Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 4 December, 2022
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Mosaic Law: Illustration, Expostulation & Allegory (3)
Returning to the Weak and Beggarly Elements [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:1-20
Text: Galatians 4:8-11
I. The Remarkable Transitions
II. The Striking Principle
III. The Solemn Fear
Psalms: 139:1-10; 50:1-6; 31:5-10; 68:16-20
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
To Whom Do I Belong? [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 14
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1
I. Worldly Philosophy
II. Christian Wisdom
Psalms: 118:1-9; 50:7-12; 27:6-10; 116:9-19
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
Martin Luther on Galatians 4:9: “Who would have thought it possible that the Galatians taught as they were by that efficient apostle and teacher, Paul, could so quickly be led astray by the false apostles? To fall away from the Gospel is an easy matter because few people appreciate what an excellent treasure the knowledge of Christ really is. People are not sufficiently exercised in their faith by afflictions. They do not wrestle against sin. They live in security without conflict. Because they have never been tried in the furnace of affliction they are not properly equipped with the armour of God and know not how to use the sword of the Spirit. As long as they are being shepherded by faithful pastors, all is well. But when their faithful shepherds are gone and wolves disguised as sheep break into the fold, back they go to the weak and beggarly elements of the Law. Whoever goes back to the law loses the knowledge of the truth, fails in the recognition of his sinfulness, does not know God, nor the devil, nor himself, and does not understand the meaning and purpose of the Law.”
John Brown on Galatians 4:8-9: “There is a principle that removes all difficulty.—The rites of the heathen worship and the now obsolete ritual observances of the Mosaic economy having much in common, they both deserved the name of ‘weak and beggarly elements.’ The leading character of both was externality; they were both ‘worldly elements;’ they consisted ‘in meats, and drinks, and divers washings.’ Those rites were ‘weak and beggarly.’ These epithets seem synonymous; and intimate that they were incapable of propitiating God, of pacifying the conscience, of improving the character. The apostle represents the ‘weak’ and the ‘unprofitable’ as the characteristic features of the law, viewed as a method of salvation.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday catechism classes:
5:00PM: Corey, Jason, Katelyn, Maisie & Sebastian (Seniors OT)
5:45PM: Eleanora, Felicity, Hannah, Jorja, Keagan, Lucas, Sammy, Somaya,
Sophie & Yossef (Beginners NT)
6:30PM: Penelope & Xander (Juniors OT)
7:15PM: Angelica, Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Heidelberg, Book 2)
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to continue our discussion on faith and reason, looking more closely at the Roman Catholic conception.
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:30 PM. In connection with article 37, we will consider further the characteristics of the signs of our Lord’s return.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “Your Salvation Comes!” (Isa. 62:11-12).
The baptism of Jude McCaughern is scheduled for the morning of 11 December.
Offerings: £1,360. Donations: £100 (Malaysia), £200 (England), £831.33 (Hudsonville PRC).
Translation Additions: 3 Afrikaans, 1 Chinese, 2 Polish and 1 Tagalog.
PRC News: Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI) declined the call to First PRC and is considering the call to Georgetown PRC. Doon PRC called Rev. DeBoer (Edgerton, MN). Hosanna PRC and Randolph PRC called Rev. J. Holstege (Zion, MI). Hudsonville PRC’s new trio is Revs. W. Langerak (Trinity, MI), Maatman (Southeast, MI) and Spronk.
The Death of Abijah
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 14:1-20
Jeroboam’s son, Abijah, is seriously ill. Scripture informs us that this young man was remarkable. This chapter presents a little challenge because there are two people who have similar names, Abijah and Ahijah. This can be a problem for children as they try to keep track of the narrative. To remember the difference, note the “b” in Abijah’s name. This is a reminder that he is the king’s boy. Ahijah is the prophet. He represents God, who is holy, with an “h.”
Jeroboam’s concern for his son is so great, he wishes to speak with Ahijah, the prophet who had told him he would be the ruler of Israel. Jeroboam regarded Ahijah’s first message to him as good news. This might give him reason to think that Ahijah might give him good news concerning his son. However, Jeroboam cannot go himself. He had told Israel the golden calves were the gods who had delivered Israel from Egypt. What would the people think about the golden calves if, in Jeroboam’s time of great need, he doesn’t go to the calves but to God’s prophet?
Note that Jeroboam wants to go to Ahijah, a true prophet of God. The schism between Israel and Judah is not very old yet. The spiritual decline in Israel has not yet had time to display much of sin’s organic growth. Jeroboam has wickedly led Israel into idolatry, despite his claim that he still served God, but, in his time of need, he will turn to God, not idols. That will change in the years to come.
As Jeroboam himself cannot be seen going to Ahijah to inquire of God, he sends his wife. Jeroboam directs her to go in disguise. Scripture informs us Ahijah is blind. What is the point of deceiving a blind man with a disguise? The king had neglected Ahijah’s admonition in I Kings 11:38-39, “And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.” Jeroboam might fear that, because of his leading Israel to serve the golden calves, the prophet would not give a favourable response were Ahijah to know the woman before him is the queen. He might receive only a rebuke. If his wife pretends to be a peasant woman who is only asking about her son, the answer might be different.
The disguise is also for the general public. The royal family must maintain the ruse about the golden calves. The queen, in all her royal splendour, cannot be seen going to Ahijah. The queen’s gift is part of her disguise. People paid priests and prophets to inquire of God for them. Her payment is a simple one, ten loaves of bread, some bread crumbs and a jar of honey. The carefully prepared deception was of no use. God had foretold Ahijah all about the queen’s visit.
Ahijah announces a dreadful curse upon Jeroboam’s family. God will cut off “him that pisseth against the wall.” Teaching children about this phrase can be awkward but the phrase is interesting. Men did not use walls for relief in that culture. The phrase is actually meant to show God’s contempt for Jeroboam’s family. Dogs relieved themselves in that fashion. The phrase is a way to show God regarded Jeroboam’s royal family as being as low as dogs, which were detested by the Jews.
God makes His opinion of Jeroboam clearer by comparing the family to taking away dung. If youngsters were to track dung into the house of a meticulous mother, would she be satisfied with removing most of it? No, she would make a thorough, vigorous effort to remove it all, every last hint of it. Such was God’s opinion of Jeroboam’s family, comparable to dogs and dung.
God’s hand was against Jeroboam and, except for Abijah, his entire family. While Jeroboam is concerned about his son, who would have succeeded him to the throne, and inquires about his health, he does not ask why God’s hand is against him as David did during the time of famine in his reign. Jeroboam shows concern about his son’s future, but he has no interest in repenting of his sin and serving God. He does not ask for Ahijah to intercede for him nor ask advice on how to reform Israel.
Only one member of Jeroboam’s family would receive a proper burial. The rest would be eaten by dogs and birds. The Jews viewed being eaten by dogs and birds as a sign of God’s righteous anger. Only Abijah would be properly buried. God’s reason for this is clear, “because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.”
The “good thing” in him has to be God’s gracious gift of faith. What a powerful work of the Spirit! He is Jeroboam’s son, the king infamous for making Israel sin. Jewish tradition holds that his mother was from Egypt. Jeroboam married her while he was hiding from Solomon. Despite this lineage, God is able to redeem. Abijah’s name means, “my father is Jehovah.” Did Jeroboam name him before he had any intention of leading Israel to serve idols? Did Jeroboam name his son in response to Ahijah’s first prophesy about ruling Israel, falsely thinking his gaining the throne was a sign of God’s favour? Consider this. We know of examples in Scripture of people’s names being changed. Did the God-fearing people left in Israel give him this name when they recognized his spiritual character?
Abijah’s disease is serious. He will die. There are times when God sends disease as a result of sin. The alcoholic could suffer liver damage. Disease can make us realize we have strayed from God. Psalter #329, based on Psalm 119:67, states, “Before my affliction I wandered, but now Thy good word I obey.” There can be an element of God’s chastisement in sickness but we must be careful not to make that assumption in every case. Abijah’s sickness and death teach us there are times when God sends death in His goodness. God saved Abijah though he came from a spiritually bankrupt family. God will spare him of the evil to come so he will not die nor have his body disposed of in a fashion which would make it appear he were no different from the rest of the family. God removes Abijah from the evil to come to bring him to a heavenly kingdom.
Ahijah tells the queen that, when she returns to her city, “the child shall die.” There is usually a sharp student who will say that, if they knew their child would die once they returned to their city, they simply would not go home, if that’s what it would take to spare their child. However, the queen cannot live her life as one who is homeless, nor can she take up a nomadic life. She is the queen and must return to her palace. It wouldn’t do for the king and queen to be separated.
Ahijah says God will raise another king who will destroy Jeroboam’s household. The time for this destruction is near. Ahijah says this man is present “even now.” Jeroboam led Israel into terrible sin. His family would suffer a dreadful curse from the hand of God. His family lived in total disregard for God. After Ahijah described the great evil of Jeroboam’s actions, he used the phrase, “and hast cast me behind thy back.” This is one of two places in Scripture where this phrase is used. It is the opposite of keeping God’s way before one’s eyes and heart. Jeroboam committed all this evil to establish a dynasty which would last less than 25 years. What a meagre return on such a sinful investment!
We are not to have our hearts set on the things of this world as did Jeroboam. All the world’s riches will pass away very soon. Our affections must be set on God’s heavenly kingdom. Our Saviour rules over an everlasting kingdom. God has graciously made us citizens of it.
