Devotionals Thoughts Vol. Ⅲ
Updated: Jun 14, 2022
Foreknowledge (eternal love)- knowledge of a person, not event or idea
Election
Predestination
Effectual calling- God working effectually in the heart of man
Regeneration-born again, new life. The cause of belief.
Faith-knowledge, acceptance, action; repentance-turn from sin to God, and justification- the act of God pardoning all sin by His grace
Adoption-made children of God by His grace
Sanctification- set apart for God and progressive growth in grace in killing sin and putting on Christ through the ordinary means of grace
Glorification- at death or return of Christ. The resurrection of Saints and eternal, full joy.
You cannot grow in fruit if you separate the root.
Our purpose and pleasure is to praise.
The true comfort for the Christian is conquering (sin within, falsehood without) not compromising. If you want peace prepare for war.
Mercy: to be treated in accord w the blood Luke 18
The Trinity: 1 what. 3, equal, who’s
“A king’s threat is like the roaring of a lion, and like dew upon grass so is his cheerfulness”
Proverbs 19:9 LXX
“A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.”
Proverbs 19:12 ESV
Eschatological implications? Yes according to Matthew Henry, “Christ is a King, whose wrath against his enemies will be as the roaring of a lion, and his favor to his people as the refreshing dew.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“Many thoughts are in the heart of a man, but the counsel of the Lord desires for eternity. 19 Mercy is fruit to a man, and better a righteous poor person than a rich lair.”
Proverbs 19:18-19 LXX
‘Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.’
Proverbs 19:21-22 ESV
In spite of the many thoughts of man, it is the Lord who reigns supreme. It is better to serve Him than to have many earthly riches.
“Verse 21 What should we desire, but that all our purposes may agree with God’s holy will? Verse 22 It is far better to have a heart to do good, and want ability for it, than to have ability for it, and want a heart to it.
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“Cowardice detains an effeminate person, and the soul of an idle person will go hungry.”
Proverbs 19:12 LXX
“Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”
Proverbs 19:15 ESV
Laziness (slothfulness) seems to come from fear or effeminacy in the Proverbs.
“Who will boast claiming to have a holy heart? Or who will speak boldly claiming to be clean from sins?” Proverbs 20:9 LXX
An appt description of sanctification.
“Some can say, Through grace, we are cleaner than we have been; but it was the work of the Holy Spirit.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“Do not be fond of contrary speaking, lest you be taken away; open your eyes and be filled with bread.”
Proverbs 20:16 LXX
“Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.”
Proverbs 20:13 ESV
“Those that indulge themselves, may expect to want necessaries, which should have been gotten by honest labor.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“Wisdom is the ornament for young men, and the glory of elders is gray hairs.”
Proverbs 20:23 LXX
“The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.”
Proverbs 20:29 ESV
Wisdom is strength.
Both young and old have their advantages, and let neither despise or envy the other.
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“To do righteousness and to speak truth are pleasing before God more than the blood of sacrifices.”
Proverbs 21:3 LXX
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3 ESV
Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse unrighteousness.
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
Matthew Henry on Isaiah 40:1-11
“And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hinderance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. What are all that belongs to fallen man, or all that he does, but as the grass and the flower thereof! And what will all the titles and possessions of a dying sinner avail, when they leave him under condemnation! The word of the Lord can do that for us, which all flesh cannot. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ were to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is the strong man armed; but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and he shall proceed, and do all that he purposes. Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for young converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By his word he requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will strengthen them for. May we know our Shepherd’s voice, and follow him, proving ourselves his sheep.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
Matthew Henry on Isaiah 42:13-17
The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain. Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it. This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”” - John 12:38-40 ESV.
Here we see that the Lord is sovereign over the hearts of men. He blinds but also turns us toward Him.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” Psalms 97:1 ESV
“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” Psalms 99:1 ESV
The Lords governs all through His Son. If creation is to be glad at this how much more should we blood-adopted sons!
“God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. The inhabitants of the earth have cause to tremble, but the Redeemer still waits to be gracious. Let all who hear, take warning, and seek his mercy. The more we humble ourselves before God, the more we exalt him; and let us be thus reverent, for he is holy.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10 ESV
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:7-9 ESV
What is the relationship between Sowing and Reaping and the Lord’s compassion?
It would seem that the eternal consequences of our sin our dealt by the Lord’s compassion but the earthly (physical) fallout of our sins is still known/felt by us here on earth. IE I am forgiven of my sin though I still feel, or bear the consequences thereof.
Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 3:17-18,
“Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood. But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are led away by error, fall from their own stedfastness. And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, forever.”
Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. 1997. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
“17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:17-21 ESV
“And Saul said to David, “You are righteous before me because you repaid me with good, but I repaid you with evil.”
1 Kingdom 24:18 LXX
A good illustration of Romans 12:21 is found in Saul and David’s relationship.
“Clean, enlighten, soften and unite my heart oh God”