2024.07.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Isaiah 62:8–12

Read Isaiah 62:8–12

Questions from the Scripture text: What has YHWH done by what (Isaiah 62:8a–b)? What has He sworn no longer to do (verse 8c–f)? Who will enjoy what Zion gathers (Isaiah 62:9a)? Causing them to do what (verse 9b)? Where, especially, will they enjoy it (verse 9c)? What command does Isaiah 62:10a–b give? What must be done for them (verse 10c–f)? Who are included in this entrance/ welcome (verse 10g)? To what distance has YHWH done what (Isaiah 62:11a–b)? What does He tell them to do to whom (verse 11c)? What are they to say to her (verse 11d)? What are with Him (verse 11e) and before Him (verse 11f)? What are they to call His reward and His work (Isaiah 62:12a)? What else (verse 12b)? And what two nicknames does this obtain for them from the Lord (verse 12c–d)? 

What is the result of the King-Servant’s work and prayers? Isaiah 62:8–12 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus works and prays to reverse the curse and take to Himself a bride to bless and love forever. 

YHWH’s sworn testimony, Isaiah 62:8a–b. Everything that the Lord says is sure, but sometimes He confirms something with an oath to help our weak faith and to emphasize the centrality of our believing it. This is one of those times. He swears by His right hand and by the arm of His strength (Isaiah 62:8a–b). He assures us that what He is about to say is as strong and sure as He Himself is.

The reverse of the curse, Isaiah 62:8-9c. He is turning back the curse of Zion forever. There was a parallel between the curses on the covenant people (Isaiah 62:8c–f; cf. Leviticus 26:16, Deuteronomy 28:33, Isaiah 1:7) and the curse under which Adam’s sin brought all mankind (cf. Genesis 3:17–19). Now, God is turning back that curse; they will enjoy the produce of the land (Isaiah 62:9a). And, there is an enjoyment of that produce that is greater than eating: praise in the heart (verse 9b) and even the physical use of grain and wine for fellowship with God and His people in the public worship (verse 9c)! Are your greatest enjoyments of food the praise in your own heart to God, and especially the best bites and sips of your life, those at the Lord’s table? The greater part of reversing the curse is not eating the fruit of one’s labor (cf. Psalm 128:2a) but the Lord’s face upon, and fellowship with, His people (cf. Psalm 128:5–6). 

The gathering of New-Zion, Isaiah 62:10. Just as the Lord had previously commanded that the way be prepared for the King-Servant-LORD (cf. Isaiah 40:3–4), so now He commands that the way be prepared for the redeemed Zion (Isaiah 62:10a–f). And the joy and greatness of this are multiplied by the reminder that this Zion is comprised of all the nations; when the banner at which they are to gather is raised, it is a banner for the peoples (verse 10g), plural! 

The Bridegroom, Isaiah 62:11. But for what are they gathered? For the arrival of the Bridegroom (cf. Isaiah 62:5c–d)! The sons who are gathered from the ends of the world (Isaiah 62:11a–b) have joined themselves to her (cf. Isaiah 62:5a–b), and now they are instructed to announce to her (Isaiah 62:11c) the processional of the arrival of her Salvation (verse 11d). This Salvation is the Redeemer—the One about Whom we have heard, throughout this book, that comes as the next-of-kin to purchase and deliver her. 

And His Bride, Isaiah 62:12. Now, He is coming with what He has earned (“reward,” Isaiah 62:11e) and accomplished (“work,” verse 11f). And, what He has earned and accomplished turns out to be a they/them (Isaiah 62:12a)! They are the holy people. They are the redeemed—the delivered next-of-kin of YHWH Himself (verse 12b)! So, the Lord rounds out the nick-naming that He began in Isaiah 62:4: to “my delight is in her” and “married,” the Lord now adds “sought after” and “a city not deserted.” Such is the honor that He bestows upon His bride, when He comes as the worthy and accomplished One! 

O, dear reader, the Lord Jesus is this One. And He is gathering to Himself a bride from all the nations, to whom He will speak in this way. She herself, is that for which He has worked—His chosen crown, His chosen reward, His chosen accomplishment. And He welcomes you to Himself, to be a member of His bride. Will you not give yourself up to Him? Will you not gather to the banner by trusting in Him and renouncing any other chief allegiance or purpose to be His?!

How do you go about enjoying the Lord Himself in His gifts? What does the measure of your enjoyment of Him in His worship say about whether it is really Him that you are enjoying in His gifts? How can you tell that you are longing for the last day and the marriage supper of the Lamb? What place do Jesus’s worthiness and accomplishments have in your thought life? What place do His pet names for His bride have in your “feelings life”?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for assuring us of Your redemption with an oath. Forgive us for how weak our faith is. And thank You for reversing the curse, so that we may enjoy the fruit of our labor—especially enjoying You Yourself in all Your good gifts. Forgive us for enjoying the gifts more than Your goodness, or anything else at all more than Your worship. Thank You for gathering us into Your people from all the nations. Forgive us for how little we have desired the last day, how little we have rejoiced in Christ’s worthiness and accomplishment, how little we have rejoiced over His love to His bride. Thank You that His redemption and intercession are powerful and sure. For His sake, forgive us and cleanse us and perfect us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP72C “May Waving Grain on Hilltops Thrive” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”

Holiness vs High-Handed Sin [2024.06.30 Evening Sermon in Numbers 15:32–41]

God's holy day is especially for His holy people to rejoice in the holiness of their God.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Eyes and Mouths Opened by Jesus [2024.06.30 Morning Sermon in Matthew 9:27–34]

Jesus opens the eyes of some blind to see Him and of some mute to worship Him.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

The Giver of Assurance [Sabbath School lesson from WCF18.3l—Hopewell 101]

The Holy Spirit is the Giver of assurance of faith to believers: "yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God"(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Wholehearted Desire for the Lord, Our Portion [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 119:57–64]

How does the Lord come to be our portion, and what is it like when He is? Psalm 119:57–64 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when the Lord is our portion, certainty that we have Him and His faithfulness to His Word frees us to see His love everywhere and trustingly do our duty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.07.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 119:57–64

Read Psalm 119:57–64

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the psalmist call YHWH in Psalm 119:57a? To what does this enable him to commit himself (verse 57b)? What is he desiring (n.b. ‘favor’ is literally ‘face’) and how much (Psalm 119:58a)? What does he want God to do/be (verse 58b)? According to what? What has he done about what (Psalm 119:59a)? What did he conclude to do (verse 59b)? How promptly did he take action (Psalm 119:60)? In what circumstances (Psalm 119:61a) had he done what (verse 61b)? At what time, does he do what (Psalm 119:62a)? Why (verse 62b)? What two things must someone else be for the psalmist to choose him as a companion (Psalm 119:63)? How much of what does he see, where (Psalm 119:64a)? What does he want to learn to do (verse 64b)?

How does the Lord come to be our portion, and what is it like when He is? Psalm 119:57–64 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when the Lord is our portion, certainty that we have Him and His faithfulness to His Word frees us to see His love everywhere and trustingly do our duty.  

This stanza falls fairly neatly into four couplets, with the first two connecting to one other—the second couplet (Psalm 119:59-60) explaining how the psalmist came into the frame of mind and life of the first couplet (Psalm 119:57-58). It is the story of Psalm 73 told in reverse order. In Psalm 73, Asaph is brought to repentance by consideration of his ways, and realizing that the Lord is guiding him, comes to the wonderful conclusion at the end of that Psalm that the Lord is his Portion. 

YHWH, our Portion, Psalm 119:57-58. Here, the psalmist begins with the declaration that the Lord is his Portion (Psalm 119:57a), which frees him to live a life of simple obedience (verse 57b). If you have thought that this would be an impractical way to live, then learn to live by the faith in Psalm 119:58. In verse 58a, “favor” is literally “face”; the psalmist desires the blessing of Numbers 6:25–26. If he has the Lord, he knows that he will have everything, because the Lord keeps His own Word (Psalm 119:58b). You can be sure of this, too (cf. Romans 8:32). 

Earnest, Urgent Repentance, Psalm 119:59-60. How did the psalmist get here? Earnest consideration (a better translation for the intense word behind “thought” in Psalm 119:59a). Transformation comes by the renewing of the mind (cf. Romans 12:2). God calls us to earnest, intense reflection upon our ways. And this reflection should always result in resolve to act according to His Word (Psalm 119:59b). Don’t just think; decide. And don’t just decide; act immediately (Psalm 119:60). The earnestness of the reflection to which we are called in Psalm 119:59 is matched by the urgency of the action to which we are called in Psalm 119:60 (“made haste” … “did not delay”). 

Zealous Devotion, Psalm 119:61-62. Even in the most difficult situation (Psalm 119:61a), the one who has the Lord as his portion is free to focus upon God’s instruction to him. Since God always keeps His own Word (Psalm 119:58b), we can focus on keeping His words to us (Psalm 119:61b, Psalm 119:57b). Even in the most inconvenient or unusual time, the psalmist gives thanks (Psalm 119:62a). 

The Companions, Vision, and Desire of the Devoted Life, Psalm 119:63-64. What devotion the Lord brings us into, when He gives us repentance and gives us Himself! The last couplet zooms out, from the difficult and unusual situation, to a whole-life perspective. First, the companions that a believer should choose: Psalm 119:63 gives us the two qualifications someone must have to be our companion. Having the same moral values is actually second (verse 63b). Most important, is that someone would fear the Lord (verse 63a). If the Lord is their portion, if they desire His face with their whole heart, if in the most dire circumstances their great desire is to please him, and if they would gladly schedule midnight times of thanksgiving, they are the right sort of people to be our friends. Dear reader, here is the most important compatibility for a companion, and see to it that you apply it in choosing the most important earthly companion: your spouse. 

If a companion doesn’t “fear the Lord” in this way, then whatever similarity there seems to be in moral values is fool’s gold, “fool’s godliness.” They and we should have the view of the world in Psalm 119:64a and approach to life of verse 64b. Everywhere we look, with the Word as frontlets between our eyes, we should see the steadfast/covenant love of God filling the earth (verse 64a). In everything we do, with the Word as bound to our hand, we should seek to do as God has taught us in His statutes (verse 64b). This is life with the Lord as our Portion.

When do you spend time earnestly considering your ways? How urgently do you act when you are convicted by Scripture? What part does seeking the Lord’s face have in your worship and desires? Where do you see the steadfast love of the Lord? What desire do you have to learn the Lord’s statutes?

Sample prayer:  O Lord, You are our portion, and our whole hearts desire the smile of Your face. Grant us to think earnestly upon Your ways, to turn our feet to Your testimonies, and to act urgently upon Your Word. Give us, now, to remember Your law, to give thanks to You, to fear You, to see Your steadfast love, to learn Your statutes. Help us, in Your worship, that we might have You Yourself, by the help of Your Spirit, in Your Son, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP119H “My Portion Is the LORD” or TPH119H “You, LORD, Are the Portion”

Learning What to Obey and How [Westminster Shorter Catechism 39—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 39—especially explaining how our duty includes not only obedience to God’s law but attendance upon Him in the means of His grace in order to keep His law.

Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to His revealed will.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak [Children's Catechism 100—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 100—especially explaining how we must only speak what’s true… helpful, important, necessary, and kind.

Q100. What does the ninth commandment teach us? To tell the truth.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Servant-Saints Serving a Servant-Saint [Family Worship lesson in Romans 16:1–2]

Why should we serve each other? Romans 16:1–2 prepares us for the midweek sermon in the prayer meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints have multiple reasons for serving each other. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.07.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 16:1–2

Read Romans 16:1–2

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle do for whom (Romans 16:1)? What two things does he call her? In which church does she serve? What is the first thing that he tells them to do to her (Romans 16:2)? In Whom? In what manner? What is the second thing that he tells them to do to her? In what business? For what additional reason?

Why should we serve each other? Romans 16:1–2 prepares us for the midweek sermon in the prayer meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints have multiple reasons for serving each other. 

Having used his own travel plans to teach the church at Rome about desiring fruit and praying for fruit, the apostle now uses an introduction to the letter’s carrier to teach them about reasons to serve one another.

Because she’s a sister. In a family, sisters should be objects of special protection and assistance. And God has made us a family. “Our sister” isn’t just an identity; it’s an incentive to receive and assist her. If you’re a believer, you have family, and you should serve them as sisters and brothers!

Because she’s a servant. This is both incentive and example. A couple verses ago, the apostle referred to his service for Jerusalem (cf. Romans 15:31), and now uses the same noun root to describe Phoebe as one who does service at Cenchrea. It’s the root of the verb Jesus used to describe His example as a servant (cf. Luke 22:27). Just as Phoebe serves her church, the Romans should serve her. All Christians should be servants. If you received a note introduction from someone, it should be able to say “a servant of the church”!

Because she and they are in the Lord. He tells them to welcome her “in the Lord.” The Lord has brought us into relation not only with each other but with Himself. She is in the Lord, and He receives as unto Himself even a cup of water given her (cf. Mark 9:41). And any good act of welcoming her glorifies the Lord, because it can be done only in Him, only by His grace (cf. Romans 8:1–4; 1 Corinthians 15:10). Don’t just serve, dear reader. Serve in the Lord!

Because she and they are saints. The Lord has consecrated both Phoebe to Himself and the Roman Christians to Himself. Holy people serve others. And holy people are worth serving. So, their receiving her should be done in a way that responds properly to these glorious realities. If you are a Christian, God has consecrated you from among the world to Himself for serving. And every Christian He brings into your life is also consecrated to Him. How zealously, then, you should be serving the saints!

Because she has needs. The second command is to “assist her in whichever pragmatics she needs from you.” The word “whichever” recognizes that whatever needs arise come in the providence of God, and the fact that they arise while she is among them also comes in the providence of God. In other words, those needs are providential assignments from God to help her. As needs arise among your congregation, and the out-of-town Christians who visit among you, they are providential assignments from God for you to help them.

Because she has helped others. As believers serve one another, they “indebt” one another. There is a virtuous cycle of strengthening their bond with one another. It’s not just “after all I’ve done for you” but “after all we’ve done for each other.” The apostle uses a double conjunction to say “for also” she has been a helper of many and of myself also. In Phoebe’s case, it was almost, “after all she’s done for everyone.” The apostle makes sure to include himself, so that any esteem or affection they have for him will underscore the strength of the obligatory bond they have to serve her. Sometimes in the church, those who have served many others come into a time of need themselves. If that is you, let others serve you. And when it happens with someone else, see to it that you serve them!

Whom do you know that serves others in this way? How are you serving in this way? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for serving us, and for employing us to serve others. Help us by Your Spirit, so that we will respond to these many right motivations with much zealous service in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH534 “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God”