Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 28 August, 2022
“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will
I make known thy faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Anathema Upon False Gospellers [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Galatians 1
Text: Galatians 1:8-9
I. The False Gospel
II. The Terrible Anathema
III. The Holy Reasons
Psalms: 63:1-8; 37:35-40; 143:1-7a; 130:1-8
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Levites’ Migration in Rehoboam’s Day [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Chronicles 11
Text: II Chronicles 11:13-16
I. The Push Factors
II. The Pull Factors
III. The Positive Example
Psalms: 42:1-5; 38:1-7; 84:7-12; 84:1-6
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
Matthew Henry on Galatians 1:6-9: “That they were removed to another gospel, which yet was not another. Thus the apostle represents the doctrine of these judaizing teachers; he calls it another gospel, because it opened a different way of justification and salvation from that which was revealed in the gospel, namely, by works, and not by faith in Christ. And yet he adds, ‘Which is not another—you will find it to be no gospel at all—not really another gospel, but the perverting of the gospel of Christ, and the overturning of the foundations of that’—whereby he intimates that those who go about to establish any other way to heaven than what the gospel of Christ has revealed are guilty of a gross perversion of it, and in the issue will find themselves wretchedly mistaken … How confident he was that the gospel he had preached to them was the only true gospel. He was so fully persuaded of this that he pronounced an anathema upon those who pretended to preach any other gospel (Gal. 1:8), and, to let them see that this did not proceed from any rashness or intemperate zeal in him, he repeated it (Gal. 1:9) … It is only against those who forge a new gospel, who overturn the foundation of the covenant of grace, by setting up the works of the law in the place of Christ’s righteousness, and corrupting Christianity with Judaism, that Paul denounces this.”
John Calvin: “[We] pronounce anathema upon everyone who has not confessed himself a sinner before God, before the angels, before his church, and in short, before all men” (Institutes 3.4.6).
Belgic Confession 28: “Every One Is Bound to Join Himself to the True Church. We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and that out of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself, to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them. And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the church, and to join themselves to this congregation, wheresoever God hath established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes were against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.”
Belgic Confession 29: “The Marks of the True Church, and Wherein She Differs from the False Church. We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the church. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the church with the good, yet are not of the church, though externally in it; but we say that the body and communion of the true church must be distinguished from all sects, who call themselves the church. The marks, by which the true church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin: in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the church. Hereby the true church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself. With respect to those, who are members of the church, they may be known by the marks of Christians: namely, by faith; and when they have received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof. But this is not to be understood, as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the Spirit, all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom they have remission of sins, through faith in him. As for the false church, she ascribes more power and authority to herself and her ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit herself to the yoke of Christ. Neither does she administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in His Word, but adds to and takes from them, as she thinks proper; she relieth more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those, who live holily according to the Word of God, and rebuke her for her errors, covetousness, and idolatry. These two churches are easily known and distinguished from each other.”
Matthew Henry on II Chronicles 11:13-23: “When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God’s faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples.”
C. F. Keil on II Chronicles 11:13-14: “The priests and Levites in all Israel went over to him out of their whole domain. על התיצּב, to present oneself before any one, to await his commands, cf. Zechariah 6:5; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; here in the signification to place oneself at another’s disposal, i.e., to go over to one. The suffix in גּבוּלם refers to ‘all Israel.’ For – this was the motive of their migration, 2 Chronicles 11:14 – the Levites (in the wider signification of the word, including the priests) forsook their territory and their possessions, i.e., the cities assigned to them, with the pasture lands for their cattle (Numbers 35:1-8), scil. in the domain of the ten tribes; ‘for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them out from the priesthood of Jahve.’ To prevent his subjects from visiting the temple at Jerusalem, which he feared might ultimately cause the people to return to the house of David, Jeroboam had erected his own places of worship for his kingdom in Bethel and Dan, where Jahve was worshipped in the ox images (the golden calves), and had appointed, not the Levites, but men from the body of the people, to be priests in these so-called sanctuaries (1 Kings 12:26-31), consecrated by himself. By these innovations not only the priests and Levites, who would not recognise this unlawful image-worship, were compelled to migrate to Judah and Jerusalem, but also the pious worshippers of the Lord, who would not renounce the temple worship which had been consecrated by God Himself.”
Pulpit Commentary on II Chronicles 11:14: “Left their suburbs (so Leviticus 25:34; Numbers 35:1, 3, 7; Joshua 14:4; Joshua 21:12). Jeroboam … had cast them off. This glimpse reveals to us, with exceeding probability, that there had been some struggle on the solemn matter; we may readily imagine that Jeroboam had either tried it on in vain with the true priests and Levites, or had learned very conclusively beforehand that it would be vain to try it on (2 Chronicles 13:9).”
Joseph Benson on II Chronicles 11:14: “For Jeroboam and his sons cast them off — They would not suffer them to instruct the Israelites in the worship of God, nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their courses: and these priests would not join with them in the worship of the calves, as they were commanded by Jeroboam to do; and therefore they willingly forsook all their patrimonies and possessions for God’s sake. No secular advantages whatsoever should detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. It was a mercy to these priests and Levites that they had a place of refuge to flee to; and that, when Jeroboam cast them off, there were those so near that would receive and bid them welcome; and that they were not forced to flee into the lands of the heathen. And it was an evidence that they loved their work better than their maintenance, in that they left their suburbs and possessions in the country, where they might have lived at ease upon their own property, because they were restrained from serving God there, and in that, casting themselves upon God’s providence, and the charity of their brethren, they came where they might have the full enjoyment of God’s ordinances, according to his own institution. They judged that poverty, in the way of duty, was to be chosen, rather than plenty, in the way of sin; and that it was better to live upon alms, or die in a prison, with a good conscience, than roll in wealth and pleasure with a prostituted one. At the same time, it was the wisdom and praise of Rehoboam and his people, that they bid them welcome, though they probably incommoded themselves to make room for them. Conscientious refugees bring a blessing along with them to the countries that entertain them, as they leave a curse behind them with those that expel them.”
C. F. Keil on II Chronicles 11:16: “אחריהם, after them, i.e., following after the priests and Levites. With את־לבבם הנּתנים, who turned their hearts thereto, cf. 1 Chronicles 22:19. They went to Jerusalem to sacrifice there; i.e., as we learn from the context, not merely to offer sacrifices, but also to remain in the kingdom of Judah.”
Joseph Benson on II Chronicles 11:16: “And after them such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel — All the devout, pious Israelites, of every tribe, followed the priests and Levites: all who feared and loved God in sincerity and truth, and were determined to serve him. All such left the inheritances of their fathers, and went and took houses in or near Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar and temple of God, and be out of the way of the temptation to worship the calves. Thus the best of the Israelites united themselves to the tribe of Judah, and would have great influence in preserving that tribe from the idolatry into which the ten tribes were fallen … Reader, when the ark removes, do you remove and go after it.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
New Standard Bearers are available on the back table for subscribers.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to discuss the Roman Catholic view of faith.
Everyone is invited to a barbecue at the manse this Friday evening, 2 September, weather permitting.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “More Than Conquerors” (Rom. 8:35-37).
The Saturday night Bible study on Malachi 3:7-12 (Lesson 7) will be held next week (10 September) at 8 PM at the Kennedys and on-line.
Offerings: £1,010.90. Donations: £50 (Co. Antrim), £20 (London).
Translation Additions: 4 Polish (now all of The Reformed Worldview book by Profs. Hanko and Engelsma is on-line in Polish).
PRC News: Doon PRC called Rev. W. Langerak (Trinity PRC). Georgetown PRC has formed its first trio of ministers for calling her next pastor (with Rev. Haak becoming emeritus 1 September): Revs. Brummel (Calvary, IA), Kortus (Redlands, CA) and Noorman (Southwest, MI). Hudsonville PRC called Rev. Noorman. Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI) declined the call from Randolph PRC.
Solomon’s Wisdom
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 3
Solomon has removed the threats to his kingdom and begins to rule in peace. He joins with Pharaoh and marries Pharaoh’s daughter. Some question Solomon’s marriage to her. Was this right in God’s eyes?
There are arguments that this was OK. God commanded the Israelites not to marry the women of the heathen nations in the land of Canaan. However the women of Egypt were not mentioned in this list. We soon read that “Solomon loved the Lord,” so the many strange women he would later marry had not yet turned away his heart from serving God. At this time, Solomon was still devoted to serving God. Also God sent no prophet to chastise Solomon for this marriage. When one reads of the places of idol worship which Solomon built later for his heathen wives, one does not read of any of the gods of Egypt. It may be that Pharaoh’s daughter is an example of a Gentile who believed in God. If so, she obeyed the direction given in Psalm 45:10, “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house.” She could be a picture of the Gentiles becoming part of Christ’s kingdom.
Solomon goes to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to God. After Solomon offered a thousand sacrifices to God, He appeared to Solomon in a dream. God says, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Such a question will search Solomon’s heart. One must keep in mind who has asked this question. Were an earthly father to ask his children such a question, the children understand there are limits to what their father can do. Earthly fathers do not possess all the wealth of creation, nor can they control events to bring wishes to pass. Many unexpected occurrences could develop which would prevent an earthly father from fulfilling his children’s wishes. The heavenly Father is under no such limitations. All things are in His hand.
Many people, if given such an opportunity, would use this as an occasion to become rich. Many might be so eager with such a chance that they might not be able to refrain from blurting the answer, “Riches! Lots and lots of riches!” before God had even finished with His question.
Solomon, however, does not answer God’s question immediately. Solomon first speaks of the great mercy God had shown to David. He thanks God for keeping His promise of giving David a son who would sit on his throne. Solomon is now in David’s place and he confesses that, because he is so young, he does not have the ability of himself to rule God’s people properly. As he humbly recognizes his shortcomings, Solomon asks God to give him wisdom.
God is pleased. Solomon had not asked for a long life, riches or the lives of his enemies. These were all things related to earthly security. He had asked for the ability to judge God’s people righteously. Solomon recognized that it was God’s will to place him on Israel’s throne. He now wants what is most essential for his being able to do the work which it is God’s will to give him, wisdom.
God answers Solomon’s request, “I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart.” God uses the past tense. Had God already begun to give Solomon wisdom? If so, we see how God’s gifts are increased. As Solomon already has a measure of wisdom, he knows his great need for more. God then increases what He has already given, just as He grants us more grace when we bear the fruit of grace.
God still provides for the needs of His people as they do His will. When we pray, “Thy will be done,” we express our desire to “attend to, and perform the duties” of the station and calling God has given us (Lord’s Day 49). God equips us to perform our tasks, whether we believe those tasks to be significant or insignificant. Perhaps God calls us to serve Him in a station which affects a greater number of people in the church community than others. We must trust that He will equip us for this task. It’s possible that our role is a smaller one. Perhaps we are a good friend to only one fellow saint. We must not despise the small things. All of the stations in the church are vital, and we are to honour, and be thankful for, each other as we serve God in our own peculiar positions.
Next, we have a clear demonstration of the wisdom God gave Solomon, the troubling case of the two harlots. These women may not have been common harlots, as such women carefully avoid pregnancy so they can continue to practice their trade. Also, harlots do not show such concern for their children as did the true mother of this son. They could have been inn-keepers who had committed adultery. They must have been unmarried, since it would have been the husband’s place to appear with them in court and no husbands are mentioned.
One mother caused the death of her son because she “overlaid” it during the night. She switches the children but the deceit is discovered the next morning. The mother who had been robbed of her son brings her case to court. One must keep in mind how the judicial system functioned in Old Testament Israel. The king would not hear every case. He would not possibly have the time to meet all the needs of the people. He would “wear away” as was noted by Moses’ father-in-law as he witnessed Moses judging the people. The people’s frustration would mount as they awaited their turn before the king. Recall how Absalom stole the hearts of the people who waited impatiently to see David.
This case would have been brought first to a lower judge. If this judge were unable to solve the case, he would pass it on to the next judge who had more experience or wisdom than he. Only the most difficult cases would make it to the level of being heard by the king. As no lower judge was able to determine who was the child’s true mother, the women appeared before Solomon.
Did the women take an oath to tell the truth as they appeared before the judges? Was it assumed the women understood the importance of obeying the commandment regarding bearing false witness? It didn’t matter, because one of the women lied and she persisted in her lie. What was a judge to do? Solomon realized the real issue was jealousy. The woman whose son was dead would like to see the other woman lose her son as well.
Solomon decides the only “fair” thing to do is to have the women share the living son by cutting it in half with a sword. I have learned over the years that one had better make sure children understand that Solomon not only didn’t cut the boy in half but he also had no intention of doing so. He knew the real mother would not want her son cut in half, while the lying mother would go along with splitting the son. Thus Solomon determined who was the real mother.
Israel heard how Solomon had solved the case. The case could have been the topic of discussion in Israel for some time. Israel feared her king when they witnessed how Solomon had solved the case by using his God-given gift of wisdom.
Our King is greater and wiser than Solomon. There is nothing hid from Him. We have no secret sins in His eyes. He is the all-knowing Judge. We must confess our sins to Him and repent. Not only is our Judge all-knowing, He is also very merciful to forgive us because all our sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb.
