Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 15 March, 2015
“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
Absalom and His Rebellion (19)
David Mourns for Absalom [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Samuel 18:19-19:8
Text: II Samuel 18:19-33
I. The Two Messengers
II. The Inordinate Grieving
III. The Instructive Epilogue
Psalms: 118:1-9; 99:1-9; 68:31-35; 21:1-6
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Our Perfect Mediator [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1:17-2:5
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 6
I. His Natures
II. His Salvation
III. His Revelation
Psalms: 122:1-9; 100:1-5; 40:6-10; 72:1-8
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
Quote to Consider
Herman Hoeksema: “[The Heidelberg Catechism in Lord’s Day 6] shows that there is an inseparable relation between our salvation and true doctrine. Salvation cannot be accomplished except by exactly such a mediator as is described in these two questions and answers with respect to his chief requirements. Deny them, and you deny salvation. Deny that Christ is eternal God, the second person of the holy Trinity, and you have no Saviour left. Deny that He is very man, flesh of our flesh, and blood of our blood, and you lose the Christ of God. Deny that these two natures are never separated, nor ever mixed, but that they subsist in unity of the divine person of the Son of God and you deny all possibility of salvation. By demonstrating this, the Catechism certainly impresses upon our minds and hearts the necessity of being indoctrinated thoroughly in the truth of the Word of God. And it warns us that we shall not assume a sympathetic attitude toward those that would introduce false doctrine into the Church of Christ in the world” (The Triple Knowledge, vol. 1, p. 265).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Monday Catechism – last class of the season
Taylor, Josh, Corey, Bradley & Samuel (Beginners OT, book 1) – 5:30 PM, TEST
Alex, Nathan, Jacob & Joseph (Seniors NT) – 6:15 PM, TEST
Timothy & Chris (Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) – 7:00 PM
The Tuesday Bible study will not meet this week due to the St. Patrick’s day stall the CPRC is running that day at Mt. Slemish to distribute literature.
The Belgic Confession Class on Wednesday at 7:45 PM will study Article 25 on “The Abolition of the Ceremonial Law.”
S. Wales Lecture: On Thursday, 19 March, Rev. Stewart will give a lecture on “The New Life Within Us” at the Round Chapel in Port Talbot.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled “His Silence in His Suffering” (Isaiah 53:7-9).
Next Lord’s Day evening will be preparatory for the Lord’s Supper to be held the following Sunday morning, 29 March.
Lurgan Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak at the Lurgan Town Hall on “The Threat of Rome to Protestant Churches Today” on Friday, 10 April, at 7:30 PM.
Offerings: General Fund – £615.42. Building Fund – £100.
Website Additions: 2 Hungarian translations.
PRC News: Rev. Holstege (Holland, MI) declined the call to be missionary in the Philippines. Peace called Rev. Griess (Calvary, IA). Rev. Smit and his family will be moving from the Philippines to the United States this week to take up his calling at First PRC. Revs. Key (Loveland, CO) and Eriks (Hudsonville, MI) will be visiting the CERC in Singapore this week on behalf of the Contact Committee. Rev. Overway and Elder D. Jessup (Hope, MI) are in Myanmar (5-18 March).
Quotes to Consider
A. W. Pink, The Life of David, II:183-184
The hour of emergency is what usually brings to light that which is to be found within us. It is not the ordinary routine of life, but the crises which reveal character: not that the crisis changes or makes the man, but rather that it affords opportunity to display the benefits of previous discipline or the evils of the lack of the same. Therefore it is of little or no use to bid a person control himself or herself when deeply agitated over an unusual experience, for one who has never learned to govern himself day by day cannot begin doing so under exceptional circumstances. Here, then, is the answer to the question, How am I, especially if of passionate nature, to avoid inordinate joy or sorrow? A person cannot change his disposition, but he can greatly modify it, if he will take pains to that end.
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32): it is this ruling of our spirits which is the subject we are attempting to develop: the mind perceiving the needs and the will exerting itself to govern our emotions. Inordinate grief is the outcome of inordinate love, and therefore we need to watch closely over our affections and bring reason to bear upon them. We must discipline ourselves daily and control our emotions over little things, if we are to control ourselves in the crises of life. As the twig is bent, so the bough grows. The longer we allow our passions to run riot, the harder will it be to gain control of them. Much can be done by parents in training the child to exercise self-control and be temperate in all things.
Does not the reader now perceive the practical importance of what has been before us? How many there are who go entirely to pieces when some grief or calamity overtakes them. And why is this? Because they have no self-control: they have never learned to govern their emotions. But can we rule our spirits? Certainly; yet not in a moment, nor by spasmodic efforts, but only by the practice of daily and strict self-discipline. Form the habit, then, of keeping tab on your desires, and check them immediately you find they are going out after forbidden objects. Watch your affections, and bring reason to bear upon them: see that they do not become too deeply attached to anything down here: remember the more highly you prize an object, the more keenly will you feel the loss of it. Seek to cultivate a mild and even disposition, and when provoked, assure yourself such a trifle is unworthy of perturbation. Paul could say, “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (I Cor. 6:12)—that was his own determination.
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Matthew Henry on II Samuel 18:33
How David received the intelligence. He forgets all the joy of his deliverance, and is quite overwhelmed with the sorrowful tidings of Absalom’s death, v. 33. As soon as he perceived by Cushi’s reply that Absalom was dead, he asked no more questions, but fell into a passion of weeping, retired from company, and abandoned himself to sorrow; as he was going up to his chamber he was overheard to say, “O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! alas for thee! I lament thee. How hast thou fallen! Would God I had died for thee, and that thou hadst remained alive this day’’ (so the Chaldee adds) “O Absalom! my son, my son!’’ I wish I could see reason to think that this arose from a concern about Absalom’s everlasting state, and that the reason why he wished he had died for him was because he had good hopes of his own salvation, and of Absalom’s repentance if he had lived. It rather seems to have been spoken inconsiderately, and in a passion, and it was his infirmity. He is to be blamed, 1. For showing so great a fondness for a graceless son only because he was handsome and witty, while he was justly abandoned both of God and man. 2. For quarrelling, not only with divine providence, in the disposals of which he ought silently to have acquiesced, but with divine justice, the judgments of which he ought to have adored and subscribed to. See how Bildad argues (Job 8:3-4), If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away in their transgression, thou shouldst submit, for doth God pervert judgment? See Leviticus 10:3. 3. For opposing the justice of the nation, which, as king, he was entrusted with the administration of, and which, with other public interests, he ought to have preferred before any natural affection. 4. For despising the mercy of his deliverance, and the deliverance of his family and kingdom, from Absalom’s wicked designs, as if this were no mercy, nor worth giving thanks for, because it cost the life of Absalom. 5. For indulging in a strong passion, and speaking unadvisedly with his lips. He now forgot his own reasonings upon the death of another child (Can I bring him back again?) and his own resolution to keep his mouth as with a bridle when his heart was hot within him, as well as his own practice at other times, when he quieted himself as a child that was weaned from his mother. The best men are not always in an equally good frame. What we over-loved we are apt to over-grieve for: in each affection, therefore, it is wisdom to have rule over our own spirits and to keep a strict guard upon ourselves when that is removed from us which was very dear to us. Losers think they may have leave to speak; but little said is soon amended. The penitent patient sufferer sitteth alone and keepeth silence (Lam. 3:28), or rather, with Job, says, Blessed be the name of the Lord.
