Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 17 September, 2023
“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
Adult Baptism
The Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 8:5-13, 26-40
Text: Acts 8:26-40
I. The Official Agent
II. The Preceding Events
III. The Christian Sacrament
Psalms: 87:1-7; 75:5-10; 68:28-32; 25:6-12
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Preparatory
For Whom Is the Lord’s Supper Instituted? [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 7
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 30
I. Those Who Sorrow Over Their Sins
II. Those Who Trust in Jesus Christ
III. Those Who Desire Spiritual Growth
Psalms: 51:1-7; 76:1-6; 130:1-8; 119:1-8
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: 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 Beacon Lights are available on the back table for subscribers. Believing and Confessing, a new RFPA book, is available for book club members.
The morning we witness the adult baptism of Sven Kuhs. May the Lord bless him as he takes these vows and give him the strength to live according to them.
This evening is a preparatory service with the view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Lord’s day morning.
Catechism classes tomorrow:
5:00 PM: Corey, Jason, Katelyn, Maisie & Sebastian (Seniors NT)
5:45 PM: Felicity, Grace, Jonas, Keagan, Liam, Lucas, Sammy, Somaya, Sophie & Yossef (Beginners OT – Book 1)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Juniors NT)
7:15 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
The Council meets tomorrow night at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to continue our consideration of the local church.
The Annual General Meeting is this Wednesday, 20 September, at 7:30 PM.
Ladies Bible Study Fellowship will start again this Thursday at 7:30PM at church. We plan to meet fortnightly, alternating between Thursday evenings and Friday mornings. We intend to discuss an individual Psalm each meeting. All ladies of the church are most welcome to join us. Any questions? Feel free to ask Beth Buchanan.
Saturday Bible study will be held this week, 23 September, at 7:30 PM, considering II Thessalonians 2.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “The Great Tribulation” (Matt. 24:9-22).
Belgic Confession class will begin again on Wednesday, 27 September at 7:30 PM.
The installation of Ivan Reid as elder and David Crossett as deacon will take place on 1 October.
Offerings: £1,670.20. Donations: £200 (New Jersey).
Translation Additions: 1 Chichewa, 1 Polish and 1 Russian.
PRC News: Classis East met this week, at which Rev. Bruinsma requested and was granted emeritation effective 1 January, 2024. Hudsonville PRC will call from a trio of Revs. Decker, W. Langerak and Noorman. Randolph PRC’s new trio is Revs. Kortus, Maatman and Smit. Lynden PRC has a trio of Revs. Engelsma, Noorman and Smit. Loveland PRC called Rev. Noorman.
Growing Wickedness in Israel
Brian D. Dykstra
I Kings 16
The developments in this chapter influence Israel’s course for years to come. God will display the consequences of sin and warn us of sin’s power.
Jeroboam’s dynasty, himself and his son Nadab, ruled twenty-two years. Baasha’s dynasty, also just himself and his son, Elah, continued for twenty-four years. Baasha was active and daring, traits we appreciate in a national leader, but he continued Israel’s idolatry. Baasha established a league with Syria to help Israel against Judah. Rehoboam had a league with Syria, but when God-fearing Asa became Judah’s king, he ended Judah’s relationship with Syria, putting his trust in God. Baasha stepped in with Syria, possibly to obtain help in trying to stop so many of Israel’s citizens from moving to Judah.
God sent His servant Jehu to announce God’s just destruction of Baasha’s house. God used Baasha, and his ambition, to bring judgment upon Jeroboam’s family. However, Baasha cannot claim his actions were righteous. God often uses sin to punish sin, and sinful men to punish sinful men. God finds Baasha’s house guilty of continuing in the idolatry of Jeroboam’s golden calves and for killing Nadab.
God’s judgment comes on Baasha’s house during Elah’s short reign. Elah’s reign ends in shame. Elah was in the city of Tirzah, a city which, surprisingly, had no walls. Zimri conspired against him. Zimri was not the general of Israel’s army, nor does he appear to be one of the highest-ranking officers. Zimri was a captain, but only over half of Israel’s chariots, so he was not a common soldier, but he wasn’t near the top of command either.
Compare what Nadab and Elah were doing when their conspirators caught up with them. When Baasha conspired against Nadab, Nadab was leading Israel in a siege against the Philistines. Nadab was at least behaving as a respectable king. Elah wasn’t. When Zimri killed Elah to take over Israel’s throne, Elah drank himself drunk in the house of his steward. Israel’s army was fighting the Philistines, besieging Gibbethon. Elah was not there leading the army in battle, sharing life on the battlefield with his men. He chose to live his life at ease, indulging his flesh in the luxuries of royal life. Drunkards are often cut off in what would be the middle of their days. We witness the spiritual decline of Israel’s kings. We learn when we fall into sin, and do not repent, we will fall farther into sin. Sin has an organic life and will grow unless rooted out through gracious repentance.
Zimri also shows Israel’s plunge into sin. Zimri was not content with killing Baasha’s family. He extended the bloodshed to the friends of the family. Zimri’s lineage isn’t mentioned, a hint that his background offered nothing outstanding in status or accomplishment. This explains why Zimri’s rule lasted a mere seven days. When the army heard of Zimri taking the throne, they left the fight with the Philistines, abandoning the siege, much to the Philistine’s relief, and advanced on Tirzah. The enemies of God’s people benefit when there’s tumult in the church. That’s why peace in the church, based on unity of doctrine and shared faith in Christ, is so important.
Zimri sees he has no support. He dies by burning the palace tower over his own head, suicide. Israel’s kings have gone from dying at the hands of conspirators on the battlefield, to being killed while drunk, and now suicide. It hadn’t really been that long since Israel turned to the sin of the golden calves under the direction of Jeroboam. Israel has sunk to this in less than fifty years.
Tibni and Omri struggle for control of Israel for about four years. Omri wins and rules for twelve years. Omri’s victory leads to the infamy of Ahab and Jezebel. We can speculate how Israel would have developed had Tibni emerged victorious, but we shouldn’t expect any major spiritual improvement in Israel had Tibni won.
Omri had his earthly successes. He built Samaria, Israel’s new capital city. Samaria sits atop a hill three hundred feet high, the sides of which were steep, a natural defence later made stronger with the addition of walls. It provides a view over the surrounding well-watered, fertile plain and command over the trade route through the plain. One commentator suggests the name is connected with the Hebrew word for “watch-post.”
Another success for Omri is that he arranges a marriage for his son Ahab. Ahab’s bride is not a commoner, but a princess, Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon. Jezebel was royalty from birth. Jewish tradition holds that Jezebel was beautiful. Omri must have regarded her as quite the catch for his son. However, she brought her idol god, Baal, with her as well as her hatred for Jehovah and His people. This is why the Bible states that Omri “did worse than all that were before him.” Omri set the stage for greater wickedness.
Ahab was worse. He introduced Baal worship because of Jezebel’s influence. Jeroboam pretended to serve God through the golden calves. Ahab isn’t even going to pretend. Baal worship is not a corrupted form of serving the true God, but outright idolatry. Ahab regarded the golden calves as mere child’s play. Israel takes a deep dive into the cesspool of idolatry. Again, sin grows quickly.
Ahab also “made a grove.” There is a dispute about the word “grove.” Of course, this is not a simple planting of fruit trees to provide food for the table. This grove is used for idolatry. Some suggest the grove could be the use of landscaping to provide private areas where men could serve fertility gods by committing adultery with the women of the temple. Others say the grove refers to the use of trees to make idols which they placed in and around the temple. Another theory is that the term refers to pillars made of wood. One pillar would represent a male and another a female, indicating that serving fertility idols was merely an excuse for men to commit adultery under the guise of assuring a fruitful growing season.
The chapter ends with Hiel rebuilding Jericho’s walls, five hundred twenty years after they fell. It is not coincidence that during Ahab’s reign someone is audacious enough to defy the curse Joshua spoke against whoever would rebuild Jericho’s walls. Hiel came from Bethel, a city associated with the worship of the golden calves, and his name means “brother of God.” Hiel certainly did not walk in brotherly, covenant communion with Him. Did his name mean he felt he was God’s equal, and, therefore, justified to do as he pleased? God wanted those walls left in ruins. The ruined walls testified, and served as a memorial, of God giving victory to His people. God reminded Israel through those ruins that He was their protector and giver of victory. We are not saved by our will or works but by His sovereign, electing grace. The ruined walls declared the gospel in Old Testament shadows.
Hiel’s oldest son died when the foundation was laid, and his youngest son died when the building was finished. Hiel’s other sons died during the course of the project. Some commentators say Hiel sacrificed his sons to praise idols and seek their blessing, an indication of Israel dreadful spiritual condition. Most, however, say God brought sudden, unexpected death upon these sons as a clear indication of God’s righteous judgment against Hiel’s brazen sin. We must take seriously God’s warnings about the consequences of willful rebellion against Him. God will deal with men according to their works. Give thanks that Jehovah deals with us according to the perfect obedience of Christ.
