Qualified for Service

12 MARCH

He sent Moses His servant; and Aaron whom He had chosen. Psalm 105:26

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 77:11-20

Here the prophet briefly refers to the deliverance of God's people. If the Egyptians of their own accord had allowed the people of Israel to leave Egypt, neither the service of Moses nor miracles of God would have been required.

But God determined that His people should be delivered in such a way that denial of its author would be impossible. Moses is called His servant to teach us that he was not self-appointed to his office and that he attempted nothing by his own authority. Rather, as the minister of God, Moses executed the office with which he was entrusted. The same is true of Aaron, who is said to have been chosen. What is attributed in particular to each of these eminent men applies equally to both. Therefore Psalm 105:26 is basically saying: God sent Moses and Aaron, His servants, not because of their intrinsic fitness or because they spontaneously offered their service to God, but because God chose them. 

This passage teaches us that those who are engaged in active and useful service for the church are not exclusively qualified for it by their on exertions or by their own talents, but are stirred by God to serve. Moses was a man of heroic virtue, but in himself, he was nothing. Accordingly, the psalmist would say all that is accounted worthy of remembering Moses as well as Aaron is to be ascribed to God alone. Whatever men do for the welfare of the church, they owe the power of doing so to God, who, of His free goodness, has been pleased thus to honor them.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: This teaching goes against every natural inclination of our hearts. How easily we take pride in ourselves when God blesses our work, as if we were somehow ultimately responsible! The honor, Calvin says, belongs to God alone. How does this both humble us and fill us with gratitude?

365 Days With Calvin 

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

A Doorkeeper in God’s House

3 MARCH

For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. Psalm 84:10

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 3 John

Unlike many people who want to live without knowing why, wishing simply that their life may be prolonged, David says that his purpose for living is to serve God. He sets higher value on one day that is spent in God’s service than a long time that is spent among worldly people from whom true religion is banished. Because it is lawful for only priests to enter into the innermost courts of the temple, David declares that, if he were simply permitted to have a place at the porch, he would be content with the humble station of acting as a doorkeeper.

The value that David sets upon being in the sanctuary of God is striking in his comparison that he would be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. David would rather be cast into a common and unhonored place, providing that is among the people of God, than to be exalted to the highest rank of honor among unbelievers. That is a rare example of godliness indeed! Many people want to occupy a place in the church, but ambition has such sway over their minds tat few are content to be numbered among the common and the undistinguished class.

Almost all of us are carried away with the frantic desire of rising to distinction and cannot think of being at ease until we have attained some state of eminence.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: When personal ambition takes over in our lives, we often succeed in turning the house of God into a “tent of wickedness.” If it is better for us to dwell in God’s house, even as a nobody, than to achieve recognition among the ungodly of this world, how then should we live? What changes should we make in our lives?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke