Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 14, 2023

“if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments … all these curses will come upon you”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 28:15-44.

“15 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country.

17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

18 “Cursed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.

20 “The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me. 21 The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land where you are entering to possess it. 22 The LORD will smite you with consumption and with fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew, and they will pursue you until you perish. 23 The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. 24 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

25 “The LORD shall cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out one way against them, but you will flee seven ways before them, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 Your carcasses will be food to all birds of the sky and to the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

27 “The LORD will smite you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart; 29 and you will grope at noon, as the blind man gropes in darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways; but you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually, with none to save you. 30 You shall betroth a wife, but another man will violate her; you shall build a house, but you will not live in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but you will not use its fruit. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat of it; your donkey shall be torn away from you, and will not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you will have none to save you. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and yearn for them continually; but there will be nothing you can do. 33 A people whom you do not know shall eat up the produce of your ground and all your labors, and you will never be anything but oppressed and crushed continually. 34 You shall be driven mad by the sight of what you see. 35 The LORD will strike you on the knees and legs with sore boils, from which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone. 37 You shall become a horror, a proverb, and a taunt among all the people where the LORD drives you.

38 “You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it. 39 You shall plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm will devour them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. 41 You shall have sons and daughters but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity. 42 The cricket shall possess all your trees and the produce of your ground. 43 The alien who is among you shall rise above you higher and higher, but you will go down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you will be the tail.” Deuteronomy 28:15-44.

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“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 | November 13, 2023

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 28:1-14.

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

4 “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. 8 The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 9 The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. 11 The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, 14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”  Deuteronomy 28:1-14.

—————–

“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,”  Ephesians 1:3.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7. 

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3.

“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 8:32.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

“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.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11-12.

“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 23:6.

“2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 12, 2023

“Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy chapter 27.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2027&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

…

15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

18 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’” Deuteronomy 27:9-10 and 15-26.

———————-

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:10-14.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”  Galatians 3:24-25.

“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”  Romans 3:28. 

“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;  for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”  Romans 4:13-15.

“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.  The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”  So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”  Galatians 3:5-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 10, 2023

“He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; …”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 26:16-19.

“This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:16-19.

———————-

It is difficult to comment on this Scripture without considering and discussing the rest of the book of Deuteronomy and at least Romans chapters 9-11 among other additional Scriptures. In a nutshell, the nation of Israel would not obey God. See for example Moses’ conclusion in Deuteronomy 31:14-22. But, the remnant of Israel would be saved based on God’s choice a/k/a election.

Here is how I summarize my conclusion that will fit within the confines of the format of a short devotion.

We should fix our hope on God rather than on ourselves. Moreover, we should fix our hope on what God has done for us rather than on what we will do for God.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:9-10.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29.

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

“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 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.  

Christ “… gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.

“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. 

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 9, 2023

“Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 26:12-15.

“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.  You shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion from my house, and also have given it to the Levite and the alien, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me;  I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.  I have not eaten of it while mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor offered any of it to the dead.  I have listened to the voice of the LORD my God;  I have done according to all that You have commanded me.  Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.’”  Deuteronomy 26:12-15.

—————-

It is true that we should receive God’s blessings, not as if we earned them, but as a matter of God’s grace to us.  “For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  I Corinthians 4:7.  For additional other examples, see also Psalm 127:2 and Ephesians 2:4-7.

But, the theme of today’s Scripture is that we are encouraged (and even commanded) to believe that there are rewards to obedience.  “You shall say before the LORD your God, ‘…  I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.  …  Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, …”  Verses 13-15.

We will later read in Deuteronomy chapter 28, a detailed and vivid description of specific blessings promised by God if we obey God’s commandments.  “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:”  Deuteronomy 28:1-2.  

Ultimately, when we do so, it is a matter of faith.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

Even though in the language of Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 114, we “have only a small beginning of this obedience”, we can cry out along with the Psalmist who does so often in Psalm chapter 119, remembering that ultimately what we receive is a matter of God’s mercy a/k/a grace.  

“153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.” Psalm 119:153-156.

“I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.” Psalm 119:94.

“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.” Psalm 119:176.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 8, 2023

“so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” – “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 26:1-11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2026&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.  …  and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household.”  Deuteronomy 26:1-2 and 11.

——————

“But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”  Deuteronomy 8:18.

“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.” Proverbs 10:22.

“2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5.

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.

Thus, it is not only logical that we should rejoice at all the good God has done for us, God specifically commands us to rejoice at all the good God has done for us.

But, there is a problem!

We were “dead” in sin.  Ephesians 2:1-5.  We were hostile to God.  Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21.  We were in bondage to sin.  Romans 7:14-15.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.

But, there is hope!

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4. 

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens; from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

In summary and conclusion, the following three Scriptures put it together and change the focus from ourselves to God, and these verses change the focus from presuming that we will be grateful and obey God and rejoice to a focus on what God has done for us.  In a nutshell, instead of a focus on us bringing first fruits, God makes us His first fruits.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  James 1:17-18.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 7, 2023

“a full and just weight”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 25:5-19.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2025&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small.  You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.  You shall have a full and just weight;  you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.  For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God.”  Deuteronomy 25:5-19.

————–

Another pillar of justice is a just weight.

In our business practices, we are commanded to give our customers “a full and just weight” of product and services for which we charge.  It usually is not as simple as having an accurate scale.  This Scripture applies to much more than weighing bananas.  As business people, we know in our hearts how much product or services we are giving our customers for the money our customers pays us, and God, Who knows all persons and everything else, certainly does.   

“A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.” Proverbs 11:1.

“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 | November 6, 2023

“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work … through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 25:4.

“You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.”   Deuteronomy 25:4.

—————–

Certainly, there is an express specific application of this verse.

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”  1 Timothy 5:17-18.

But, today’s Scripture should also lead us to meditate on an more general application of this verse to the rest of us.

“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed.” Proverbs 19:17.

“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.

But, much more importantly than focusing on ourselves and meditating on how God may owe us if we work for him, we should focus on God and meditate on His excellent qualities of what He has done for us and, through God’s grace, believe God and wait patiently for His lovingkindness to us. 

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” Job 41:11.

“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 6:10-15. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 5, 2023

“O God of hosts, restore us And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 25:1-3.

“If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt.  He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.”  Deuteronomy 25:1-3.  

—————

“Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.” Proverbs 19:29.

“On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.” Proverbs 10:13.

Another pillar of justice is provisions for restoration of the punished person.  If the punished person is “degraded”, then it implies that there is permanent injury for which there can be no restoration.  

“FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGERS EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

It is for discipline that you endure;  God deals with you as with sons;  for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  …  For they (our earthly fathers) disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”  Hebrews 12:6-7 and 10-13.

Obviously, there are quite a number of laws where there is the death penalty.  We are not talking about those severe guilt cases.  We are talking about medium guilt cases where there can be release and restoration.  

We also note the pillar of justice of proportionate punishment indicated by the words “with the number of stripes according to his guilt.”  Verse 2.

“3 O God, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

4 O LORD God of hosts,
How long will You be angry with the prayer of Your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And You have made them to drink tears in large measure.
6 You make us an object of contention to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 O God of hosts, restore us
And cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.” Psalm 80:3-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 3, 2023

“zealous for good deeds”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 24:6-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2024&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“6 “No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone in pledge, for he would be taking a life in pledge.

12 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge.  13 When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you;  and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns.  15 You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it;  so that he will not cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you.

17 “You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge.  

19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it;  it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 24:6 and 12-15 and 17 and 19.

————-

Verse 15 (“You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; …) reminds me of the kindness shown to me a long time ago when I was a young, poor attorney just getting started in my work and trying to support my family.  Whenever I rendered service for Jim, President of a busy real estate company, even though he could mail a check to me, Jim immediately told his secretary to make out a check, and he waited for the check, so that he could hand the check to me.

Some of these various laws may seem unusual.  For example, in verse 6, a handmill or an upper millstone is used to make food.  Thus, it does make sense if a creditor took it away then the creditor would take away the means of life. 

Generally, these various laws help us to understand what is righteous behavior in the eyes of the LORD.  We should show concern for the poor, do justice and lovingkindness, and live pure and holy lives.

“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.

“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4.

“Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  …  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”  James 3:13 and 17-18.

“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 6:10.

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.  

Christ “… gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.

“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. 

“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.

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