Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 18 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 (4)
Paul’s Personal Pleas Against Galatian Judaizing [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 13:38-46; 14:1-20
Text: Galatians 4:12-16
I. His Jewish Example
II. His First Visit
III. His Perceptive Question
Psalms: 145:1-8; 51:1-7; 17:3-9; 32:1-5
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Preparatory
Man Is Incorrigibly Corrupt [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Luke 16:14-31
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 3
I. The Awful Truth
II. The Only Cure
Psalms: 106:1-7a; 51:8-14; 53:1-5; 87:1-7
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
Quote to Consider
Prof. Herman Hanko on Galatians 4:16: “Those who stand for the cause of the truth insist that there is only one truth, that salvation is for those who confess that truth, and that to deny that truth is to bring on one God’s anathema. In other words, if a believer is willing to be tolerant, all is well. But a tolerant believer is a contradiction in terms. Because they love their God, believers will not tolerate views of God that defame him. A believer can never overlook the Arminian god who can do nothing but beg and plead with men, but stands helpless before man, upon whom rests the choice of accepting Christ” (Justified Unto Liberty, p. 308).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
This evening is preparatory with the view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Lord’s day morning.
Standard Bearers (a special issue on justification by faith alone) are available on the back table for subscribers.
Monday catechism classes: MID-YEAR TESTS
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)
8:00PM: Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Pre-confession) – normal class
Membership Class: Billy & Val McCaughern, Monday at 9 PM.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to continue our discussion on faith and reason, looking more closely at natural revelation, natural theology and natural religion.
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:30 PM. In connection with article 37, we will consider further 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, “The Branch of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1).
Games Night: Join us for a night of games, food and fellowship on Friday, 30 December, beginning at 7 PM at church. Bring your favourite game and your favourite snack, and stay for as long as you like. All ages welcome!
Offerings: £1,244.55. Donation: £750 (New Jersey, USA).
Translation Additions: 2 Polish, 2 Russian and 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Rev. Spronk declined the call from Georgetown PRC and received the call from Hudsonville PRC. Rev. J. Holstege declined the call from Hosanna PRC and is considering the call from Randolph PRC. Rev. DeBoer is considering the call from Doon PRC. First PRC (GR) has a new trio of Revs. Decker, J. Holstege and Smidstra. Hull PRC has formed a trio of Revs. J. Holstege, Regnerus and Smidstra.
Jeroboam’s House Destroyed
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 15:16-34
As we continue the history of Israel in I Kings 15:16, we see that not only does Israel have a new king but there is also a new dynasty. Jeroboam’s house has been destroyed. I Kings 15 begins with instruction about Asa, a God-fearing king of Judah. After telling us about the positive aspects of Asa’s rule, we read of his shortcomings. This is why we suddenly come upon Baasha, before we read of the destruction of Jeroboam’s house. Asa did not deal properly with the threat posed by Israel under Baasha’s rule. Once we have learned about the trouble Baasha caused for Asa, Scripture will tell us how Baasha come to be Israel’s king.
“And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.” We should not think of this state of war as consisting of huge armies deployed on the battlefield all the time. Asa had ten years of peace at the beginning of his reign. The war is of a lower level. This would be fighting more along the lines of skirmishes and disputes. The two nations did not like one another.
Baasha fortified Ramah. This is not a new city being built but the making stronger of an existing city. The interesting aspect of Ramah is that it belonged to Benjamin. It was near Gibeah of Saul. Gibeah was infamous because of its association with the dreadful, godless treatment of the concubine who belonged to a man from Mount Ephraim who travelled through Benjamin. This horrible event would lead to the near elimination of Benjamin, which history is recorded at the end of the book of Judges. Ramah was only six miles from Jerusalem and located on a major north-south route.
The stronghold of Ramah could serve several purposes for Baasha. Judah was doing well under Asa’s efforts to reform his kingdom. God blessed Judah as Asa led them in the way of repentance and reform. Judah was relatively prosperous. However, we must keep in mind that God’s blessing is not in earthly possessions. When the wicked prosper, it is to set them in slippery places. We also confess in Psalter #97 which is based on Psalm 37, “A little that the righteous hold, is better far than wealth untold, of many wicked men.” There were times, though, when God did accompany His blessing with material wealth. There were citizens of Israel who moved to Judah to experience this blessing. Baasha was concerned the departure of his citizens might continue or increase. He did not want more of his people to return to the house of David. Some might desire to return to Jerusalem to observe the religious feasts held there. This fortress could prevent that.
Since this fortress was on a major trade route, Baasha could disrupt Judah’s business life. Damaging your enemy’s economic life has always been a part of warfare. One might have the most wonderful products available for trade but, if the product cannot be moved or if people cannot come to buy the wares, these products do the seller no good. What would happen to a modern manufacturing centre if roads, bridges and port facilities were destroyed? The destruction of Judah’s business life was a serious threat. Asa would have to do something about it. We will look at what Asa did later, D.V. For now, we note that Asa was successful in eliminating the threat of Ramah but the manner in which he did this did not please God.
Scripture next tells us how Jeroboam’s house was destroyed. Jeroboam’s son, Nadab, reigned over Israel for two years. We must not think Nadab ruled for two complete years. The Jews had a way of numbering years which is not the same as ours. Their system is more similar to this: if a football team were to score a quick goal a mere fifteen seconds into the match, we say the goal was scored in the first minute, even though a complete minute had not yet been played. The same applies to the numbering of the years Nadab ruled Israel.
Nadab continued in the sin, the worship of the golden calves, of his father. Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired against Nadab. Baasha did not launch his conspiracy because he was upset about Israel’s religious life. Had he wanted to return to a true worship of Jehovah, he would not have continued serving the golden calves as he did. Nadab was leading Israel’s army as they laid siege to Gibbethon, a city held by the Philistines. Gibbethon was a city in the tribe of Dan, which was apportioned to the Levites. The Levites could have left this city when they saw they were not needed or refused to lead in the worship of the golden calves. The Philistines had taken it and Israel attempted to take it back. Perhaps that is the root of Baasha’s problem with Nadab. He felt Nadab was an incompetent military leader. The army was of the same opinion as they did nothing to avenge the death of their king but instead they put his murderer on the throne.
When Baasha began to reign he killed Jeroboam’s family and “He left not to Jeroboam any that breathed.” Commentators differ in their opinion about the significance of that phrase. Some claim Baasha would only have reason to kill the male members of the royal family. Others claim the phrase means Baasha killed all of Jeroboam’s relatives, male and female. The result is that Baasha will not face any threat to his throne from Jeroboam’s family.
Scripture is very clear about the reason why God brought this destruction on Jeroboam’s family. We read it was “because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin.” Baasha has clear evidence about how God views Israel’s religious life. Yet, because he wants to be king, he cannot allow Israel to put off her sin and return to the proper worship of God as could be done in Jerusalem, the city in which God had chosen to put His name. He has no interest in leading Israel in a reformation. He has an earthly throne and does not care about the commands which God issued from His heavenly throne.
There are times when God keeps His word through what we term as “miracles.” However, there are also times, such as this, when prophesies are fulfilled through events which, although not a part of every-day life, are at least not totally out-of-the-ordinary.
Although Baasha fulfilled God’s Word against Jeroboam’s sinful family, this does not mean that God approves of Baasha’s sinful rebellion. It is often the case that God punishes sin with more sin. We witness this in the lives of the wicked. We sometimes believe God lets the wicked get away with their sins. They don’t appear to suffer from illness. The wicked do not even seem to suffer from a guilty conscience. It looks as if they have a very good, happy time as they continue in their way of sin. Children must be reminded that this is God’s most severe punishment for sin. God allows the reprobate to continue in their sin, making them ripe for judgment as they do their part to fill the world’s cup of iniquity. Their destruction is at hand. We shall see what happens to Baasha’s family.
God had said that, “Israel should be as a reed shaken in the water” (I Kings 14:15). Israel was. During the one reign of Asa, king of Judah, Israel had seven or eight different kings. Israel would soon become a very difficult place for God’s faithful children to live. We look forward to the coming of Christ’s perfected kingdom which will be ruled by the same King throughout the everlasting life to come.
