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April 3 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 4-6

Praise Inspired by Election

“And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.” (2 Samuel 6:21)

Multitudes are perishing, being deceived by the strong delusion of Arminianism, free-willism, easy-believism, and decisionism. God has sent “them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-13).

Yes, my brother, my sister, we also would be damned in false religion had it not been for God’s eternal election of us to salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Had God left us to the choice of our sinful free will, we would be eternally lost. This fact humbles us before God and inspires our hearts to sing his praise with David of old, saying, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple” (Psalm 65:4).

Here are three reasons for which every believer should continually offer praise and thanksgiving to God.

1. We were chosen by God in eternal love.

Before the world was made, the eternal God set his heart upon us. He loves us with an everlasting love. In his great love, God chose us and determined to save us by the substitutionary sacrifice of his own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. — “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest,” O Lord.

2. We have been called by divine, irresistible grace.

At the time appointed, God sent his Spirit to us, revealing Christ in the gospel, and gently, tenderly, effectually, irresistibly caused us to come to him in faith. Aren’t you thankful God would not let you perish in unbelief? — “Blessed is the man whom thou causest to approach unto thee.”

3. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of God’s house.

We are satisfied with all the needs of our souls here by the goodness of God’s grace and providence. And we shall be satisfied with all the goodness of God in eternal glory. — “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalms 17:15)

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s