Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 6 October, 2024
“My covenant was with him of life and peace” (Mal. 2:5)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 8
I. The Meaning
II. The Revelation
III. The Necessity
Psalms: 63:1-8; 107:26-31; 27:3-6; 98:1-8
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
God’s Son—So Much Better Than the Angels (22)
“Behold I and the Children Which God Hath Given Me” [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 8
Text: Hebrews 2:13
I. The Shared Humanity
II. The Wonderful Salvation
III. The Glad Presentation
Psalms: 111:1-6; 107:32-38; 16:1-4a, 8-11; 22:21-26
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
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The September Covenant Reformed News is on the back table.
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Hannah, Penelope & Xander (Seniors OT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners OT – Book 2)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Felicity, Jorja & Sophie (Juniors OT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Kyan, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 1)
The Council meets on Monday, 7 October, at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will consider what Christ taught Paul on the Damascus Road (it will help if you read Acts 9, 22 and 26 beforehand).
Rev. & Mary Stewart will be away from 9-25 October for a tour with 30 saints from the PRC in Greece and Turkey to places on Paul’s missionary journeys and the seven churches of Revelation 2-3.
Rev. & Mary Bruinsma from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, arrive on Thursday, 10 October, and return to the US on Monday, 28 October. Pastor Bruinsma will preach for us on 13, 20 and 27 October. Rev. Bruinsma’s mobile number is 001-412-848-3283 and Mary’s mobile number is 001-412-848-3285, if you would like to contact them.
The Belgic Confession classes will not meet this Wednesday, but Rev. Bruinsma will lead Bible studies on “Man’s Unique Creation” on 16 October at 7:30 PM and on “The Fall’s Effects on Man’s Creation” on 23 October at 7:30 PM.
Ladies Bible Study meets this Friday morning at 9:30 AM at church to discuss Psalm 130 using the book A 30-Day Walk with God in the Psalms.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “Gathered Unto Armageddon” (Rev. 16:10-16).
Offerings: £1,215.63. Donations: £200 (England), £100 (Co. Antrim), £85 (Rep. of Ireland).
Translation Additions: 1 French, 1 Polish, 2 Portuguese and 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Rev. Brummel is considering calls from Lynden PRC (WA) and Hope PRC (Redlands, CA). Rev. Decker received calls from Hope PRC (Walker, MI) and Southwest PRC (MI). Zion PRC (MI) called Rev. Spronk.
The PRC 100th Anniversary Celebration On-line Registration is now open. All the members of the PRC, sister churches and close contacts are encouraged to come together at Calvin University in W. Michigan from 2-6 June, 2025, to participate in this commemorative week. To attend, go to www.prca100.org/register for registration instructions.
Elijah Taken to Heaven (2)
Brian D. Dykstra
Elisha, now in possession of Elijah’s mantle, used it to part the waters of the Jordan River. The mantle was not “magic.” The mere possession of it would not enable one to “do tricks” with it. The mantle was an emblem of Elisha’s prophetic office which he now held. The sons of the prophets recognized that “the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.” Perhaps they had seen him cross the Jordan, but they now know that Elisha has taken Elijah’s office and so they show their respect for him.
The sons of the prophets notify Elisha that they have fifty men who would like to search for Elijah. They seem to believe either that Elijah is out in the wilderness somewhere, still alive and lost or that his body is out there unburied and only his spirit went to heaven. They don’t want Elijah’s body subject to the birds and animals of the wilderness.
Elisha, certain of the truth that Elijah was bodily in heaven, denied their request. Elisha did not reject the request because, if Elijah were found alive, he would then lose the position he had just received. Nor is it true that Elisha would not care if his master’s body were subjected to wild animals. Elisha knew the futility of a search.
However, the requests continued until Elisha relented and allowed the pointless search. He might have given in for the sake of peace or to show he cared about Elijah. After this, the sons of the prophets do not question Elisha again. This event reminds us of Christ’s parable of the importunate widow. Although the judge did not care about the widow, he finally granted her request so he would not be bothered any more. Our Father is far more willing to grant our petitions, and He will do so not so we will leave Him alone but because He is merciful.
Next we read of the healing of the waters near Jericho. The place was pleasant and the people there would have all they needed if the water weren’t so bad. The water made the land barren. Commentators say this barrenness did not only mean meagre harvests, but also miscarriages in herds and people.
The means of Elisha’s healing the water is strange. First, he requests a new cruse, a cruse not yet used for any mundane purpose, still pure. Elisha’s use of salt is what astounds us. Salt is what made the water a problem! How would adding more of the problem be a solution? Salt was part of every Old Testament offering. It pictured incorruption and purification. Elisha’s miracle employed the use of means, the word of God and the power of Jehovah. Also it makes no sense to think that something could be made pure by washing it in blood. Yet that is the means God uses to wash us clean of our sins, the blood of the Lamb.
The chapter closes with the mockery of Elisha. This event takes place in Bethel, a city about ten miles north of Jerusalem. Bethel, which means “house of God,” was known as a place where the golden calf was worshipped. It had a reputation for idolatry and, despite many admonitions, continued in this sin.
“Little children” mocked Elisha. Commentators agree that the AV accurately translates the Hebrew text. They disagree, however, on its interpretation. My childhood teachers must have used the same commentary because they all taught that these “little children” could range in age from seven to twelve. The lesson, then, was how these children adopted the terrible attitude which their parents had toward God’s prophets and, certainly, this is how God punishes unbelief from one generation to the next.
Other commentators, however, claim these “little children” were much older. In support of their claim, they point out that the same term was used by Solomon at the beginning of his reign to describe himself in I Kings 3:7: “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” Many say Solomon was about twenty when he began to reign. As for these mockers, commentators say the word “child” applies because children foolishly believe they will be happier if they could shake off the control of God’s commandments. As for the “little,” the suggestion is that this refers to their lack of faith. One commentator presents the outlier in the data set by saying the mockers could have been as old as forty.
The mockery referred to Elisha’s bald head. Some artists who depicted the scene of Elijah’s ascent present their viewer with a perspective from above and behind Elisha, who is illustrated with a bald head. There is a claim that Elisha was not bald at all but that calling someone “bald” was a common expression of contempt for that culture. Similarly, we might refer to someone as a “rube” even though we know they live in the city.
The mockers showed their hatred for Elisha by telling him to “go up.” It is not the case that they would desire Elisha to experience the happiness of heaven just as Elijah did. They are showing they have no use for Elisha and do not want to have him around admonishing them for their sins. They want Elisha to go to heaven so they can be left alone to work out their wickedness unimpeded.
Elisha cursed them “in the name of the Lord.” This shows he did not curse the mockers because of his hurt feelings and sought personal vengeance. He knew the attitude these mockers have shown to him was actually against God, who sends two she bears who kill forty-two of them. God is not mocked. There is judgment to come for the world which continues to fill its cup of iniquity in its burning hate against anything to do with God, His Son, His truth and His servants on the earth. We thank God for delivering us from the coming judgment!
