Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 9, 2023

“he shall make restitution in full for his wrong” – “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 5:5-10. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%205&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the LORD, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.” Numbers 5:5-10.

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Restitution is another pillar of justice. As we see from today’s Scripture, it is not sufficient to only confess guilt. We cannot steal someone’s money and only say: “I am sorry.” At least, we need to give the money back.

As a quick side note, today’s Scripture commands to even go further: “and add to it one-fifth of it”. Zaccheus even offered more in his meeting with Jesus. “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:8-9.

God loves justice.

“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.

We should then consider restitution to be an important part of justice.

Restitution is also a fruit of repentance. Restitution demonstrates that our repentance is sincere and and that we are eager to make amends with a full heart for the wrong that we did. Let us consider the preaching of John the Baptist.

“So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” Luke 19:7-14.

But, there is hope!

Jesus grants repentance. Jesus gives us the will to repent. “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.

“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 in Uncategorized | Tags: Justice, restitution

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 7, 2023

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her” – “so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” – “Abide in Me, and I in you.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 5:1-4.

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they send away from the camp every leper and everyone having a discharge and everyone who is unclean because of a dead person. You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst.” The sons of Israel did so and sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD had spoken to Moses, thus the sons of Israel did.” Numbers 5:1-4.

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As children, we may have been content, even happy, with our messy bedroom with dirty (sometimes smelly) clothes lying around everywhere. But, our parents may not have wanted to even step inside our bedroom, and they ordered us to pick up and clean our room.

We are like children. We need to be cleaned. Our bodies and our clothes need to be washed. Even our room needs to be cleaned. And, even though our parents ordered us to do all these things, ultimately our parents made sure that all these things were done.

Moreover, we are sinful by nature, prone to sin. And, if that is bad enough, we are surrounded by the temptations of sin and of the world. We need to be cleaned inside as well as outside.

The LORD is perfect and holy.

“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.” Psalm 5:4.

But, there is hope!

We have a Heavenly Father. We have a Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have the Holy Spirit.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 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. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:25-28.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:3-5.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.’ John 14:16-17.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:2-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 6, 2023

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 4:29-49. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%204&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households; from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting. Now this is the duty of their loads, for all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its sockets, and the pillars around the court and their sockets and their pegs and their cords, with all their equipment and with all their service; and you shall assign each man by name the items he is to carry. …

“So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. Their numbered men by their families were 2,750. …

“The numbered men of the sons of Gershon by their families and by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. Their numbered men by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630. …

“The numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. Their numbered men by their families were 3,200.” Numbers 4:29-32 and 34-36 and 38-40 and 42-44.

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The exact numbering of the sons of the Kohathites, the sons of Gershon, and the sons of Merari leads us to meditate on the truth that the number of elect predestined for salvation has also been exactly numbered by God.

If God would command that even within the sons of Merari, “you shall assign each man by name the items he is to carry”, then we can believe even more that God has determined by name each person that He has elected for salvation and that Christ died to redeem those exact number of elect by name.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Article 8. For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.

Article 9. This purpose proceeding from everlasting love towards the elect, has from the beginning of the world to this day been powerfully accomplished, and will henceforward still continue to be accomplished, notwithstanding all the ineffectual opposition of the gates of hell, so that the elect in due time may be gathered together into one, and that there never may be wanting a church composed of believers, the foundation of which is laid in the blood of Christ, which may steadfastly love, and faithfully serve him as their Savior, who as a bridegroom for his bride, laid down his life for them upon the cross, and which may celebrate his praises here and through all eternity.

The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:

I Who teach: That God the Father has ordained his Son to the death of the cross without a certain and definite decree to save any, so that the necessity, profitableness and worth of what Christ merited by his death might have existed, and might remain in all its parts complete, perfect and intact, even if the merited redemption had never in fact been applied to any person. For this doctrine tends to the despising of the wisdom of the Father and of the merits of Jesus Christ, and is contrary to Scripture. For thus saith our Savior: “I lay down my life for the sheep, and I know them,” John 10:15,27. And the prophet Isaiah saith concerning the Savior: “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand,” Isaiah 53:10. Finally, this contradicts the article of faith according to which we believe the catholic Christian church.

“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.

In Christ’s intercessory prayer in John 17:9, we see Christ praying for only those whom God gave Him, not for the world: “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine;”

Christ laid down His life for only His sheep. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ” John 10:14-15.

“… “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1.

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” John 6:39.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: Election, Predestination

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 5, 2023

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 4:21-28. Here is a link of this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%204&version=NASB1995

“This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying: they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of porpoise skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the doorway of the gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shall perform. All the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their loads and in all their work, shall be performed at the command of Aaron and his sons; and you shall assign to them as a duty all their loads. This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” Numbers 4:24-28.

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We may not be impressed with the work of the Gershonites. What is so great about the work of carrying the curtains and coverings of the tabernacle?

But then we meditate on the fact that God called them by name to do this work. This work was important to God, and God did not just call anyone to do it.

We too may have work that is very humble, repetitive, simple and specific, and no one praises us for performing it. But, God has given us grace to understand that He has called us by name to do it, that He has given us the will to do it, that He has given us the spiritual gifts to perform it, and that God works in us to accomplish it for His good pleasure.

“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.

And, we also can encourage each other.

“6 Each one helps his neighbor
And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter,
And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,
Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
And he fastens it with nails,
So that it will not totter.” Isaiah 41:6-7.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: encouragement, work

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 4, 2023

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 4:1-20. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%204&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it; and they shall lay a covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert its poles. Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall also spread a cloth of blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the drink offering, and the continual bread shall be on it. They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles. … When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.

…

Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.” Numbers 4:5-8 and 15 and 17-20.

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Aaron and his sons had the duty to cover all the holy objects, so that the sons of Kohath (who had the duty to carry them) would neither see nor touch the holy objects and die.

Today’s Scripture leads us to appreciate more the perfect holiness of God and to fear Him more with awe and reverence.

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:1-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 3, 2023

“For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece, per head”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 3:11-51. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%203&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the LORD.”

….

All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the LORD by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names. You shall take the Levites for Me, I am the LORD, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded him; and all the firstborn males by the number of names from a month old and upward, for their numbered men were 22,273.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the LORD. For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), and give the money, the ransom of those who are in excess among them, to Aaron and to his sons.” So Moses took the ransom money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites; from the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the money in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, 1,365. Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons, at the command of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Numbers 3:11-13 and 39-51.

———————-

King James Bible Dictionary online defines the word “redeem” in part as: “1. To purchase back; to ransom; to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying an equivalent; as, to redeem prisoners or captured goods; to redeem a pledge.”

And so, we look at this Scripture which uses the word “ransom” rather than the word “redeem” to give us insight into Christ’s redemption of us.

We also notice that Scripture uses the word “ransom” to describe Christ’s redemption of us: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.

Did Christ redeem everybody?

In today’s Scripture did the LORD ransom everybody?

NO. We see two bases of very exact payments for a very exact group of people.

The very exact group of people being ransomed were the 22,273 firstborn males of Israel. This very exact group was not every male in Israel, much less every person in Israel, and much less every person in the world.

The first basis of the two bases of very exact payments was a ransom payment of one Levite for one firstborn of the sons of Israel. 22,000 Levites were paid as ransom for 22,000 firstborn of the sons of Israel.

The second basis of very exact payments was a ransom payment of money. “For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), and give the money, the ransom of those who are in excess among them, to Aaron and to his sons.” Verses 46-48.

Likewise, Christ died only for God’s elect, not for everyone in the world.

This is a specific love just for His church. Just as a husband should not love and give himself up for all women, but only for his own wife, Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for only His church, not for everyone in the world.

Redemption is always for specific objects that we own, never for everything. For example, when we redeem something from the pawn shop, we do not redeem everything in the store, but we only redeem our specific items that we own and left at the pawn shop as collateral for a loan.

Christ’s death redeemed all of God’s elect, but only them alone, not everyone in the world.

“… “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1.

Salvation is not dependent on our sinful flesh, neither by our works nor even by as little as our will. Christ’s death did not just possibly took away our sins depending on our alleged free-will to choose Christ nor depending on our alleged free-will whether or not we get and keep faith till our death.

Reformed Doctrine labels this point of salvation as “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt.

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” John 6:39.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: "Limited Atonement", "TULIP", ransom, redeem

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 2, 2023

“Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 3:1-10.

“Now these are the records of the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These then are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. They shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.” Numbers 3:1-10.

—————

Today’s Scripture shocks us and shows us that the LORD does not receive worship of Him casually. We may think we are doing a favor to the LORD to do anything we consider to be worship, but the LORD killed Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire before the LORD. The LORD strictly commanded who may be priests, and the LORD commanded that any one else who attempted to act as a priest “shall be put to death.”

Our congregational worship to the LORD on Sundays needs to be done in reverence, in rejoicing, and with trembling how the LORD commands it to be done.

“Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11.

“Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.” Psalm 96:9.

In one word, our congregational worship to the LORD on Sundays needs to be done formally as He wants, not casually as we want.

Professor Barrett L. Gritters of the Protestant Reformed Churches wrote an article covering this topic titled “Public Worship and the Reformed Faith”. Here is a link to it followed by some quotes from it –

http://www.prca.org/resources/publications/pamphlets/item/598-public-worship-and-the-reformed-faith

The following quotes are separated. I did not put dots (…) between each quote, because the dots would distract too much. But, I did put them all in italic font. I could only fit these within the format of a short devotion, but I recommend you read the full article which has much supporting Scripture and explanation.

Strange fire is being offered on the altars of worship in many churches today. That fire is being offered on Reformed altars.

For one reason or another, worship is not the same as it used to be. Perhaps the leaders of the churches are trying to raise the attendance at the evening worship service. Perhaps, because the young people are not impressed with the worship anymore, pastors and consistories are trying to lure the young people (who have wandered off to more charismatic or enthusiastic worship services) back to the services of their church.

For some reason, perhaps because the people are not moved by the worship services of the church, dramatic presentations are offered, movies are shown, talented singing groups are asked to lead the worship and even liturgical dances are offered as worship to God, many times in place of the preaching. All this is to make the services moving.

True to his Reformed heritage and, therefore, true to the Scriptures, the Reformed believer asks the question, ‘What is the worship required by my Lord?’

The PURPOSE of our public worship is to bring glory to God’s name.

Glorifying to God, worship will also edify His church. That is the second purpose of worship.

The third purpose of worship is to bring believers into fellowship and communion.

Reformed believers teach that our worship is to be just what God commands it to be—nothing more, nothing less. This is of utmost importance for us to understand in connection with Biblical, Reformed worship. God does not leave it up to us to determine the manner of our worship of God. God’s Word regulates us in how we must worship Him.

True to this regulative principle, Reformed worship services have these elements: singing of Psalms (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19-20); offering of prayer (I Timothy 2:1-8); reading of Scriptures (I Thessalonians 5:27; I Timothy 4:13); the preaching and hearing of God’s word (Romans 10:13-17; II Timothy 4:1-2); the administration of the two sacraments (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29); and the giving of our offerings in the support of the ministry and the relief of the poor (I Corinthians 16:1-2; I Corinthians 9:11-14).

Worship that is regulated by the Word of God not only will have only those elements taken from the Word of God, it will have certain basic characteristics.

Speaking to the woman at Samaria, Jesus lays down the first characteristic of true worship. It is worship IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH (John 4:24).

The preaching is at the heart and centre of every Reformed worship service. The preaching of the whole counsel of God is what makes the service a true worship of God, bowing the knee before Him and His Word in Christ. The preaching gives glory to God, but also edification for the church.

The Reformed worship is characterized by CONGREGATIONAL PARTICIPATION. Every act of worship is an act in which the believer participates. The congregation is not a group of spectators who come together to watch some professional priest or theologian do his thing. They are not observers, but worshipers.

This is why, historically, Reformed churches have never allowed choirs and special numbers to come into public worship. The entire congregation is called to participate in every act of worship in the church.

Our worship should be characterized by REVERENCE.

The Reformed worship service is a SIMPLE service.

We do not have all kinds of clutter in the Reformed worship building. This is in keeping with the Reformed view. Nor do we (most, anyway) have symbols of Jesus’ cross and the Holy Spirit, because Christ is present, not with His cross, but when He is evidently set forth before you in the WORD. The Spirit is present, not in some symbol of a dove, but in the power of the preaching of the gospel.

This is not to say that Reformed worship is not ACTIVE, JOYFUL AND THANKFUL.

That man that comes to worship his great God, knowing his sins, and hearing the gospel of forgiveness, must necessarily be the happiest man alive.

But, there is hope!

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. …

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7 and 11-13.

“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 | March 31, 2023

“Retain the standard of sound words … Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” – “let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers chapter 2. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%202&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab, and his army, even their numbered men, 74,600. …

“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur, and his army, even their numbered men, 46,500. … The total of the numbered men of the camp of Reuben: 151,450 by their armies. And they shall set out second.

“Then the tent of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; just as they camp, so they shall set out, every man in his place by their standards.

“On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud, and his army, even their numbered men, 40,500. … The total of the numbered men of the camp of Ephraim: 108,100, by their armies. And they shall set out third.

“On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, and his army, even their numbered men, 62,700.

… The total of the numbered men of the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall set out last by their standards.”

… Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father’s household.” Numbers 2:1-4 and 10-11 and 16-19 and 24-26 and 31 and 34.

——————

For what do you stand? What are your standards?

Too often, people drift away from their standards. Too often, people are embarrassed by their standards. Too often, people hide their standards.

We see too many churches change their signs from identifying which denomination they belong to signs by which they call themselves a community church or fellowship or Grace Church or other name that sounds good but tells the reader very little about what they believe.

We see churches which have web sites which show all kinds of beautiful scenery and beautiful, happy people on the Home Page, but the web sites do not show the standards of what they believe. You really have to dig into the web site to find it. But, even if they do have a standard a/k/a creed a/k/a confession, you will hear very little quotes from it during the sermon.

In today’s Scripture, we see how important standards were. The tribes camped or rested by their standards. The tribes move out by their standards.

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14.

The Protestant Reformed Churches do rest by their standards. The Protestant Reformed Churches do proclaim their standards. The Protestant Reformed Churches do move out by their standards.

You see it in their name and signs: Protestant Reformed Churches.

You see it in the cover to their publication: Standard Bearer. You read it inside every issue.

You see it on the Home page of their web site. Here is a link to the Home page of the Protestant Reformed Churches by which you can so easily read their standards –

http://www.prca.org/

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Philippians 3:14-16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 30, 2023

“the LORD is his inheritance”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 1:47-54.

“The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying, “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel. But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle. So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death. The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies. But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.” Numbers 1:47-54.

———————-

Why were the Levites not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe?

Numbers 26:62 gives the answer. “… they were not numbered among the sons of Israel since no inheritance was given to them among the sons of Israel.” Numbers 26:62

But, there is hope for the Levites!

“Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God spoke to him.)” Deuteronomy 10:9.

“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.” Numbers 18:20.

“The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD’S offerings by fire and His portion. They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.” Deuteronomy 18:1-2.

“But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He had promised to them.” Joshua 13:33.

But, there is hope for us too!

The inheritance given to the tribe of Levi points to the hope given to us, “A royal PRIESTHOOD”, that we too will receive the LORD as our inheritance.

“5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.” Psalm 16:5-6.

“… In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:10-14.

“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossians 3:24.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 29, 2023

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 1:17-45. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%201&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name, and they assembled all the congregation together on the first of the second month. Then they registered by ancestry in their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, head by head, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Now the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

Of the sons of Simeon, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, their numbered men, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, their numbered men of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

…

These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household. So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, even all the numbered men were 603,550.” Numbers 1:17-23 and 44-46.

—————-

We know that the LORD did not intend to create pride in the sons of Israel by numbering “whoever was able to go out to war in Israel”.

We remember the time when David was moved to number Israel, and “God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:7.

We also remember the many times that the LORD reduced the number of the sons of Israel to fight a particular battle so that God would be given credit for the victory. One example is the time of Gideon, when the LORD used only 300 of the sons of Israel, to give the victory to Israel. “The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’” Judges 7:2.

We do know from the next chapter that the LORD organized the sons of Israel into camps and how they should set out when they moved. “Now the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. … Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father’s household.” Numbers 2:1-2 and 34.

We do know that God is not a God of confusion, but God is a God of peace and order. “for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. … But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 and 40.

But, most importantly, we do know that we need to trust and obey.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.

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Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“he shall make restitution in full for his wrong” – “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance”

“Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her” – “so you will be My people, and I will be your God.” – “Abide in Me, and I in you.”

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

“For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, you shall take five shekels apiece, per head”

“Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.”

“Retain the standard of sound words … Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” – “let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

“the LORD is his inheritance”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.”

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