Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 20 April, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Assyrian Crisis (6)
The Coming Crisis Experience [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 7:17-20; 8:7-8, 21-22; 10:1-11, 28-32
Text: Isaiah 28:19-22
I. Bad News
II. No Rest
III. Strange Work
IV. Unavoidable Destruction
Psalms: 44:1-8; 119:161-168; 74:1-5, 10-11; 66:8-17
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Christ’s Once-and-for-All Sacrifice [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:6-28
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 30
I. The Meaning of It
II. The Perversion of It
III. The Comfort of It
Psalms: 27:1-5; 119:169-176; 49:6-12; 40:6-10
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
John Oswalt on Isaiah 28:19: “Nor is Isaiah willing to leave the foolish rulers the small comfort that when they have endured the enemy flood, it will be over. Instead, he says, the flood will come again and again, taking the country over and over. This can be seen to be a correct assessment of Assyrian military doctrine. The Assyrian annals report numerous returns to the same areas, each return being accompanied by vast slaughter and pillage.”
Alec Motyer on Isaiah 28:21: “… those who now reject the Davidic-Zion foundation [v. 16] of the divine promises will find that their portion is wrath on the same scale [as the earlier judgments upon Israel’s enemies], a strange and alien task indeed!”
John Oswalt on Isaiah 28:21: “As he broke out upon the Philistines at Mount Perazim (‘flood,’ 2 Sam. 5:20; I Chr. 14:11) and struck down the Canaanites fleeing from Gibeon (‘hail,’ Josh. 10:11), so he would fight against his enemies again. But who are God’s enemies? Those who do not obey him (Ps. 139:19-24). Thus God will work, he will perform his deeds, but they will be strange and foreign because they will be against his people, not for them. God never belongs to anyone, and if he cannot find those who will serve him in one place, he will find them in another (Mal. 1:11; Rev. 2:5).”
E. J. Young on Isaiah 28:21: “The purpose of His rising and His raging is to accomplish His work (cf. 5:12), even the work of judgment. Yet Isaiah describes this as a strange work, and the performing of his task as something foreign. This does not mean that in His work God will act as a stranger or foreigner would act. Nor does it mean that retributive justice is something foreign or alien to God’s nature. God is love; but God is also a consuming fire, and the work of punishment is right and just. An essential attribute of his nature is His vindicatory justice. Apparently what Isaiah means (although the language is difficult and one must not be dogmatic), is that what is to take place is something unusual, foreign from the ordinary course of providence. The punishment of the theocracy is an event of such strangeness that it causes one to pause and meditate. God appears to be destroying His own work. He had promised that salvation would come through the theocracy. Yet now He is about to destroy that theocracy. Is not that going against His own purposes? Surely this would appear to be a strange work one foreign to what God usually does!’”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Easter Monday Outing: All are welcome to meet at noon in the main car part of Glenariff Forest Park for a picnic and walk on 21 April (weather permitting).
Monday catechism classes will not meet tomorrow night but the two remaining classes will conclude with a test the following Monday (28 April).
7:15 PM: Jason, Kyan, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 1)
8:00 PM: Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to begin a study of the Council of Nicea (AD 325) on its 1,700th anniversary.
The Belgic Confession class has finished for the season so that family visitation can begin in the days ahead.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “The Resurrection of the Body” (I Cor. 15:35-38).
Offerings: £1,684.95. Donations: £132 (Co. Down), £250 (New Jersey), £50 (Co. Antrim).
Translation Additions: 1 Albanian, 3 Chinese (our first Chinese AI videos), 3 Dutch, 1 Polish and 1 Russian.
PRC News: Grace PRC called Prof. Gritters to be their next pastor. Grandville PRC will call from a trio of Rev. Brummel, Rev. Maatman and Prof. Gritters. Hope PRC (Redlands, CA) called Rev. Barnhill. Southwest PRC called Rev. D. Holstege.
