Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 14, 2022

“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” – “But God, … seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 35:1-3.

“Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:

2 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD;  whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.  3 You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day.”  Exodus 35:1-3.

——————

This particular Scripture on the Sabbath shocks us with the punishment for violation in verse 2 and the extent of what was needed for obedience in verse 3.

Why?

The punishment of death leads us to consider that if we do not rest in the work of God for our salvation then we will experience spiritual death.

“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also;  but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.   …

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”  Hebrews 4:1-2 and 10-11. 

The extent of what was needed for obedience, namely that not even the “kindling” of a fire in our dwelling on the Sabbath was allowed, leads us to consider that if we trust as little as our will to be saved, or, to use the language of today’s Scripture, if we think that we get some credit for our salvation, by “kindling” our faith by our will, then we do not rest in the work of God for our salvation.

“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.  …  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-16 and 18.

The saved are only those “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:13.

“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.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-29. 

“But, that is unfair!  That is not the god I worship!!“:  many think.  They reject God’s sovereignty over salvation.

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

But, what is God’s response?

“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.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Psalm 2:4-9.

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

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

In a nutshell, we rest in God’s sovereignty and God’s work for our salvation.

“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. 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 2:4-9.

Since God “seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus“, we have “entered His rest” in the language of Hebrews 4:10 above.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 13, 2022

“For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. … But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:29-35.

“It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.  So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.  Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him;  and Moses spoke to them.  Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.  But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone.  So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.”  Exodus 34:29-35.

———————–

“But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.  For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.  For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.  But their minds were hardened;  for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 12, 2022

“love kindness”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:26-28.

“You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God.

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”  So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights;  he did not eat bread or drink water.  And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”  Exodus 34:26-28.  

—————-

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” is so different than the first command in verse 26 (“You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God.”)  I do not remember anything (or much) written about it or spoken about it, particularly compared to the first command.  

It is also the final command which has a position usually reserved for the most important and desired to be most remembered. 

So, we will meditate on this final command (“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”)

First, it seems to me that the intention of it is to motivate more general meditation on it than to only prohibit a very specific and unusual activity.  Certainly, the fact that this command is so shocking helps motivate more general meditation.

It seems so very cruel to “boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”  And, our focus switches quickly to a general abhorrence of cruelty. 

“A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” Proverbs 12:10.

If we have regard for the life of an animal, how much more should we have regard for the life of a person!

Thus, the general purpose of this final command may be to repel us away from cruelty and draw us to compassion.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 11, 2022

“How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:25.

“You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread, nor is the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover to be left over until morning.”  Exodus 34:25.

————

First, “leavened bread” represents false teaching a/k/a false doctrine.

“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?  But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Matthew 16:11-12.

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

The “blood of My sacrifice” represents Christ’s blood of His sacrifice.

Thus, putting it together, we are commanded to avoid using false teaching a/k/a false doctrine in speaking about Christ’s blood.

Yet, there are many who casually talk about Christ’s blood all the time.  In a sense, they are trampling it, not by being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5:13: “…if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” 

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said:  “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”  And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.

They steadfastly continue to hang on to false teaching a/k/a false doctrine about what was accomplished by Christ’s blood despite receiving knowledge of the truth (despite, so to speak, being “sanctified” in the language of the prior Scripture).  

They hang on to false doctrine that Christ died for everyone and His blood was shed for everyone.  They love to loosely speak about Christ’s blood and the power of Christ’s blood.  

But, they really believe that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they maintain that most people are not saved.  They claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save. They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective.  According to their logic, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine teaches the truth of “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.

Consider what the Canons of Dordt teaches about what was accomplished by Christ’s blood for God’s elect in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

The “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 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”. 

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.  

Second, consistent with this “high view” of what Christ’s blood accomplished, today’s Scripture also commands “nor is the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover to be left over until morning.” 

There are many who are more focused on their own worship services and their own prayers as if thereby they viewed Christ’s blood was applied to them by their work or at least their will which they think they need to do every day or at least every Sunday.  They are like the priests in the Old Testament in the following Scripture who offered “time after time the same sacrifices”.

“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;  but He (Christ), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;  for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:11-18.

“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”.  Ephesians 1:3-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 9, 2022

“In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:22-24.

“And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.  Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.  For I will drive out nations from you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.” Exodus 34:22-24.  

——————-

The “first fruits” points us to God and His “first fruits”.  

God’s “first fruits” are Christ and “those who are Christ’s at His coming”.  

“But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.  For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”  1 Corinthians 15:20-24. 

“In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”  James 1:18.

“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.  … These have been purchased from mankind as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.  And no lie was found in their mouths;  they are blameless.”  Revelation 14:1-5.

And, the command in today’s Scripture that “Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD” points us to Christ presenting to Himself the church in all her glory.

“…  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. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 8, 2022

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:21.

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest;  even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.”  Exodus 34:21.  

—————-

There are similar verses throughout the Bible.  But, this verse emphasizes the need to rest “even during plowing time and harvest”.

Most of us are not farmers, but we should not quickly dismiss this verse because we do not plow nor harvest.  Rather, we should accept this language as figurative language meaning that we need to rest on Sunday even during busy work times.

For example, I remember being convicted during law school that I should rest on Sunday even during exam time.  Even if an exam fell on a Monday, I trusted God that I should not study on Sunday.  I did not try to excuse studying on Sunday by thinking that reading a book was not work.  Yes, reading some books on Sunday is not work.  But, I knew that reading my law books to prepare for an exam was certainly work.    

I knew that I could, and I did, prepare in advance for the Monday exam by studying on the days prior to Sunday.  And, God blessed me by good grades.  

There is express hope even within the command!  Let us therefore meditate on the first part of the verse which we often ignore:  “You shall work six days”.  

And, there is more hope!

The fruit of the Spirit produces peace, patience, and self-control within us.  “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. 

Consider that peace reduces and eliminates stress.  Consider that patience reduces and eliminates anxiety.  Consider that self-control reduces and eliminates outbursts of frantic work on Sunday.  

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16.

“This is what the LORD says:
“Guard justice and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is a man who does this,
And a son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:1-2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 7, 2022

“God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:19-20.

“The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep.  You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey;  and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck.  You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons.  None shall appear before Me empty-handed.”  Exodus 34:19-20.

—————-

God revealed the purpose for the ceremony of “You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons.”

“And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.  It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast.  Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’”  Exodus 13:14-15.

We also see an example of how this was done by Joseph and Mary when they presented Jesus to the Lord.

“And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIDEGONS.”  Luke 2:22-24.

But, these foregoing Scriptures points us to what God did.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!  Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:4-7.

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.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 6, 2022

“you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:18.

“You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.”  Exodus 34:18.  

————————

“Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.  For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?  But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  Matthew 16:11-12.

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;  for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,”  Philippians 3:2-3.

“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.

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

“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.

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:19-21.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

… You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

You were running well;  who hindered you from obeying the truth?  This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.”  Galatians 5:1 and 4-9. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 5, 2022

“you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:12-17.

“Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim —for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God— otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.  You shall make for yourself no molten gods.”  Exodus 34:12-17.

—————————–

Let us not quickly pass over today’s Scripture thinking: “I do not make any molten gods nor enter into any covenant with unbelievers to worship their gods.” 

Today’s Scripture reminds us of the first two commandments of the Ten Commandments, and we should take time to meditate on it.  For the LORD warns us both in today’s Scripture and in the Ten Commandments that He is a jealous God.  “…  for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”  Exodus 20:5.  

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them;  for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  Exodus 20:3-6.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 94.  What doth God enjoin in the first commandment?

A.  That I, as sincerely as I desire the salvation of my own soul, avoid and flee from all idolatry, sorcery, soothsaying, superstition, invocation of saints, or any other creatures;  and learn rightly to know the only true God;  trust in Him alone, with humility and patience submit to Him;  expect all good things from Him only;  love, fear, and glorify Him with my whole heart;  so that I renounce and forsake all creatures, rather than commit even the least thing contrary to His will. 

Q. 95.  What is idolatry?

A.  Idolatry is, instead of, or besides that one true God who has manifested Himself in His Word, to contrive or have any other object in which men place their trust.

Q. 96.  What doth God require in the second commandment?

A.  That we in no wise represent God by images, nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded in His Word.

Q. 97.  Are images then not at all to be made?

A.  God neither can nor may be represented by any means.  But as to creatures, though they may be represented, yet God forbids to make or have any resemblance of them either in order to worship them or to serve God by them.

Q. 98.  But may not images be tolerated in the churches as books to the laity?

A.  No;  for we must not pretend to be wiser than God, who will have His people taught, not by dumb images, but by the lively preaching of His Word.

But, there is hope!

“7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 18:7-11.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:14-17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 4, 2022

“Before all your people I will perform miracles … “Be sure to observe”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:10-11.

“Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant.  Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations;  and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.

“Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day:  behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.”  Exodus 34:10-11. 

————-

Other doctrine focuses on what man has done.  Other doctrine tells what man has done and puffs up man.

But, Reformed Doctrine carefully observes all that the LORD has done.  Reformed Doctrine declares what the LORD has done and glorifies the LORD.   

“15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them.
16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:15-18.

“18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
19 And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.” Psalm 72:18-19.

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