2026.11.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:11–12

Read Ephesians 1:11–12

Questions from the Scripture text: What have believers obtain in Christ (Ephesians 1:11)? When was this determined to happen? Whose purpose decided this? How many things does He work according to this purpose? What is this purpose called at the end of verse 11? What, then, was the purpose of bringing the first (and the rest!) of the predestined ones to believe in Jesus (Ephesians 1:12)?

What is our great purpose, confidence, hope, and end? Ephesians 1:11–12 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ is our great purpose, confidence, hope, and end. 

Our inheritance is guaranteed. We don’t need to struggle to get good things from God. He has been planning to give us literally everything for literally forever.

This frees us to live for our purpose, which is clear: the praise of God’s glory. Our God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11), aiming at this praise of His glory. So, we too pursue our inheritance by aiming at that same praise of His glory.

This praise is the reason for which God brought that first generation to trust in Christ (Ephesians 1:12). And everyone whom He has brought to faith since then, He has also brought to faith in Christ for the praise of His glory.

Christ is at the heart of all of this. Our purpose is in Christ, that inheritance is in Christ, our trusting is in Christ, and that glory is in Christ. God grant us to live with a single eye to Him!

What more might you feel that you need from God than He has given you? What are some things that you really desire in life—how do they relate to or compare to bringing Him glory?

Sample prayer:  Lord, grant that we would know it our great possession, purpose, and pleasure to bring glory to Christ and enjoy Him forever, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am with Thee” or TPH448 “Union with Thee”

How God Loves Our Loving Him [Children's Catechism 78—Theology Simply Explained]

The lesson addresses the question of how God is pleased with those who love and obey Him. It explains that this divine pleasure is rooted in the fact that human love and obedience originate from God's prior grace and are performed in and through Jesus Christ. Salvation involves not only forgiveness but also the ongoing transformation of believers into the image of Christ, eliminating sin to achieve perfect blessedness. By emphasizing that our good works are genuine because they flow from union with Christ, the message encourages believers to offer their love and obedience with confidence, knowing that God views them with the same delight He has in His Son. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2026.11.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:9–10

Read Ephesians 1:9–10

Questions from the Scripture text: What has God made known to us (Ephesians 1:9a)? According to what had He decided this? What had He done “in Himself”? When would He carry out His plan (Ephesians 1:10a)? What would He gather into one? In Whom would He gather all things? What things would be included in these “all things” (verse 10b)?

What drives predestination? Ephesians 1:9–10 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s own, internal pleasure drives predestination. 

We tend to focus upon ourselves when we think about God’s eternal purposes. And that is understandable, not because it is right, but because we are fleshly, and it is understandable that we would so sinfully think about things. The Lord, however, thinks upon us with amazing love and goodness and generosity, precisely by putting us in our proper place: under Christ and in Christ. 

In the previous verses, we read that He bent “all wisdom and prudence” (Ephesians 1:8) upon redeeming us by Christ’s blood (Ephesians 1:7). Now in this passage, we read the heart and goal of that wisdom and prudence: to gather all of creation (signified by the “bookends” of “heaven and earth,” Ephesians 1:10) together, in one—in Christ.

This was that “mystery of His will” to which Ephesians 1:9 refers. In the New Testament, the word “mystery” generally means something that God has revealed in Christ and the gospel, that we would not have known in any other way. And what has God now revealed: that Christ redeeming us (and all creation with us) has always been at the center of God purposes.

These, of course, are eternal purposes. It is in Himself that He purposed them. And, this plan was “according to His good pleasure.” That is to say that in these purposes, God was not responding to hypothetical futures at all. His own, internal pleasure is what drives this. Pleasure to glorify Himself. Pleasure for that glory to be in His Son. Pleasure for His Son’s great display of glory to be as Redeemer. And now, God has sent as a Redeemer that Son unto His glory! These riches that He has poured out in love to purchase us are all, entirely, only because it pleased Him!

This is the true and biblical way to think about election and predestination. And it is a source of great wonder and worship, and love back to God, and peace and security in His redemption. What a doctrine! What a Redeemer! What a God! Hallelujah!

In what manner have you talked and thought about election and predestination? In what manner should we all?

Sample prayer:  Lord, how marvelous You are, in the glory of Your grace! How marvelous the display of that glory in Your Son! We rejoice to hear and think about Your pleasure. Please make it our pleasure to delight in what pleases You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me” 

2026.11.10 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 1:7–8

Read Ephesians 1:7–8

Questions from the Scripture text: What do we have in Jesus (Ephesians 1:7a)? Through what? What does this redemption entail? According to what was this redemption purchased? What does Christ make this redemption do unto us (Ephesians 1:8a)? In what two things does this redemption abound? 

How great is redemption? Ephesians 1:7–8 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that its greatness corresponds to God’s grace and God’s wisdom. 

Through hundreds of pages of Scripture, the Holy Spirit prepares us to understand the RICHES of Ephesians 1:7–8. Redemption was something that the life of the firstborn was given to purchase for Israel. And redemption was something in which money could be offered to purchase the life of that firstborn, in memory of when the blood of the Passover lamb protected that life. Redemption was something that could be purchased for anyone who ended up in slavery through debt.

But never was there a redemption like this. Redemption through His blood! All the wealth in the world—indeed, every created thing—together cannot begin to indicate the value of Him from Whom, and through Whom, and for Whom all things exist. And yet, He took to Himself flesh and blood that He might spill that blood in order to purchase us!

What bank is so flush with wealth that it can afford such a payment as the blood of Christ? The bank of the riches of God’s grace. We often talk about depending upon grace, but I think we could do with more meditating upon the greatness of that grace upon which we depend, praise God! It is a grace so rich that it was according to these riches that the blood of Jesus purchased us for adoption as sons of God.

Indeed, of all of the things that God’s wisdom and understanding has devised, here is one thing that Scripture describes all of His wisdom and understanding bending itself upon: purchasing us through the blood of Christ according to the riches of His grace.

Truly, our redemption is a marvel at which we will wonder in praise for unending ages. And it makes one’s heart ache with a desire that the flesh would be mortified more even now, in order that we might wonder and praise more even now. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:3)!

From what are you redeemed? At what cost? How are you responding to the riches of His grace? The abundance of His wisdom?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we bless Your Name, Whose redemption is not just from the riches of Your grace, but with a lavishness that is according to those riches. We thank You for the precious blood of Christ, and praise You for the divine wisdom that devised such a glorious salvation. Make Your grace to keep abounding to us, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP65A “Praise Awaits You, God” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place” 

2026.11.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 149

Read Psalm 149

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom shall we praise (Psalm 149:1)? What shall we sing? Where? In whom is Israel to rejoice (Psalm 149:2)? In whom must the children of Zion be joyful? What aspects of the worship led by Levitical priests are named in Psalm 149:3? In whom does the Lord take pleasure (Psalm 149:4)? With what does He beautify the humble (verse 4)? In what should saints be joyful (Psalm 149:5)? What should they do on their beds? What should be in their mouths (Psalm 149:6)? And what should be in their hands? For what purpose (Psalm 149:7-9a)? Which of the Lord’s saints have this honor?

What does the assembly of praising saints enjoy? Psalm 149 looks forward to opening portion of the public worship of God on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the assembly of praising saints enjoys the pleasure of the Lord and the power of the Lord.

This is a Psalm about corporate worship—the praise of the Lord in the assembly of the saints.  Yes, it’s a praise that continues to resound in their hearts and mouths even when they are at home on their beds (Psalm 149:5). But it is something that distinctly belongs to the assembly (Psalm 149:1), as evidenced by the reference to the specifically Levite-led activities of Psalm 149:3.

We, of course, are no longer led by Levites in a temple on earth, but we ourselves are the temple, and we are led by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Great High Priest over the congregation in glory! Therefore, the joy of the song is not diminished, but rather increased—as the saints are joyful in glory. 

In particular, we now know how it can even be possible that YHWH Himself takes pleasure in us in Psalm 149:4 (!!). It is because we come to Him through His beloved Son, with Whom He is well pleased. He delights in His Son, and He delights in us who are in His Son!

But not only do we have the privilege of a great reception on High, week by week in this life. We also have the privilege of a great power on earth. Which of the Lord’s saints wield this great sword to which Psalm 149:6-9 refer? All His saints. Psalm 149:9 says, “This honor have ALL His saints.” 

Now, we know that not all His saints carry physical swords by which they subjugate rulers. But, just as our worship must come from God and not be merely the worship of men, so also our weapons are the weapons of God.

As we believe the Scripture together, and confess it in worship, and admonish one another with it, and teach it to our children, we are indeed participating in the subjugation of all the nations—which subjugation shall surely be accomplished by God’s mighty Word. 

And, we have the privilege, as we depart worship each week, of carrying His high praise in our mouths, and His sword in our hands. Hallelujah!

How do you know that God takes pleasure in You in the public worship? What power do you have?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You, Who have made us. We rejoice in You, our King. We marvel that You take pleasure in us, as in Your beloved Son, with Whom You are well pleased. Grant that we would take Your praise into the rest of our lives, especially as You give us to conquer the world through ordinary, faithful Christianity. Thank You for giving this honor to all of Your saints. Grant it to us, we ask, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP149B “O Praise the Lord, O Sing Aloud” or TPH149B “O Praise Ye the Lord”

2026.11.08 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

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2026.11.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 10:1–16

Read Mark 10:1–16

Questions from the Scripture text: Where does Jesus go (Mark 10:1)? Who gathered to Him? What was He accustomed to do with them? What question do the Pharisees ask in Mark 10:2? With what question does Jesus answer in Mark 10:3? What is their answer (Mark 10:4)? What does Jesus say was the reason that Moses permitted this (Mark 10:5)? What does Jesus remind them that God did at the beginning of creation (Mark 10:6)? How had God created man? Of what else does Jesus remind them in Mark 10:7? How many does Jesus say become one flesh in Mark 10:8? Whom does Jesus say is the One who joins a man and his wife together (Mark 10:9)? Who ask Jesus about the same thing in Mark 10:10? What does Jesus say a man does, if he divorces his wife and then remarries (Mark 10:11, cf. Matthew 5:32)? What does Jesus say a woman does, if she does the same (Mark 10:12)? To whom do they then bring little children (Mark 10:13)? What do they want Jesus to do with the children? What do the disciples do to those who brought the children? When Jesus sees it, what does He think (Mark 10:14)? To whom does Jesus say that the kingdom belongs? And to whom are the children an example (Mark 10:15)? What does Jesus then do with the children (Mark 10:16)?

What does Jesus think of marriage and children? Mark 10:1–16 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus views marriage as a covenant of God, and covenant children as subjects of the kingdom of God. 

In this passage, we read about two incidents in which the Lord Jesus affirms God’s valuing of marriage and children.

First, on the question of divorce, there are a couple interesting things about Christ’s answer.

There is a truth about the Mosaic civil code here (Mark 10:3-4)  that we could easily miss. God gave unto Israel laws that took into account the hardness of their hearts (Mark 10:5). If you look at the parallel in Matthew 5:32, you can see part of the “hardness of heart” Jesus is talking about. Divorce wouldn’t be necessary, but there are husbands and wives who commit adultery. 

Even more interesting is the theological foundation of Jesus’s teaching on divorce. He doesn’t take us to Genesis 2 first. Jesus takes us to the creation in Genesis 1. He takes us to God creating male and female in His own image (Mark 10:6). The implication is that marriage is about man being in the image of God, man being a covenanting creature of a covenanting Creator.

Only after establishing this first does Jesus take us to Genesis 2, where He twice repeats the math: 2 become 1 (Mark 10:8). This math wasn’t explicit in the text of Genesis 2, but it was obviously implied. Now, Jesus gives His authoritative explanation and application of the passage. Marriage is one man, and one woman, covenanted for life.

But there’s more! Who forms this covenant? Not just the man and the woman. The Lord is the One who joins them together (Mark 10:9). Marriage is the “covenant of our God” (cf. Proverbs 2:17). No wonder God hates divorce! The Scripture that tells us that also tells us one of God’s great purposes for marriage: to produce a godly seed, covenant children (cf. Malachi 2:14-16). 

Now, the Holy Spirit ties the two subjects together again in Mark 10. Look at how serious our Redeemer is about covenant children! He is greatly displeased (Mark 10:14) with the disciples for hindering the little children of these believing parents from coming to Him.

Our Lord doesn’t just love our children because they are ours. He loves our children because they are His. Jesus points out, in Mark 10:15, that children are often better examples of believers than adults. But this isn’t even His strongest statement about them.

In Mark 10:14, Jesus says “of such” is the kingdom. These little children are kingdom citizens in their own right. They have a right of access to the King! In the end, Jesus doesn’t just touch the children as was requested. He takes them up into His arms, and lays His hands upon them, and blesses them (Mark 10:16). How much our Lord loves marriage and children!

How does your daily and weekly habits reflect Jesus’s priority upon marriage and children?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us, for when we have had hard hearts, compounding one sin with another. It is dreadful that You would make peace for Israel by permitting a legal method of divorce. Forgive us, and cleanse us. Make us to treasure our own marriages and our own spouse. And strengthen us against the perversions of our generation against Your design of marriage as one man, and one woman, covenanted for life. Give us to love to give You Your own offspring, bringing to You, for Your own care, those of Your children whom You have entrusted to us. Forgive us for when we have hindered them, for this is greatly displeasing to You. Give us to treat them according to their rights as subjects to have access to their King. And make us to enter the kingdom like children as well. Thus, do with us not according to our sin, but according to Your grace, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP128 “How Blessed Are All Who Fear the Lord” or TPH548 “O Blest the House”

2026.11.06 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ephesians 6:1–3

Read Ephesians 6:1–3

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Ephesians 6:1 address? What does the apostle say for them to do? In Whom? Why? What commandment does Ephesians 6:2 repeat? What does it point out about this commandment? What promise does Ephesians 6:3 paraphrase, and how does it expand upon it (cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16).

What does Scripture say about covenant children? Ephesians 6:1–3 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord expects covenant children to be Christian children.  

Children are counted among the saints. The apostle addressed this letter to “the saints” in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:4). Now in between the wives and husbands on the one side; and the fathers, slaves, and masters on the other; he addresses the children.

Children are expected to be in worship; the worship is for them just as for others. The apostle is assuming that when this letter is read in the church, children will be there; so, he addresses them directly. When the church has a lower expectation of children than it does of others, for their attention and response in the public worship, it communicates that worship is not important, not beneficial, and not for everyone. What a dreadful thing! No wonder that so many children from such churches cannot be found in biblical worship services when they are older.

Children must obey their parents. This is an apostolic command. The verb means something like to hear as someone who is under them. “I didn’t hear you” is not a good excuse but a self-accusation. This is a command to pay good attention when spoken to, so that you can do what you are being told.

Children are expected to care about the Lord. Obey your parents (both of them!) “in the Lord.” The children are children who belong to the Lord. The parents are parents who have been placed by the Lord and belong to the Lord. The parents’ commands are presumed to be (and ought to be!) consistent with the Word of the Lord. And, as we have been learning about Christian living throughout the book, this obedience is something that can only be done by the grace of the Lord in the child’s heart. And all of this is to be done unto the glory of the Lord.

Children are expected to care about what is right. “For this is right” should be an argument that carries sway with children in a Christian home.

Children are expected to obey from the heart. It is not merely a manner of complying but of honoring. Later, when they are out of the home, and especially when marriage has become their primary relationship in life (cf. Ephesians 5:31), honoring will take another form. But as long as you’re a child in the home, honoring means obeying.

Children are expected to prioritize obedience to parents. This is the only commandment of the ten with a promise. The apostle’s calling it “the first” is probably a reference to the fact that the children’s obedience to all the other commandments begins with obeying their Christian parents. Obedience to parents is the nursery in which keeping the other commandments grows.

Children are expected to keep the commandments. It is worth pointing out that Ephesians 6:2 reinforces the Scriptural teaching that the commandments are still obligatory in the Christian life. Christ’s keeping them in our behalf is reckoned to our legal record with God, but this does not take away the requirement to keep them.

Children should expect God to bless them. Notice that the promise is broadened from the promised land to the earth. The old promise has not been taken away; it just has been swallowed up in the promise of a much greater blessing.

What commands of your parents are you having the most difficulty obeying? What are some things, from these verses, of which you could remind yourself in order better to keep these commands?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we pray that our children might be true saints, who participate in Your worship, obey their parents, and care about the Lord from the heart. Work graciously in them, and bless them in accord with that work that You do in them, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP119B “How Can the Young Man Cleanse His Way?” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?”

2026.11.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 78:1–8

Read Psalm 78:1–8

Questions from the Scripture text: To what are to give our ears and incline them (Psalm 78:1)? What will we be told (Psalm 78:2)? Where have we heard this (Psalm 78:3)? Whom will we tell (Psalm 78:4)? What will we tell? What has God established and where (Psalm 78:5)? What did He command our fathers to do? To whom else would this be communicated (Psalm 78:6)? What are the three parts of the application of this teaching (Psalm 78:7)? What had previous generations not done (Psalm 78:8)?

What is the Lord’s prescription for making one generation of His church better than the previous? Psalm 78:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord employs fathers as the teachers of their children; to show them God’s character, relations, and works; that the children might be doctrinally driven to faith, worship, and obedience. 

From this Scripture, we learned God’s plan for the reformation and preservation of His church: one generation teaching another generation of generation-teachers—all of whom put that teaching into practice.

Of course, teaching begins with your ears. You can’t teach what you haven’t studied. In our flesh and our folly, we would like to skip to faith, worship, and obedience. But, the Lord’s plan for us and assignment to us begins with our minds. Listen and learn. We cannot teach the next generation until we have learned from the previous one.

What are we to learn in order to teach? The Lord’s testimonies and laws. His teachings and His commands. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man.

Psalm 78:1-4 teaches us that telling to the next generation the praises of the good, great, saving God is an obligation not an option. Psalm 78:4 refers to failure to do so as “hiding” the “praises of the LORD and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”

Psalm 78:5-7 tells us that God Himself established this “right” that covenant children possess, that they would receive instruction in the Word of God from one generation to the next. It is His appointed means by which successive generations would be brought to “hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments” (Psalm 78:7).

But the people of Israel up to the point of the Psalm’s writing had not been faithful to their purpose (Psalm 78:8). They had neither known what they ought nor conveyed that knowledge to their children.

There are three primary responses to this knowledge:

Faith. “That they may set their hope in God.” One generation doesn’t just teach data to the other. They put their hope in God, training the next generation, as well, by the example of their faith.

Worship. “And not forget the works of God.” Worship is the first response of faith. We fall at His feet saying, “My Lord and my God.” We don’t forget His works, but rather acknowledge and praise Him. Realizing and remembering Who He is provokes a response of adoration.

Obedience. “But keep His commandments.” Obedience is worship translated into action in the life. Having acknowledged the Lord as God, we give up our right to ourselves and live according to whatever He says.

In what situations are you listening to God’s Word? In what situations are you teaching God’s Word? What place does worship have in each of your days? In each of your weeks? What difference does it make daily that you are living a life of obedience?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You have displayed Your glorious strength in Your wonderful works—particularly in the saving work of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Since we are often forgetful of You, come now and help us by Your Holy Spirit to set our hope in You. Help us not to forget Your works, but to adore You for them. Help us to worship in the offering of the spiritual sacrifices of prayer, and praise, and hearing preaching. Feed and strengthen us at Your table, that we might be enabled to offer our bodies as living sacrifices this week. In particular, grant that our children would hear now Your praise, Your strength, and Your wonderful works. And so implant Your Word in us all that they might one day tell the same to a generation to come, we ask in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People” or TPH550 “Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds”

2026.11.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Exodus 12:1–28

Read Exodus 12:1–28

Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom where (Exodus 12:1)? What did He establish (Exodus 12:2)? What were they to do on what day of this month (Exodus 12:3)? How many (Exodus 12:4)? What kind (Exodus 12:5)? How long was it to stay in the house (Exodus 12:6)? Then what were they to do? How many of them? At what time? What were they to do with some of the blood (Exodus 12:7)? How were they to cook it (Exodus 12:8a, Exodus 12:9)? With what were they to eat it (Exodus 12:8b)? How much had to be consumed in what two ways (Exodus 12:10)? In what manner were they to eat (Exodus 12:11)? What did the Lord call this meal? Who would pass through where (Exodus 12:12a)? What will He do to whom (verse 12b)? And against whom would he execute judgment (verse 12c)? Why (verse 12d)? What will the blood be (Exodus 12:13a)? How will the Lord respond to it (verse 13b)? With what result (verse 13c)? How long would this nation keep this feast (Exodus 12:14)? As what and to whom? How many days would they eat what (Exodus 12:15a)? What would they do the first day (verse 15b)? What would be done to non-compliers (verse 15c)? What would happen on the first day of the feast (Exodus 12:16a)? And what on what other day (verse 16b)? What mustn’t be done (verse 16c)? What will the Lord have done on this same day (Exodus 12:17a)? How long will the people thus delivered from Egypt observe it (verse 17b)? What are the exact dates of the feast (Exodus 12:18)? What must not be found where for how long (Exodus 12:19a)? And what will happen to whom if he does what (verse 19b)? Of what may they eat nothing during the feast (Exodus 12:20a)? What must they eat where (verse 20b)? Whom did Moses call in Exodus 12:21? What did he tell them to do? And then what were they to do (Exodus 12:22)? What would the Lord do to the Egyptians (Exodus 12:23a)? But what would the Lord do to Israel (verse 23b)? And who was to observe this for how long (Exodus 12:24)? Where else would they keep this service (Exodus 12:25)? Who were to say what to whom (Exodus 12:26)? And what were the parents to say (Exodus 12:27)? How did the people respond to this instruction (end of verse 27)? Then what did they do (Exodus 12:28a)? In what manner (verse 28b)? 

What does Passover have to do with children? Exodus 12:1–28 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord especially targets covenant children with the religious observances that He gives the church. 

Happy New Year! The “shall be” in Exodus 12:2 is supplied by the translators, but “is” would have been a more natural rendering. Whether the Lord chose to deliver them at (their) New Year’s time or changed the time to New Year’s by delivering them, the point is the same: God wants His people to punctuate new seasons in their lives by the commemoration of His salvation. The Lord has done the same for us by beginning each week with the Lord’s Supper. Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. He brings us to His feast to drive home the reality of His salvation in His body and blood, so that we will live out of that reality all week long.

One of the interesting things about this commemoration is how much it seems to aim at children. Part of this is implied. The year (or less) old lamb (Exodus 12:5) was to be taken into the house on the 10th day. For four days, a young lamb would be in the home. You can imagine how attached the children would grow to it before they were required to attend its killing at twilight on the 14th day (Exodus 12:6).  Three times (Exodus 12:14, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:24) in the passage, the Spirit emphasizes that this observance is to take place throughout their generations, and with their sons, forever. One of the great features of the observance is when the children ask the parents what the parents mean by the service of the Passover (Exodus 12:26). 

What is it that God wants the children to know? That God is their greatest danger, and that God is their only salvation. Notice that it is the Lord Himself Who executes judgment. Not only against man and also against beast but against all the purported “gods” of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). This judgment is a display of Himself, “I am Yahweh.” Not only is the lamb to be killed, as a spotless substitute, but then it must be burned (Exodus 12:8). Only burned (Exodus 12:9). All of it burned (Exodus 12:10). For we deserve not just death but the fire of God’s wrath in Hell. But it is the Lord Himself Who saves Israel (Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:27). He is the One Who gives them the substitute. He is the One Who spares them from the plague. He is the One Who would Himself come and bear death and Hell in our place as the Lamb of God.

Let us learn to live our lives out of the commemoration of God’s saving us. And let us learn to focus upon teaching the next generation in these commemorations. And let us learn that at the heart of this commemoration is remembering that God Himself is our greatest danger, and God Himself is our only hope of salvation.

What has God given you for commemorating His salvation? How can you participate/foster the transmission of this knowledge to the next generation? Who is your greatest danger? Who is your only hope of salvation? Are you “covered by the blood”? What, then, will come of you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You are righteous, and we deserve death and Hell. So we praise and thank You for giving us Christ as our substitute and covering us by His blood. Forgive us for when we order our lives around something other than You and Your salvation. Grant unto us not only to live out of the knowledge of Your salvation, but to communicate this to our children. Save them, too, we pray in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH196 “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”