Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 2 August, 2020
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering …” (Col. 3:12)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Holding Fast the Form of Sound Words (2)
Paul’s Relationship to Timothy [download]
Scripture Reading: II Timothy 1
Text: II Timothy 1:1-5
I. His Beloved Son
II. His Spiritual Benediction
III. His Fond Remembrances
Psalms: 36:8-10; 131:1-3
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Holding Fast the Form of Sound Words (3)
Paul’s New Testament Ministry [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 16:1-34
Text: II Timothy 1:3-5
I. The Same Divine Service as the Forefathers
II. The Same Unfeigned Faith Through the Generations
Psalms: 40:6-8; 105:8-10
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
Gordon Clark: “Timothy’s father was an unbelieving Gentile. Timothy therefore did not have the covenant ancestry that Paul had … Timothy had something Paul did not have: he had a Christian, an early Jewish-Christian, mother and grandmother. Timothy was a third generation Christian” (The Pastoral Epistles, p. 128).
John Calvin on II Timothy 1:5: “Truth it is, that the man is to be preferred before the woman, as touching policy, he must always have this pre-eminence and dignity to be the woman’s head. But if the man, wander out of the way, if he be an idolater, and an unthrift, if he be wicked and naught: if the woman keep her self to the word of God, if she has Jesus Christ for her head before the Angels of paradise, she shall be better than all the men that so run astray, and that that is spoken of the children of God, shall be fulfilled in a woman, that we shall tread upon all our enemies, that we shall stamp their heads under our feet. And therefore, let us mark well, that all pride of the flesh is beaten down here, to the end we should give God that honour that belongeth to him. When it is said that Timothy’s grandmother and mother were esteemed before God, and have this honour to be named here, and men are let alone, as unworthy to be spoken of, and worthy to be cast off, and sunk in bottomless pits as it were, And why so? for they do not homage to the living God. But women are as it were canonized here: God putteth them into his register, and setteth them in an honourable degree” (Sermons on the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, pp. 682-683; spelling modernized).
John Calvin on II Timothy 1:5: “Now when Saint Paul saith to Timothy, that he knoweth also that the faith dwelleth in him. He speaketh not of that faith that he then had presently, nor of that faith that he had after he was called to the Gospel, but of the faith which he had even from his childhood, for God was so gracious to him that he followed the right side, and clave to his mother, because his father was an infidel, as saint Luke also reporteth in the Acts of the Apostles. Why then doth Saint Paul call him back to the faith which he had even from his childhood? To stir him up so much the more to follow that good doctrine wherein he had been instructed even from the beginning. And hereby we are warned, that if we have been nourished in the pure religion from our childhood, our fault will be so much the worse, if we disorder our selves and turn aside. A man that never heard speak of the gospel but three days before, if he fall away afterwards he shall bear his condemnation: but when God hath called us even from our childhood to the pure doctrine, if we become men and forsake all and change our minds, what condemnation will there be over our heads?” (Sermons on the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, p. 684; spelling modernized).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Manuel & Emily-Kate Kuhs with their children, Sebastian, Penelope, Felicity and Elisabeth to our worship services today.
This evening we witness the baptism of Lara Zoe Watterson. We pray for the Lord’s blessing on Sam & Anga, as they raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 7 PM at the church.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet at church to consider the assurance of faith in connection with adoption in Ephesians 1, etc.
Men’s Bible Study meets this Saturday, 8 August, at 8 PM at church to discuss Acts 26:1-21.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Spriensma is entitled, “The Throne and Kingdom Established Forever” (II Sam. 7:12-14).
Offerings: General Fund: £739. Donation: £25 (website).
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian.
PRC News: First Edmonton PRC called Rev. VanderWal (Wingham, ON).
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem
Brian D. Dykstra
II Samuel 6
The Israelites had finally defeated the Jebusites, driving them out of Mount Zion. David wants the ark moved to Jerusalem. The Israelites had neglected the ark for many years, so it is hard to see how Israel could properly worship God as He had decreed. Moving the ark to Jerusalem and making the city the centre of worship would establish the right worship of God in the place where He had chosen to place His name.
Many things were done wrong in the first attempt to move the ark. God commanded that the ark be carried by Levites. The people decided to put the ark in a new cart. God wanted an atmosphere of reverence. We read of a setting which appears more of a celebratory parade.
Did nobody involved know the law about how to move the ark? God commanded that one of the first acts of a new king was his copying the Old Testament law for the purpose of reading it each day. Had David not done this or had he forgotten what he copied and read? Did the people think that since this was such a special, historic day that exceptions could be made?
The whole sad situation reaches its nadir when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzzah touches the ark to prevent it from falling and God smote him so “he died by the ark of God.” One wonders what Uzzah was supposed to do? Should he have let the ark be ruined? Should he have expected God to perform a miracle by having the ark levitate to prevent its fall?
The lesson is that we need to be careful every day with how we are living our lives. The Israelites disobeyed many laws in moving the ark. Uzzah’s touching the ark was a decision he made because so many other sinful decisions had previously been made, that Uzzah was finally left in a situation in which there were no good choices left. God had to make His displeasure clearly known, not just for Uzzah touching the ark but for the whole casual attitude manifested by the people for the worship of God. Sometimes saints begin to walk the path of sin. Very sadly, saints may find themselves so grossly entangled in sin that they have no painless escape.
David was “displeased” with God for what happened to Uzzah. He was afraid of God and would not have the ark, the symbol of God dwelling with His people, near him in Jerusalem. Did David now view God as being too harsh? Did he think God’s standards were so high that only disaster resulted from His holy presence? David knew what happened to the Philistines when they ark was there. He also recalled what happened to the Israelites when they peered into the ark upon its return. Perhaps it was best to keep God at a distance.
While many people feared having the ark near them, Obed-edom was willing to have the ark in his house. He must have had the right attitude about the ark and dealt with it properly for “the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.”
David saw this blessing and desired to have that blessing for himself, and all of the people of whom he was the head. This time Israel moved the ark as God required—with Levites of the family of Kohath carrying it using its gold-plated poles (Num. 4). This time their attitude was solemn for sacrifices were offered after those bearing the ark had advanced a mere six paces.
The Levites placed the ark in the new tabernacle which David had made and they offered more sacrifices to God. David blessed the people, and sent each of them home with bread, flesh and wine. This day was one of the happiest which Jerusalem has ever witnessed.
David was soon reminded that there is no unalloyed joy on this side of the grave. He entered his home to find Michal, his first wife, waiting for him. She despised David for how he had behaved, and she confronted him. David, an attractive man in the prime of life, had danced joyfully before God wearing a linen ephod. Michal accuses David of making a display of himself before all the women who were part of the crowd.
Some defence has been given for Michal. Some claim she simply tried to exert her special right to David as his first wife. David, who knew her better than commentators, addresses the real issues with her. First, God chose David as king in place of her father Saul and all his house. Michal was bitter about her family losing its royal status. The bitterness of Saul’s family against David would show itself from time to time. Also David knew Michal did not share his zeal for serving God, so she despised David for it. That is why David says he will become even more “vile” in his dedication to serving God. David will continue to serve God.
The symbol of God dwelling with His people in covenant fellowship, the ark, was in Jerusalem. This was the church in the Old Testament, so the ark was not out in the open for all to see. God kept Himself hidden in the Most Holy Place. The high priest could visit the ark once a year on the Day of Atonement and then only when he came with blood. The veil between God and His people would remain until the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
How could such a holy God dwell with sinful people as the Israelites? Uzzah served as a stark reminder of the standards God set for those who would dwell with Him. Would not God have continuous reason to consume the people?
Verse two reminded us that God “dwelleth between the cherubims.” The mercy seat is between the cherubims. God can dwell with His people in peace only because He is merciful. God is merciful only because of the blood of the Lamb. If we were to seek fellowship with God on the basis of the new ox-cart of our own good works, we would have as much spiritual life as Uzzah had physical life after God had stuck him down. We must approach God through the blood of the Lamb, shed once upon the cross, as our only way to peace and fellowship with our Lord.
