Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 29 August, 2021
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
fear before him, all the earth” (Ps. 96:9)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Solomon: Israel’s Wisest King (2)
Adonijah Becomes King [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Kings 1:1-21
Text: I Kings 1:5-10
I. Emboldened by David’s Weakness
II. Following Absalom’s Example
III. Presaging Dark Times
Psalms: 66:1-7; 144:9-15; 89:21-28; 2:1-8
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Deliverer and Mediator We Need [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1:17-31
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 5
I. The Needed Deliverer
II. The Needed Mediator
Psalms: 111:1-6; 145:1-8; 45:1-6; 96:1-3, 10-13
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
A. W. Pink: “… so many fond parents are allowing their children to grow up with little or no restraint placed upon them. They are only preparing a rod for their own backs. God Himself has forbidden parents to refrain from chastening their children when they need it: ‘Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die’ (Prov. 23:13). And again, ‘He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes’ (Prov. 13:24). And yet again, ‘Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying’ (Prov. 19:18). Because of his parental neglect David himself was in large measure responsible for the lawlessness of his son. Lax and indulgent parents must expect willful and wayward children, and if they despise the infirmities of their sire and are impatient to get possession of their estate, that will be all which they deserve at their hands” (The Life of David, p. 367).
John G. Butler: “Adonijah was an evil opportunist. He evilly used the infirmities of others to advance his own cause. He took advantage of the disadvantages of others. How low in character Adonijah was to take such a wicked advantage of his own father’s infirmity. Adonijah’s evil in taking advantage of other people’s problems is not unique to Adonijah. Multitudes in every age stoop to such degradation. Many folk make their fortunes by exploiting those who have suffered misfortune. Many gain advantage in this world by exploiting the disadvantaged. Many exploit the poor to make themselves rich. And many politicians use disasters and calamities to advance their political agenda” (Solomon: The King of Splendour, pp. 22-23).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
In line with the relaxation of COVID regulations, the council has agreed to relax some of the procedures adopted within the CPRC. (1) We will not continue the practice of exiting via the fire exit door. Instead, we will exit through the front doors. Once the service is over, please proceed directly outside by way of the main entrance and do not linger in the church narthex area. (2) With the return to exiting via the front entrance, we remind parents that the church car park is not a playground or a safe place for children to be running and playing boisterously. The church car park is a busy area, with cars reversing and people congregating. Therefore, for the safety of the children and for other church members, please be mindful of the behaviour of your children, and make sure they are aware of what is appropriate and safe for the setting.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet upstairs to discuss further the idea of good works as fruit.
Our Annual General Meeting will be held this Wednesday, 1 September, at 7:30 PM, with reports on the church’s finances and outreach/evangelism.
Saturday night Bible study will meet this week at church and on-line to consider Hebrews 12:1-11.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “Worshipping God in the Light of His Goodness” (Neh. 9:1-31).
Next Lord’s day, Rev. McGeown will be installed as pastor of Providence PRC.
Catechism classes will be starting on Monday, 13 September. More details to follow.
The Council’s next meeting is Monday, 13 September.
Plan to attend this year’s Reformation Day Lecture on Friday, 29 October, entitled “Fulgentius of Ruspe, the Sixth-Century N. African Church and Sovereign Grace.”
Offerings: General Fund: £1,422. Donations: £200 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Dutch, 1 Kirundi, 3 Polish and 1 Russian.
PRC News: Rev. R. Kleyn accepted the call to First PRC.
The Rebellion of Sheba
Brian D. Dykstra
II Samuel 20
David returned to Jerusalem as Israel’s king. He had endured difficult times during Absalom’s rebellion. Those who love David might hope he would find some rest and settle in to ruling God’s people once again. However, that was not to be.
David’s sin with Bathsheba had greatly offended God and given His enemies reason to blaspheme God and His people. God had told David that, as a result of his sin, the sword would never depart from his house. David would learn God meant what he said. The same is true for us. God is not mocked. We must not think that because we live under grace, and not under the law, that God will allow us to live in sin without any consequences. If God graciously laid His heavy hand upon David to bring him to humble repentance, He will do the same with us.
When Judah and the other tribes parted ways after David’s return, they did not do so in the spirit of harmony and brotherhood. There was envy against Judah since David gave them preferential treatment. People were upset.
A man named Sheba appears. He takes advantage of the situation and declares, “We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.” Israel now follows Sheba. His claim about David having no interest in any tribe but Judah was not true but Israel was so disgusted by the favour shown to Judah that they were willing to follow Sheba. As we read in Proverbs, to win back an offended brother is more difficult than to take a strong city.
At this point, David could have sent messengers or an open letter to the tribes now following Sheba but he does nothing of the kind. David could have done something to express his love for them or point out his years of faithful service to them as their king and the peace and prosperity they enjoyed under his rule, but he doesn’t. Was he becoming old and weary? Did he think the whole affair would dissipate in a few weeks?
Scripture now briefly turns to the history of the ten concubines David had left behind to keep his house when David fled from Absalom. David placed them in special housing and provided for their daily needs, but he no longer had a relationship with them. It was as though they were widows. Since they were part of the king’s harem, David could not grant them freedom to go out and be married. He could not resume his former relationship with them because Absalom had defiled them. The Old Testament law did not give any direction about what to do with women in such a position because Israel’s kings were not to multiply wives to themselves. Were these women put in ward because they had not resisted Absalom strongly enough? Could they not be allowed to travel about freely because the sight of them would have reminded everyone about Absalom’s rebellion and hatred for his father?
Scripture now returns to Sheba’s revolt. David commands Amasa, his new captain, to gather the army and be in Jerusalem in three days. However, Amasa “tarried longer than the set time.” Was the army slow to follow an inexperienced captain who had so recently been fighting against them? David grows impatient and fears that Sheba will now do him more harm than Absalom. David turns to Abishai, Joab’s brother.
Abishai does not have the problems Amasa had in gathering the army which sets off quickly in pursuit of Sheba. We read that when the army was in Gibeon, “Amasa went before them.” It’s not a surprise to us to find Joab is there and greets Amasa, referring to him as his “brother.” It was all a ruse. While taking Amasa’s beard to kiss him, the traditional greeting for that time and place, Joab takes his sword, which he had, not accidentally, just dropped on the ground. Joab picks up his sword with his left hand and murders Amasa. A man faithful to Joab stands by Amasa’s body and declares that all who are for David must follow Joab.
Joab is the captain David cannot do without. There are aspects of Joab’s character of which David cannot approve and Joab deserved severe punishment. However, Joab served David very faithfully and never threatened David’s place as king. Because he led them to many victories, Joab assumes his old role as leader of the army and nobody objects.
Sheba “went through all the tribes of Israel” and came to Abel, a city in the tribe of Naphtali, the tribe on the northern border of Israel. The Berites were with him. These were men of Benjamin, Sheba’s tribe. Was Sheba gathering many supporters as he went through Israel or was he finding it difficult to find men and a place to headquarter his rebellion, so he finally had to hide in the northern-most region of Israel? At any rate, Joab and the army arrive.
Joab immediately begins his attack. The army constructs a bank and begins battering the wall to “throw it down.” A woman of Abel desires to speak with Joab. She reproves Joab for not following the Old Testament law regarding warfare. Deuteronomy 20:10 reads, “When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.” The woman expected Joab to hold a counsel with Abel, stating his conditions which, if Abel would meet, there would be peace. Joab hadn’t done that. He assumed the city supported Sheba and must be destroyed.
The woman claims to be peaceable and faithful. She wonders why Joab would seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. (The phrase “mother in Israel” could refer not to a female in the city but to larger cities in Israel; while “daughters” was a term applied to lesser, unwalled cities.) Joab, despite the reputation he has rightly earned over the years, says it would be far from him to swallow up or destroy.
Joab states the situation concerning Sheba to the woman. All Joab wants is Sheba. The woman “in her wisdom” goes to the people of Abel to explain Joab’s conditions for peace. The citizens behead Sheba. One can imagine Joab standing at the bottom of the wall awaiting developments. Someone appears at the top of the wall and throws Sheba’s gory head down to Joab. When Sheba’s head has stopped rolling at Joab’s feet, Joab, realizing the threat from Sheba is definitely over, blows a trumpet and retires from the city. David’s kingdom is again at peace.
