Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 13 November, 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 Messenger of the Covenant Coming to His Temple [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Malachi 2:1-3:1
Text: Malachi 2:17-3:1
I. Who He Is
II. Where He Comes
III. Why He Comes
Psalms: 34:1-10; 47:1-9; 40:6-10; 25:8-14
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Receiving Our Daily Bread [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 11:1-21, 26-32
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 50
I. Mindful of Jehovah’s Acts
II. Teaching Our Covenant Children
III. Blessed by God’s Mercy
Psalms: 46:1-7; 48:1-6; 119:1-8; 147:6-15
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
Rev. Ron Hanko on Malachi 3:1: “But Christ is the messenger of the covenant not only because he takes away that which separates God and his people, that is, their sin; not only because he, by his Spirit, actually receives them into fellowship with God; but also because he is in his own person the one who unites us to God. He is the one in whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily and the one whose bone and whose flesh we are, so that in him we live and walk with God and are joined to God. He is Immanuel, God with us” (The Coming of Zion’s Redeemer, p. 476).
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 50: “One of the first and chief implications of the fourth petition is that in it the believer acknowledges the absolute sovereignty of God over all things and his providential care for the believer in his daily life in the world. The believer is taught in this petition to turn directly to his heavenly Father and to ask him for his proper portion of bread for one day. This means that we acknowledge him as the only sovereign over all things and confess our dependence on him and on him alone. He only is the Lord of hosts, and his kingdom rules over all. In whatever way, by whatever means, and through whatever channels we obtain daily bread, we boast not in self, not in our ingenuity and wisdom, not in men and an arm of flesh, but acknowledge that God alone is sovereign and that he alone can and must give us daily bread” (The Perfect Prayer, pp. 137-138).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Joe & Lisa McCaughern requested the baptism of their son, Jude. The Council approved this request and baptism is scheduled for the morning of 11 December.
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)
8:00PM: Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Pre-confession)
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 at how they are rightly and wrongly related.
Belgic Confession Class meets this Wednesday at 7:30 PM. In connection with article 37, we will begin a study 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, “Rejoicing in God’s Gifts” (Deut. 26:10-11).
Offerings: £2,070.82. Donation: £200 (England).
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian, 3 Polish and 1 Russian.
God’s Displeasure Made Clear
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 13
Welcome to one of the stranger chapters of Old Testament history! There are interesting characters here. However, two of the main characters are not given names. This can confuse children. There are, first, Jeroboam, king of Israel, who leads the people in idolatry; a man of God from Judah who does not take God’s commandments seriously; and, finally, an old prophet in Bethel who lies. What are we to make of this?
As Jeroboam leads the people in offering incense to the golden calves, a man of God from Judah cries out against the altar. He proclaims that a descendant of David, “Josiah by name,” would offer men’s bones on this altar and that this new altar would break open, spilling its ashes.
Some foolish commentators claim the mention of Josiah’s name was added to the text after Josiah actually fulfilled this prophesy some 340 years later, but God clearly revealed Josiah’s name to this man of God just as God told Isaiah Cyrus’ name in Isaiah 44:28. God’s mention of David’s dynasty would remind those in attendance that God had chosen David’s line to rule. Israel is thus rebuked for her sinful rebellion.
Jeroboam wants the man of God arrested for disturbing the ceremony and stretches out his hand to indicate the offender. His hand “dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.” The altar is rent, just as had been prophesied. Jeroboam immediately asks the man of God to intreat God to restore his hand. This is a peek into Jeroboam’s heart. He will become known as the man “who made Israel to sin.” However, he does not confess his sin and ask for the assurance that his sins are forgiven. He shows no concern for the condition of his soul but it is very important to him that his hand be restored. Christ tells us it is better to enter heaven maimed than to go to hell with all members of the body functioning properly.
When Jeroboam’s hand is healed, he invites the man of God to share a meal. Jeroboam could not contradict the power of his adversary when everyone there had seen what had happened. Jeroboam saw that having such a man on his side, or at least give a sign of support, would benefit him. The man of God refuses, quoting clear instructions from God that he could not eat while in Israel, nor could he return to Judah on the same path he had taken.
This refusal was a clear sign to the people of God’s disapproval of Jeroboam. Friends enjoy meals together. Enemies do not. The man of God is God’s representative. Sharing a meal is a sign of friendship and fellowship. By accepting a dinner invitation, it would seem that God condoned Israel’s manner of worship. The open refusal to eat with Jeroboam indicates God detests Jeroboam’s idolatry. The people should recognize this and turn from this sin.
There was an old prophet in Bethel whose sons had witnessed these events and reported to their father. Why were they there? Did they go because they wanted to participate in this worship in some way, thinking that it was not so bad? Did they attend with an attitude of disapproval, only to witness these events themselves so they would not have to rely on second-hand reports? Shouldn’t their father, a prophet, have forbidden them to go?
The old prophet invites the man of God to his house to eat. The man of God repeats God’s clear instructions, but the old prophet lies and says an angel had told him that the man of God could come nevertheless. What kind of prophet lies about such things? He was right there in Bethel, but seems not to have reproved the worship of the golden calves. He could be of the same spirit as Baalam, the prophet hired by King Balak to curse God’s people when they came from Egypt. He can speak the truth of God but is still capable of deceit.
As for the man of God, what should he have done? It is a confusing situation. He knew God’s command but the prophet spoke with some authority. He should have gone to God in prayer who would have told him if He had changed His instructions. Also, we have the question of rank. Who has more authority, an angel or God? The man of God had the clear instructions from God Himself. The prophet claimed the word came to him from an angel. Paul gives clear instruction of whose word is preeminent when he mentions an angel from heaven preaching a different gospel (Gal. 1:8).
As the man of God eats, the prophet announces that the man of God will not be buried in his father’s sepulchre for his disobedience. To be buried with the family was important in Israel. To be buried in a strange place shows a death which was unexpected, perhaps even violent. This is a death which carries with it a sign of divine disapproval. Instead of rising in anger and chastising the prophet for his deceit, he finishes his meal and heads home. A lion kills him but does not devour him, nor does the man of God’s ass flee in fright. These strange events show the people who passed by that way that this is the hand of God.
God’s punishment of the man of God strikes us as unjust. Wicked Jeroboam leads an entire nation into sin and escapes with a withered arm which is quickly restored. A prophet who lives in Bethel, the centre of the worship of the golden calves, and did not leave for a place where God could be properly served and lies about God’s word, gets off with no punishment at all. He even requests to be buried by the man whose death he caused as though they were dear friends.
The man of God’s shortcomings are very serious. His sin is representative of the sad spiritual condition of Israel. They did not take God’s commands seriously. God could be disobeyed, man can do as he pleases, and the consequences will be none or few and insignificant. Instead of being a clear example of obeying God, he is disobedient himself. We must also ask ourselves, where does God’s judgment begin? Ezekiel 9 shows us. God calls for men with weapons of destruction in hand. Ink marks were placed on the foreheads of those who mourned for the sins of the people. They would be spared. However, in Ezekiel 9:6 God directs that the destruction of the wicked begin at His sanctuary. The killing of the wicked does not begin in Egypt, Babylon, Nineveh or Athens. It begins not even in Jerusalem in general but in the sanctuary, God’s house. Those who have the testimony of God and have heard His word, but rejected it, are first to be destroyed. We, who have the great blessing of hearing the truth of the gospel, are warned.
Do we think the wrong people involved in this history have escaped punishment? Do we think things should be different? One commentator, Matthew Henry, wrote, “We cannot judge of men by their sufferings, nor of sins by their present punishments. With some the flesh is destroyed, that the spirit may be saved; while, with others, the flesh is pampered, that the soul may ripen for hell.” Are we chastised for our sins while the wicked seem carefree? Be thankful! Such is how God deals with His sons and daughters (Heb. 12:8). God’s adopted sons and daughters are chastised, sometimes greatly. This is evidence we are covered in the blood of God’s only begotten Son.
