Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 5 February, 2017
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind …” (Rom. 12:2)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Life of Jacob (29)
Jacob’s Two Significant Meetings [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Genesis 46:28-47:12
Text: Genesis 46:28-47:12
I. With Joseph
II. With Pharoah
Psalms: 105:6-12; 27:6-9a; 119:17-24; 39:5-12
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Lord of My Body and Soul [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Peter 1
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 13
I. The Lord of My Body
II. The Lord of My Soul
Psalms: 119:33-40; 27:9b-14; 50:18-23; 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: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider
Homer C. Hoeksema on Genesis 47:7, 10: “The scriptures speak of the fact that Jacob blessed Pharaoh both when he met him and when he departed from him. Some, who are always searching the Bible for support of their pet theory of common grace, find a weighty proof here in the fact that Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Here is a man of God, one of the patriarchs, blessing a man of the world, a reprobate. Of course, the position and tenability of any theory becomes rather wobbly and precarious if it must depend on such proofs for its support. Even granted that the word employed here means that Jacob tried to bestow a blessing on the king, the question still would be whether he did not make a mistake, or whether the king of Egypt actually was a reprobate. But this is not the meaning. The patriarchs certainly did not have the power to bestow blessing on anyone other than those whom they were prophetically given to see. Besides, it is strange that Jacob would bestow a blessing upon Pharoah both as he enters and as he leaves. Rather, the word that is used here may simply mean, and does mean at times in scripture, ‘to greet,’ which is exactly what took place at this occasion. Jacob in effect said to Pharaoh, ‘How do you do?’ and, ‘Good-bye,’ or ‘Long live the king!’ This is obviously also the natural sense of the text” (Unfolding Covenant History, vol. 3, p. 183).
George Lawson: “As soon as Joseph heard that his father was approaching, he made ready his chariot to go down and meet him. He was impatient to see a father who loved him so dearly, and whom he so dearly loved. Love laments the absence of the beloved object, and seizes the first opportunity that offers to enjoy what is so greatly longed to possess. How strange is it if any man shall call himself a lover of Christ, who feels no ardent desires to see His beauty and to enjoy the pleasure of His presence!” (The History of Joseph, p. 333).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday evening’s Catechism Classes:
5:45 PM – Taylor, Josh, Corey & Katelyn (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM – Bradley & Samuel (Juniors OT)
7:15 PM – Jacob, Alex & Nathan (Heidelberg Catechism, book 2)
The Tuesday Bible Study meets at 11 AM to study Samson in connection with the holy war.
The Belgic Confession Class meets on Wednesday at 7:45 PM to look at broader church assemblies in connection with article 30.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is “No Other Gods” (Ex. 20:3).
The Council meets on Monday, 13 February, at 8 PM.
Offerings: General Fund: £882.42.
PRC News: Rev. VanOverloop declined the call to be a domestic missionary.
Anthems and Athens
Brian D. Dykstra
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (I John 2:18).
The Grand Rapids Board of Education declared the week of 15–20 February, 2004 to be Peace Education Week. Included with the Board’s resolution was a flyer promoting Peacefest 2004. Sprinkled throughout the flyer were quotations from poems, speeches and songs which spoke of the desire for mankind to unite in a spirit of community, harmony and love.
One of the songs cited was written by John Lennon and is titled Imagine. What follows is the song’s second stanza and the chorus.
Imagine there’s no countries,
It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace …You may say I’m a dreamer,
But I’m not the only one,
I hope some day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.
Lennon’s anthem to the brotherhood of all mankind reminded me of a much earlier musical expression of the same worldly ideal. Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, The Choral Symphony, makes use of a poem written by Frederich von Schiller. Schiller’s poem is titled, An die Freude. We are more familiar with the words and music under the title, Ode to Joy. Beethoven’s music and Schiller’s text are such a famous call for the unity of mankind that the European Union has adopted an altered version of the words as its anthem. A translation, which is not meant to fit Beethoven’s tune, of Schiller’s first two stanzas follows:
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter fire imbibed,
Heavenly, thy sanctuary.Thy magic reunites those
Whom stern custom has parted;
All men will become brothers
Under thy gentle wing.
I wondered if any national anthems, which are meant to inspire patriotism, spoke of the same ideal for the unity of mankind. I checked several national anthems of English-speaking nations. I was surprised to find this in the fourth stanza of the United Kingdom’s national anthem, God Save the King/Queen.
Not in this land alone,
But be God’s mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world over.
Every four years, athletes from around the world compete in the Olympic Games. Athletes strive for victory within a setting which seeks to show what mankind is able to achieve when he unites in a spirit of peaceful competition. Tradition has it that athletes enter the opening ceremonies by nation but attend the closing ceremonies as a group displaying no national affiliation. Mankind can unite with one spirit and a common purpose! Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, with an emphasis on “All men will become brothers,” is often played at the closing ceremonies.
We know what this Christless spirit of brotherhood means for those who confess that there is one God, Jehovah, and that He has revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible. We know it will end in the global dominion of the Antichrist and the great tribulation.
We also cannot help but wonder about this “brotherhood” of nations. If men can gather in such a wonderful spirit of peace and togetherness, why have I read that the bill for security at the Olympic Games will reach one billion dollars? The world’s peace is nothing more than a very expensive façade. The only peaceful, lasting unity of nations will be expressed beneath the throne of the Lamb by the catholic or universal church, those who have been redeemed by His blood.
