His Love of Her Love [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 4:8–15]

What does Christ think of His church on their wedding day? Song of Songs 4:8–15 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ delights in His church’s presence with Him, and in her He takes great pleasure. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional unfolds the profound intimacy between Christ and His church, portrayed through the Song of Songs, emphasizing that the Lord’s greatest delight is His bride’s love—expressed in heart, word, and deed. Central to this union is the image of the bride as a sealed garden and fountain, a private, sacred space of divine pleasure, yet one that overflows with life-giving fruit for others.

2026.01.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 4:8–15

Read Song of Songs 4:8–15

Questions from the Scripture text: What invitation does Song of Songs 4:8 give? What does the Bridegroom say that the bride has done (Song of Songs 4:9)? How? What does He say about her love (Song of Songs 4:10), even compared to what two things? What two things does He superlatively praise in Song of Songs 4:11? How does He describe her in Song of Songs 4:12? What does He call her, here, for the third time (cf. Song of Songs 4:10, Song of Songs 4:11)? What plants does He describe as flourishing in that garden (Song of Songs 4:13-14)? What water sources does it have (Song of Songs 4:15)? 

What does Christ think of His church on their wedding day? Song of Songs 4:8–15 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ delights in His church’s presence with Him, and in her He takes great pleasure. 

The wedding has taken place, and now He calls her “spouse” in five consecutive verses (Song of Songs 4:8-12). This passage on her beauty begins with an invitation, “Come with me” (Song of Songs 4:8a). Now that they are married, He insists that she always be with Him—no matter from how remotely (verse 8b–f). Their being together should be the great desire of the bride, because it is the great desire of the Bridegroom (Song of Songs 4:9). 

The church is Christ’s great love and desire. And, the first thing He loves about her is… her love (Song of Songs 4:10)! He loves, in her, what we began the song by hearing that she loves in Him (cf. Song of Songs 1:2–3). He loves her perfumes, her graces/adornments, which constitute likeness to Himself. Thirdly, He loves her praise, the fruit of her lips (Song of Songs 4:11). It all drips richly, sweetly, like honey—her prayers, her songs, her preaching; it is not superficial or light but thick and rich. He loves the worship that is the fruit of her lips. Indeed, not just on the lips, but even when it is still under the tongue—He loves the worship of her thoughts, her heart. Finally, He loves her actions, the garments with which He has clothed he (cf. Revelation 19:8). 

In the last four verses of our passage, the church is Christ’s garden (Song of Songs 4:12, cf. Isaiah 58:11; Jeremiah 31:12). Just as great palaces would have a royal garden for the delight of the king, so she has been prepared for Him. She has come out of the wilderness, and now she is a garden. She is “enclosed,” “shut up,” and “sealed,” because she has only one object of all of her devotion, affection, and obedience. These proceed from her continually, as from a fountain or a spring. The garden is developed in Song of Songs 4:13-14, and the spring/fountain in Song of Songs 4:15, expressing the great variety, preciousness, and usefulness of what Christ produces in His church. His pleasure is all her aim, but from her riches, He offers much to the world.

How are you responding to Christ’s desire for the presence of His church? To His taking pleasure in her?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your marvelous work in Your bride, the church. We rejoice to see Your delight in her on Your wedding day. Keep working in us by Your Spirit, and make us delightful for You to delight in, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH471 “The Sands of Time Are Sinking”

Watch Out for Babbling Fools [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 10:11–15]

What is dangerous, like an angry king? Ecclesiastes 10:11–15 prepares us for the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a talking fool is dangerous, like an angry king. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) This passage presents a sobering portrait of the fool as a dangerous and self-destructive figure whose speech leads inevitably to ruin, likened to a venomous serpent that strikes when uncharmed, requiring expert handling. The fool’s words, marked by endless babbling and reckless prognostication, begin in folly and end in madness, ultimately entombing both himself and those who follow him. The passage calls believers to discernment, urging them to recognize the marks of folly—excessive speech and false predictions.

2026.01.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 10:11–15

Read Ecclesiastes 10:11–15

Questions from the Scripture text: When does the serpent bite (Ecclesiastes 10:11a)? Who else requires great wisdom to negate his harmful effects (verse 11b)? What do the words of a wise man give (Ecclesiastes 10:12a)? What do the lips of a fool do (verse 12b)? How do his words begin (Ecclesiastes 10:13a)? How does his talk end (verse 13b)? What does a fool do with his words (Ecclesiastes 10:14a)? What does a man not know (verse 14b)? What can’t he do with the future (verse 14c)? What does all of the fool’s effort accomplish (Ecclesiastes 10:15a)? What is an example of something obvious that they can’t accomplish (verse 15b)? 

What is dangerous, like an angry king? Ecclesiastes 10:11–15 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a talking fool is dangerous, like an angry king. 

Sandwiched in between sections detailing the wise man’s response to foolish kingship is this section, warning the wise about the difficulty presented by the fool and his speech. Ecclesiastes 10:11 puts the babbler on the level of the serpent; great skill is needed, and diligence required, to keep him from doing harm. The wise man seeks to always give grace with his words (Ecclesiastes 10:12a, cf. Colossians 4:6). The fool harms not just others but himself—the image in Ecclesiastes 10:12b would be humorous, if it wasn’t so tragic: his lips open wider and wider, until they become his own tomb. He is unaware that his speech is insane from start to finish (Ecclesiastes 10:13), and one big problem is that he never seems to finish (Ecclesiastes 10:14a). He continually speaks of what he doesn’t know—even the future (verse 14b). And this makes him exhausting (Ecclesiastes 10:15a), because he really doesn’t know anything (not even how to get from his own home to the city, verse 15b). Steer clear of fools and their talk!

How careful/intentional are you to steer clear of those who multiply words about foolishly? When might that be you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for misusing and multiplying words. When we should have been giving grace, we swallowed ourselves up instead. And, forgive us for failing to heed Your warnings about other fools, who multiply harmfully ignorant words, as if they knew so much. Forgive us, and help us, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent, Who Will Reside” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2026.01.21 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

To tune in for the Prayer Meeting, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

Covenantally Blessed [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 28:1–14]

What are the obligations and benefits of covenant with God? Deuteronomy 28:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant with God obligates us to obey Him Himself, and promises us the blessing of Him Himself. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This devotional centers on the conditional blessings promised in Deuteronomy 28:1–14, where obedience to God’s commandments results in material prosperity, national supremacy, and spiritual holiness. The ultimate fulfillment of these blessings is not in temporal prosperity alone, but in the eternal reality of the new heavens and new earth, where God Himself is the source and substance of all blessing. The call is to recognize Christ as King, to receive all good things with gratitude, and to know God Himself as our supreme blessedness in every blessing, and even amid hardship.

2026.01.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 28:1–14

Read Deuteronomy 28:1–14

Questions from the Scripture text: When would the following things come to pass (Deuteronomy 28:1)? How does verse 1 summarize all of the following blessings? What will the blessings do (Deuteronomy 28:2)? Why? Where will they be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:3)? What fruit will be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:4)? What provision will be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:5)? What goings will be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:6)? What will happen to their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:7)? What efforts will be blessed (Deuteronomy 28:8)? What sort of people will they be (Deuteronomy 28:9)? Who will see this (Deuteronomy 28:10)? With what effect? By what means will He do all this blessing (Deuteronomy 28:11-12)? How will they relate to the nations (Deuteronomy 28:12-13)? What must they do with His commandments (Deuteronomy 28:13)? What mustn’t they do (Deuteronomy 28:14)? What would any turning aside be tantamount to doing?

What are the obligations and benefits of covenant with God? Deuteronomy 28:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that covenant with God obligates us to obey Him Himself, and promises us the blessing of Him Himself.  

In Israel’s national covenant with God, He promises to meet their obedience with blessing.

Obedience. The conditionality of this blessing is clear at the bookends of the passage. Obeying, they must obey YHWH’s voice as their covenant God (Deuteronomy 28:1a); and, keeping, they shall keep all His commandments (verse 1b). This obedience is to be personal (“voice,” “your”) and comprehensive (“all”). These blessings will not just come to them, but hunt them down, if they “obey the voice of YHWH your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2). This appears in the middle of the passage: “if you keep the commandments of YHWH your God and walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 28:9). And it appears again, at the other bookend: they are to heed the commandments of YHWH, their covenant God (Deuteronomy 28:13). This is personal, since turning from any of these words is the same as going after other gods (Deuteronomy 28:14). Whomever they obey, that is their God. 

Who would your God be, by this measure? Your belly? Your amusement? Your wealth? God grant that it would be He. And may He do so by His Word. Moses emphasizes the personal encounter with God in His Word. Although this obedience, and its blessing, is especially tied to the land, He repeatedly emphasizing that right now, in the moment that He is preaching to them, the Lord is personally engaging them by this preaching. Note the words “today” (Deuteronomy 28:1), “today” (Deuteronomy 28:14a), and “this day” (verse 14b). 

Material blessing. Material things are not bad. Here, as in Eden from the creation, and in the New Heavens and Earth in the age to come, the Lord blesses His people with material blessing. He uses opposites to show how complete this blessing is; He will bless them everywhere (in city and country, Deuteronomy 28:3), all the time (when they come in or go out, Deuteronomy 28:6). He will make their ground and cattle and flocks fruitful (Deuteronomy 28:4), so that their basket and kneading bowl are blessed (Deuteronomy 28:5), and their storehouses will be blessed with the fruit of the promised land (Deuteronomy 28:8). These are royal gifts from His own storehouse/treasury (Deuteronomy 28:11-12a). Though the Lord has not initiated such a covenant with our nation, yet when we enjoy these things, we also are receiving from His royal treasury, and looking forward to final and full material blessing.

Spiritual blessing. Greater than, but not separate from, the material blessing is the spiritual blessing that YHWH promises His people. They will be consecrated high above the rest of the earth (end of Deuteronomy 28:1, cf. Deuteronomy 28:13a). Their bodies will bear the fruit of multiplied image-bearers and saints (Deuteronomy 28:4a, Deuteronomy 28:11b). Their enemies will be defeated (Deuteronomy 28:7). The essence of this blessing is stated at the heart of the passage: “YHWH will establish you as a holy people to Himself” (Deuteronomy 28:9a). 

This is the ultimate blessing, in all of these other blessings: having YHWH Himself, belonging to YHWH Himself. If you are understanding your other blessings well, dear Christian, then you know Him Himself to be your blessedness in each of them.

How are you receiving/hearing God’s commandments in a way that is very personal? What material blessings have you been enjoying? What material blessings do you have a sure hope of receiving/enjoying? What spiritual blessings have you been enjoying? What spiritual blessings do you have a sure hope of receiving/enjoying? How has your enjoyment of each blessing, and response to it, showed that the Lord Himself is your blessing in each of them?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have not taken Your commandments personally, as delivered to us by Your voice. You have personally engaged us with Your Word; grant unto us to obey each and every thing that You say to us. You have give us so much, materially and spiritually, for which we have neglected to be thankful. And we have often enjoyed the material or spiritual blessing, while forgetting that You Yourself are the great blessing that You give, in each gift that You bestow upon us. Forgive us, through Christ, and make us to be like Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me” 

Beauty of the Perfected Bride [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 4:1–7]

How beautiful is the church on her wedding day? Song of Songs 4:1–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, on their wedding day, the Lord will have made His church faultlessly beautiful with His own beauty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Song of Songs 4:1–7 portrays the Bridegroom’s profound love for His bride on their wedding day. Central to the message is the perfection of the bride—her beauty now complete, spotless, and fully aligned with Christ, reflecting the ultimate sanctification of the church (and her members) at the consummation of history. Through vivid imagery—dove’s eyes, flowing hair, flawless teeth, blushing temples, a royal neck, and nurturing breasts—the devotional unpacks how each feature symbolizes spiritual maturity: purity of understanding, humility, faith, modesty, dignity, and the ability to nourish others. These attributes are not mere physical descriptions but spiritual realities fulfilled in the Church’s union with Christ, culminating in His presenting her to Himself without spot or wrinkle. Pastor calls his family to long for and labor toward this perfected state, both personally and corporately, as a response to Christ’s redemptive work and a longing for His return, when the Church will be fully glorified and united with Him in eternal joy.

2026.01.20 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 4:1–7

Read Song of Songs 4:1–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the Bridegroom say to His bride (Song of Songs 4:1a)? How many times (verse 1b)? What does He compliment in verse 1c? And in verse 1d–e? And in Song of Songs 4:2? What does He say about them? And in Song of Songs 4:3a? What does He say about them? And in verse 3b? And verse 3c–d? What does He say about them? And in Song of Songs 4:4? What does He say about it? And in Song of Songs 4:5? What does He say about them? Where does He say that He will go (Song of Songs 4:6c–d, cf. Song of Songs 3:6)? Until when (Song of Songs 4:6a–b)? What does He say about her in Song of Songs 4:7 (cf. Ephesians 5:27)? 

How beautiful is the church on her wedding day? Song of Songs 4:1–7 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, on their wedding day, the Lord will have made His church faultlessly beautiful with His own beauty. 

Song of Songs 4:1–5:1 take us into the conversation between the Bridegroom and the bride on their wedding day. In these seven verses, He praises her and declares His intentions to her, leading up to the invitation in Song of Songs 4:8. 

The inclusio in Song of Songs 4:1a–b and Song of Songs 4:7 declares her beauty. It is to verse 7 that Ephesians 5:27 refers, when describing the end goal of all Christ’s work in His bride: making her only, entirely beautiful and spotless.

In Song of Songs 4:1-5, He focuses on many aspects of this beauty that He is producing in the church. 

The dove’s eyes (Song of Songs 4:1c) we have seen already in Song of Songs 1:15, signifying Spirit-given innocence, especially in seeing and knowing the Lord Jesus. 

The hair (Song of Songs 4:1d–e) being most indicative of adornment, with respect to the church must especially refer to her good works and godliness, as the apostles understood (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:3–4). 

The teeth (Song of Songs 4:2) have reference especially to feeding, and in the church’s case, especially the faith by which we take Christ and receive and appropriate Him to ourselves; in this case, the bride’s faith is eager (verse 2a) and clean (verse 2b) and fruitful (verse 2c–d). 

The lips for speaking (Song of Songs 4:3a), and the mouth for singing and kissing (verse 3b), refer to the church’s beautiful communications to her Bridegroom, which she does with the beautiful modesty and humility of one who blushes appropriately (verse 3c–d). 

Song of Songs 4:4 makes its own elaboration upon the neck, focusing upon its strength, strong necks being indicative of nobility and royalty. 

The breasts (Song of Songs 4:5) are part of the loveliness of a wife to her husband, on this her wedding day—their beauty being especially the promise of nourishing their children. Here is the church’s aptness to edify, giving the pure spiritual milk of the Word (cf. 1 Peter 2:2). This capacity for edification is obtained from her Beloved, the Shepherd, as He feeds His flock (Song of Songs 4:5c, cf. Song of Songs 2:16b). 

He has beautified her, and overcome the distance between them, answering her prayer (Song of Songs 4:6a–b, cf. Song of Songs 2:17). It is no longer their separation that is mountainous, but rather her likeness to Him (Song of Songs 4:6c–d, cf. Song of Songs 3:6c–d). Her great beauty is her likeness to Him, and He will delight in her forever!

What is beautiful to Christ? How can you obtain it and grow in it? What may you look forward to by it?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for loving us and giving yourself up for us, to cleanse us by the washing of water of Your Word. Continue Your Work in us, until You present us faultless to Yourself on the last day, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH471 “The Sands of Time Are Sinking” 

The Origin of All Your Sin [Children's Catechism 36 Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 36—especially explaining how our sin in Adam is both our first sin and the origin of all of our other sins.

Q36. What is that sinful nature which we inherit from Adam called? Original sin. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) The lesson centers on the doctrine of original sin, emphasizing that humanity’s sinfulness, contracted in Adam, is not merely a pattern of behavior but our very nature, which is inherently corrupt and deserving of divine judgment. The teaching challenges the notion that mere desires or inclinations are innocent, affirming instead that even the inclination to sin is sinful and requires forgiveness. The remedy is found in being transferred from the first Adam into the second Adam—Jesus Christ—Whose righteousness is both imputed to our account and imparted to our character.