Smitten to Repentance

14 APRIL

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. Isaiah 37:1

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 1 Chronicles 21:1-17

The modesty of holy King Hezekiah is wonderful. For after performing so many illustrious works and being adorned by the excellence of so many virtues, the king does not hesitate to prostrate himself before God. On the other hand, the courage and steadfastness of Hezekiah's faith is wonderful, for it shows the king is not hindered by the weight of the temptation of failing to freely seek God, by whom he is so severely smitten.

Scarcely one man in a hundred does not murmur if God treats him with any degree of severity or who does not bring forward his good deeds as a ground of complaint, reasoning that he has been unjustly rewarded. Other men, whose wishes are not answered by God, complain that their worship of God serves no good purpose. 

We perceive nothing of this kind in Hezekiah. Though he is conscious of possessing uncommon piety, he does not shrink from confessing his guilt. Likewise, if we desire to turn away God's anger and to experience his favor in adversity, we must repent and sincerely acknowledge our guilt, for adversity does not come to us by chance but is the method by which God rouses us to repentance.

Indeed, sackcloth and ashes will be of little avail if they are not preceded by the inward feelings of the heart, for we know that hypocrites are abundantly liberal in the use of ceremonies. Yet the Holy Spirit justly commends the exercises of repentance when they are directed to their proper object.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: 

When we are afflicted with sickness or sorrow, do we murmur and complain, thinking God means to destroy us? Or do we come to Him in sorrow and repentance, asking for the grace to bear any affliction and for forgiveness for any sin? Let us, like Hezekiah, seek our heavenly Father in all our troubles, trusting that He will use them to make us more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose sufferings were for us and our salvation.

365 Days With Calvin 

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Waiting for God

18 MARCH

Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul. Psalm 109:20

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Isaiah 30:18-26

David did not rashly or unadvisedly utter curses against his enemies but strictly adhered to what the Spirit dictated. I acknowledge that many people pretend to have similar confidence and hope, but who nevertheless recklessly rush beyond the bounds of temperance and moderation. But what David beheld by the unclouded eye of faith, he also uttered  with the zeal of a sound mind; for, having devoted himself to the cultivation of piety under the protection of Gods hand, he was aware that the day was approaching when his enemies would experience the punishment they had earned.

We learn that David's trust was placed in God alone. He did not look to people to direct his course according to whether the world smiled or frowned upon him. We can be sure that whosoever places his dependence on people will find that the most trifling incident will annoy him.

Therefore, even if the whole world abandons us, we, like this holy man, should lift up our heads to heaven and look there for our defender and deliverer. If God intends to use human instruments for our deliverance, He will soon raise up people to accomplish that purpose. But if He chooses to try our faith by depriving us of all earthly assistance, we should not regard that as any negative reflection upon the glory of His name. Rather, we should wait until the proper time when God fully  makes known His decision in which we can calmly acquiesce.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: Patience in waiting for an answer to prayer, especially a prayer for deliverance, must be consciously cultivated if we are to avoid losing confidence in God and His ways. But while waiting is a challenge, the Spirit often uses it to teach us to look to heaven, not people, for deliverance. What lessons have you learned about the Lord or about yourself while waiting on Him in prayer?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited By Joel R. Beeke

Testimony in Adversity

1 FEBRUARY

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Isaiah 45:18-25

God promises nothing in vain or to disappoint people, says the psalmist. This may seem a small matter, but when we consider more closely and attentively how prone we are to distrust and doubting, we will soon perceive the importance of realizing that our faith is supported by the assurance that God is not deceitful, that He does not delude or beguile us with empty words, and that He does not magnify His power or His goodness. Whatever He promises in word He will perform in deed.

We may frankly confess as David that the words of the LORD are pure. But those who liberally extol the truth of God’s word while lying in the shade and living in ease may think differently when they begin to struggle with adversity. They may not openly pour forth blasphemies against God, but they may privately charge Him with not keeping His word. When God delays to assist us, we may question His fidelity to His promises and murmur as if He has deceived us.

No truth is more generally received among people than that God is true, but few give Him credit for this when they are in the midst of adversity. It is, therefore, necessary for us to cut off distrust. Whenever any doubt respecting the faithfulness of God’s promises steals in upon us, we immediately ought to lift up a shield against it and affirm that the words of the Lord are pure.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: What adversity are you facing today? How is it affecting your attitude toward God and His promises? Remember: the words of the Lord are pure. Rest in them.

365 Days with Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke