Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 17 July, 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 – Prof. Brian Huizinga
Despising God’s Goodness [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-2:5
Text: Romans 2:4-5
I. The Goodness of God
II. The Despising of Man
III. The Sharpness of the Word
Psalms: 34:1-10; 119:105-110; 22:25-28; 31:19-24
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Rev. Allen Brummel
The Lord Answers Job [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Job 38
Text: Job 38:1-4
I. The Speaker
II. The Manner of Speech
III. The Demanded Response
Psalms: 115:1-7; 1:1-6; 32:1-5; 106:1-5
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
Rev. Ron Hanko on Job 38-39: “Why does God speak of these things to Job? We expect to read of God’s power and wisdom and grace as savior, even of his sovereign right as judge, but instead he speaks of his works as creator and as the God of providence. Why? We must understand that God did not come to Job to answer his questionings, his ‘why?’ A careful reading of Job 38-41 will show that God gives no explanation at all of Job’s trials. He does not tell Job what went on in heaven before Job’s trouble began. He never speaks of Satan’s part in Job’s losses. He does not even repeat what Elihu had said about his gracious purpose in affliction. What Elihu had said was true but was not an explanation of God’s ways. Indeed, though Elihu has confessed that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’ (Rom. 8:28), the question of how they work and why they work for good remains unanswered. God’s revelation of himself and his works to Job is God’s way of saying to Job, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’ (Isa. 55:8) … Job has already profited from his trials. he has come through them to a stronger faith in his redeemer and to a greater assurance of eternal life. Though unwittingly, he has disproved Satan’s slander and proved that God’s grace makes friends and lovers of God, not mercenaries. He has by his patience proved the efficacy of God’s electing purpose, the cleansing power of the blood of Christ, not yet shed, and the sovereignty and graciousness of the Spirit’s work” (Job: God’s Sovereignty in Suffering, pp. 127-128).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome all our visitors to our services today. May the Lord bless us together under the preaching of His Word.
There will be tea and sandwiches, etc., after the evening service.
The Beacon Lights are available on the back table for subscribers. A new free pamphlet by Prof. Engelsma entitled, “Still Totally Depraved?” is also available.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet to continue our consideration of the Federal Vision on saving faith.
The Saturday night Bible study will meet to discuss Malachi 3:6f. this week (23 July) at 8 PM at the Kennedys and on-line.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled, “Why Is the Sabbath Day Profaned?” (Neh. 13:15-22).
BRF Conference: The next conference will be held in the summer of 2024 with Prof. Huizinga and Rev. Ron Hanko speaking on aspects of eschatology.
Offerings: £914.70. Donations: £15.20 (England).
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian, 2 Polish (chapters 2 and 3 of The Reformed Worldview) and 1 Russian.
David Numbers the People
Brian D. Dykstra
II Samuel 24 begins, “And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel …” The word “again” is significant. Are we being reminded of the pattern of the history of God’s people in the book of Judges? Israel became prosperous. They became careless and turned from God. God sent an enemy to chastise them. Israel called for relief. The people repented, turned to God, and He delivered them. It is a repeating cycle.
It is likely that the events of this chapter occurred towards the end of David’s reign. Israel had angered God by turning against His choice for Israel’s king, David, and had turned to Absalom, a rebel. Then there was the short-lived rebellion of Sheba. We are reminded how we also turn against the Lord’s anointed, Christ, when we make idols of the things of this world.
David and Israel had fallen into sinful pride. It was not so long ago that Israel had been so reduced in strength that, when they went to battle, the men armed themselves with farm implements rather than swords and spears. Now they had subdued these enemies and felt secure. Earthly security is not of benefit to God’s people when we neglect to be thankful for what He has done for us.
It is Satan, under the providential direction of God, who moves David to number the people. David has a sinful curiosity as to how large an army he could put in the field. He is putting his trust in his men rather than in his God. Not all numbering of the people is sinful. God told Moses to number Israel.
It is Joab who sees the sin of this act. He warns David, even expressing the desire that God would make Israel a hundred times greater than they were, but David would not listen. David, being the king, overrules Joab and sends him to number the people. The task took nearly ten months. It does not seem that Joab’s attitude toward his work changed because he did not number the men of Levi or Benjamin. He could not bring himself to finish the job.
When David hears the number of the people, his “heart smote him.” It was too late to feel sorry about this sin now. David confesses his sin and admits his foolishness. The prophet Gad comes and gives David three choices for punishment. There are seven years of famine mentioned in II Samuel 24. The number is three, which would better match the other threes, in I Chronicles 21. The other choices are three months of fighting an enemy and three days of pestilence, suffering directly under the hand of God.
David, using the godly wisdom he had been given, chooses to suffer three days at the hand of God. Though in distress because of an afflicted conscience, David still understands that God, though justly angry with him and his people, is a merciful God. The pestilence begins in the morning. 70,000 men die. How can we imagine the grief of the nation? How deeply must David have been touched! He was the shepherd of these people! It is true that the nation had sinned and offended God, yet these events took place as a direct result of David’s sinful pride.
There is great evidence of God’s abundant mercy hidden in the words of verse 15, that the pestilence continued “ … even to the time appointed.” The conclusion could be drawn that the time appointed would be the end of the three days, three complete days, of suffering at the hand of God. However, “the time appointed” is a reference to the time appointed for the evening sacrifice. Israel’s merciful God could no longer endure His angel wielding the sword against His covenant people. One day, not three, is how long the pestilence continued. There are consequences for sin. The believer’s suffering because of sin can be very great, but God can and does temper His justice with mercy. God spoke to the angel, “It is enough: stay now thine hand.”
David is a type of Christ when he requests that God’s hand be against him in the place of the people. God responds by telling David that there must indeed be blood shed to turn away His anger but that there would be a substitution provided. David is told to build an altar at the place where the angel stayed his hand.
This was no ordinary place. This was Araunah’s threshing floor. Araunah was a Jebusite, the people David drove from their stronghold in Jerusalem at the beginning of his reign. Araunah is an example of an Old Testament Gentile believer. He displays an understanding of how God is to be worshipped, and willingly offers his oxen and land for David’s use.
This was the same hilltop where another substitution had been made many years before. This is Mount Moriah. This is where Abraham sacrificed Isaac but God, intervening at the last moment, spared Isaac and provided a ram in Isaac’s place. This would also be the place where Solomon would build his glorious temple, the place where many thousands of sacrifices would be offered in the years to come. All that blood sacrificed from lambs, goats and oxen could not atone for one sin. The true atoning sacrifice would have to wait for the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God offered on another hill which was outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Araunah offered his land, oxen and wood to David free of charge. Araunah expresses his desire that God would accept David. This desire would not be expressed by one who remained an unconverted heathen. Though heathen in name, Araunah shows a changed heart. David, however, realizes he cannot make a sacrifice to God which would cost him nothing. The men quickly agree on a price and the purchase is made.
Being a child of God comes with a price. The promise that accepting God’s offer of salvation or opening one’s heart to let Jesus come in will result in God giving health, wealth and prosperity is empty. Many are the afflictions of God’s people. Knowing what God has done for us in Christ causes us to offer our sacrifices of thanks and praise. We sacrifice our lives by struggling against that old man of sin, denying our sinful flesh, expressing sorrow for our sins and striving day by day to live a new life of sanctification by putting on the new man redeemed in Christ. Even in our darkest days, we have the joy of salvation and delight to live in grateful obedience to God in Jesus Christ. This is greater joy than wealth untold.
