27.

“Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”  But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you;  the LORD shall rule over you.”  Yet Gideon said to them, “I would request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his spoil.”  (For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)  They said, “We will surely give them.”  So they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil.  The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels’ necks.  Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.”  Judges 8:22-27.

——————

Snares to trap us into worshipping someone or something, other than the LORD, can be people or things.

In sharpest contrast to snares, Scripture leads us to trust and worship the LORD alone.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

Article 29:  Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.

We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church.  …  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these:  if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein;  if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ;  if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin:  in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church.  …”

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:14-17. 

“You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him;  and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”  Deuteronomy 13:4.

“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.”  Deuteronomy 10:20-21.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

“97 O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:97-105.

“Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!’”  Jeremiah 7:2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 15, 2024

“Come and let us recount in Zion The work of the LORD our God!”

Today’s devotion comes from Judges 8:18-21.

“Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?”  And they said, “They were like you, each one resembling the son of a king.”  He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother.  As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.”  So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them.”  But the youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself, and fall on us;  for as the man, so is his strength.”  So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels’ necks.”  Judges 8:18-21.

——————-

These Scriptures (from Judges chapter 6 through today’s Scripture which detail God’s deliverance of Israel over Midian) are not only history, but they are summarized in Psalm chapter 83 as a song of praise and as a prayer for God’s protection.

Before we consider a quote from Psalm chapter 83, let us use the next two Scriptures to meditate more generally the importance of recounting the works of the LORD.  We can use these summaries to remember the works of the LORD.  We can use them to praise the LORD.  We can use them to build our faith in the LORD.  We can use them to pray to the LORD for continued guidance, protection, and blessing. 

Other doctrine likes to preach and teach what man should do.

But, Reformed Doctrine loves to preach and teach what the LORD has done.

“The LORD has brought about our vindication;
Come and let us recount in Zion
The work of the LORD our God!” Jeremiah 51:10.

“Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.” Psalm 111:1-4.

“9 Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who became as dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb
And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves
The pastures of God.”

13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind.
14 Like fire that burns the forest
And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with dishonor,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And let them be humiliated and perish,
18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:9-18.

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