Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 8 September, 2024
“My covenant was with him of life and peace” (Mal. 2:5)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
God’s Son—So Much Better Than the Angels (19)
He Who Sanctifies and They Who Are Sanctified [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2
Text: Hebrews 2:11
I. The Two Parties
II. The Basic Relationship
III. The Unashamed Naming
Psalms: 65:1-5; 106:14-20; 22:22-27; 40:5-9
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Satisfaction of God’s Justice [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 27:11-26
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 5
I. The Terrible Need for Satisfaction
II. The Proposed Providers of Satisfaction
III. The True Provider of Satisfaction
Psalms: 26:6-12; 106:21-28; 5:4-10; 99:1-7
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)
We welcome Alicia Prins from Trinity PRC to our services today.
Catechism begins tomorrow night, 9 September. Please remember to sign and return the consent forms.
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)
8:00 PM: Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials) – begins 16 September
8:45 PM: Alex & Nathan (Pre-confession) – begins 16 September
The Council meets on Monday, 9 September, at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will consider further the source of Paul’s teaching.
Ladies Bible Study starts again this Friday at 9:30 AM at our church building. We will be discussing Psalm 32 using the book A 30-Day Walk with God in the Psalms.
The Men’s Bible study is this Saturday, 14 September, at 7:30 PM on-line, to discuss Amos 5.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “The Rise of Counterfeit Christianity” (Mark 13:21-23).
After the evening service on Sunday, 15 September, there will be an election of office-bearers, first, for the office of elder: Brian Crossett (3-year term) – approve or disapprove. Second, due to age/health issues with our elders, we are having an election for a third elder: David Crossett or Joe McCaughern (2-year term). If David is chosen as elder, we would then have an election for the office of deacon: Joe McCaughern (3-year term) – approve or disapprove.
There will be tea after the evening service next Lord’s day, 15 September, as we bid farewell to Cheryl.
Offerings: £1,565.55. Donations: £200 (England), £50 (Scotland), £10 (England).
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 18 September at 7:30 PM.
The Belgic Confession classes will begin for the season on Wednesday, 25 September.
Translation Additions: 2 Hungarian, 1 Polish, 2 Portuguese and 6 Spanish.
Immanuel PRC Singles Retreat: In less than 40 weeks, you could be in Alberta, Canada for the 2025 Singles Retreat! You could try poutine, spend a toonie, and wear a toque or do all three together for a full Canadian experience (5-10 June, 2025 // Ages 21+ // Lacombe, AB // Facebook: “Immanuel PRC Singles Retreat”). Registration info will be shared in the coming months!
The Captains and Their Fifties
Brian D. Dykstra
II Kings 1
Our treatment of I Kings ended with the death of Ahab. II Kings begins with the reign of Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, whose name means, “Jehovah sustains.” That is a remarkable name for Ahab and Jezebel’s son. This certainly was not their prayer for their son since they never sought God. Perhaps the name was merely a nod to Israel’s religious heritage.
The first news Scripture gives us concerning Ahaziah’s reign is that Moab rebelled against Israel. Moab witnessed how Israel’s last battle with Syria did not end well for Israel. Moab also knows Israel’s new king is inexperienced. Now is the time for Moab to test Israel. Moab was to pay tribute to Israel each year. If payment were not made, the understanding was that Israel could attack Moab and take what was wanted as the spoils of war, leaving Moab more impoverished than if she had made her payment. Israel’s response to this challenge, however, must wait. Ahaziah has other, more pressing matters which demand his attention.
Ahaziah has fallen through a lattice in his upper chamber. There is a debate about the lattice. A lattice is a framework of crossed wooden strips which is placed in an opening to provide a combination of protection and light. The debate centres on whether the lattice was on the palace roof or in a wall. Israelites used their flat roofs in the way we use patios and decks. The lattice would allow light to enter the area beneath. Perhaps the lattice should never have been walked upon or the wood had unexpectedly lost its strength, causing Ahaziah to fall to the room beneath. If the lattice were in a wall, perhaps Ahaziah was leaning on it to enjoy the air and view. This fall would result in landing on a covered gallery which ran around the court as a veranda.
As a result, Ahaziah is sick. He is concerned enough about his condition to want to inquire if he will recover. Although he is Israel’s king and should encourage the worship of God by his faithful example, he sends messengers to Ekron to inquire of Baal-zebub. This is, of course, a terrible violation of the first commandment and an insult to the only, true God. God will not let this go, nor will He give Ahaziah a bit of credit for at least going to some deity.
Ekron was the northernmost of the Philistines’ principal cities. It was nearly due west of Jerusalem. Visitors in the 1800s reported on how pestilential the flies were in the area. Baal-zebub is the god of the flies. Some say this idol was the patron of medicine. If such were the case, Ahaziah does not have much confidence in him, for he does not ask what he must do to recover. He merely asks whether he shall recover. Ahaziah has concern for his physical life. He is not at all anxious about what will happen to his soul.
Ahaziah’s messengers meet Elijah. Elijah announces the king will die. Rather than continuing to Ekron, the messengers return to the king, who recognizes that they have returned far too soon to have gone all the way to Ekron and back. After hearing the announcement of his pending death, Ahaziah asks for a description of the man they met. First, he was hairy. A minority of commentators say perhaps Elijah had allowed his hair and beard to become unkempt. Most, however, say this refers to Elijah’s outer coat of camel’s or goat’s hair, the traditional apparel for a prophet. Elijah also had a leather girdle. The girdle was not soft, stylish or glamorous. It was simple leather, designed for ease of movement, not ornamentation or warmth.
Ahaziah recognizes the source of the message. He is not going to endure such talk from Elijah. The sending of a captain with fifty men to arrest Elijah was a hostile act. We cannot help but wonder what Ahaziah would have done had he received the same message from Baal-zebub’s messenger. The first captain did not struggle to find Elijah; he knew where to find him. The captain refers to Elijah as a “man of God.” He is not recognizing Elijah’s great position. He is merely using the traditional address. Did he use the term with scorn in his voice? As evidence that Elijah was truly a man of God, fire descends from heaven and consumes the captain and his fifty.
When the report comes to Ahaziah, he sends another captain and his fifty. This captain is even more disrespectful. Both captains spoke of the king demanding Elijah to come down. They act as though the king they represent is greater than the King whom Elijah represents. Neither captain thought Elijah was worth the trouble of going up the slope to meet Elijah. They just order him to come down. This second captain even adds an impudent “quickly” to his command. We don’t know how long the time interval was between these two visits. If the charred bodies of the first group were still on the ground, we are astounded by this captain’s attitude. He and his men earn the same reward as the first group. It is important to keep in mind that Elijah did not call for fire from heaven out of anger, personal spite or sudden, passionate hatred or revenge. This fire is to vindicate the one, only, true God, the Jehovah whom Elijah represents.
Upon hearing the news of the deaths of another captain and his fifty, Ahaziah sends another captain and his fifty. What will it take for the king to learn his lesson? It would be one thing if the king took this captain aside and told him that he should try another approach in dealing with Elijah. Perhaps he shouldn’t be so haughty but display some humility instead. We read nothing of the kind. Unbelief is very proud and stubborn. Matthew Henry wrote of Ahaziah, “Obstinate sinners must be convinced and conquered, at last, by the fire of hell, for fire from heaven, it seems, will not subdue them.”
Despite not having received any instruction from the king, this third captain approaches Elijah with a different attitude. Rather than commanding Elijah to come to him, he takes the time and makes the effort to go up the hill to Elijah. He falls on his knees and beseeches Elijah to hold his life and the lives of his men as precious. He did not call Elijah a man of God with any sneer in his voice but with reverence. Though he has Elijah outnumbered fifty-one to one, he knows who has the greater strength in this encounter. If this captain shows such reverence in approaching Elijah, with how much more reverence should we approach our Heavenly Father when we go to Him in prayer?
The angel of the Lord tells Elijah to go with him and not to be afraid of him. The pronoun “him,” does not refer to the captain. We can see in these three encounters with the captains that Elijah knows he has no need to fear these men. The “him” must refer to the king. Elijah can stand before the king knowing God will protect him from the king’s wrath.
Once in the presence of Ahaziah, Elijah delivers the same message from God. Elijah does not decide that now, being face to face with Israel’s king, it is time to change his message. Elijah’s faith gives him courage to deliver God’s word. God’s ministers must proclaim God’s Word as revealed to them, not fearing the faces of men or being concerned about the reaction a stern word of admonition might draw from the congregation. We saints are still children, in need of frequent reproof. As always, God’s word is fulfilled. Ahaziah dies. Since he had no son to succeed him to the throne, his brother, Jehoram, follows him.
