2025.08.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 3:16–22

Read Ecclesiastes 3:16–22

Questions from the Scripture text: Where has Solomon looked in v16a? What place, under the sun, does he see (v16b)? And what is there (v16c)? And what place in v16d? And what is there (v16e)? Where does he speak in v17a? What will God do to whom (v17b)? Why (v17c, cf. v1a, 15c)? About whom does Solomon speak in v18? What does God do to them? So that they can know that they are comparable to whom? How are they comparable (v19–20)? But where/when does the difference become apparent (v21)? What is the implied answer to the question about who knows their spirits? What does Solomon perceive that men should do in v22? As what, from God, does he receive his enjoyment? What does he not know about, that he should not make the source of his joy? 

How should we make application of the reality of our death? Ecclesiastes 3:16–22 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live as those who will be judged by God, and as those who receive our life as a portion from God.

Death as solution. Thinking about the judgment that God renders (v15c) reminds Solomon that there are men who are supposed to render judgment (v16). Sadly, many of these men are wicked. This is a problem that continues in our own nation and day. The solution to the wicked judgments of men is the righteous judgment of God. God is both sovereign over the wicked actions of wicked creatures (v17c, 1a), and will judge those very actions (v17b, 15c).  When we see injustice in this world, let us remember that the wages of sin is death, and the Lord justly pays out those wages.

Death as a problem. Death is a problem for the pride of man (v18), because it reduces him to the level of the animal (v19): dust that is returning to dust (v20). We need to remember that we are but creatures, not Creator. We need to remember that we are sinners, deserving of death (cf. Gen 3:19). We need to remember that death has even come to the animals because of our sin. 

The solution to death. Because of a translation error, many versions make I sound like v21 is wondering whether it is actually the case that the spirit of the sons of Adam (singular in v19, 21) go upward. v21 is asserting a certainty: although man dies, like animals do, man’s death is not like the animal’s death. His soul returns to the One Who made it. It is appointed to man to die once, then after that the judgment (cf. Heb 9:27). We must live mindfully of what will happen when we meet our Maker.

The one who lives by faith in the Lord is able to rejoice in the works that God gives him to do, because those works, and that joy, are a portion given him by God (v22a). It is a mistake to find purpose or pleasure in the lasting effect of our works, because we can’t know what that effect will be (v22b, cf. 2:18–21). Rather, our purpose and pleasure must be in the God to Whom we must return, and Who gives us our life and our joy. 

How often do you think about your death? Whom will you see? What do you think that will be like for you? Why do you think it will be like that for you? Why should you enjoy your own works?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for Your righteous judgment. Please give us righteous judges. And forgive us for when we are unjust with others. We thank You for reminding us that You are our Creator, and that we must die once and then after that the judgment. Forgive us for living as if we exist for ourselves. Make us to receive our life, and our works, and our enjoyment of them, as a portion from You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH222 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

2025.08.17 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

Click below for the:

August 17 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 21:23–46 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 6:1–9 sermon outline

We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

2025.08.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 21:23–46

Read Matthew 21:23–46

Questions from the Scripture text: Into where did Jesus come (v23)? Who confronted Him? What two things do they ask? What condition does Jesus give for an answer (v24)? What question does He ask (v25)? What is their concern with each possible answer (v25–26)? What do they answer (v27a)? So, what does Jesus answer them (v27b)? How does He continue to answer (v28)? What did the man in the parable have? What does he tell the first son to do? What does the son say, but what does the son do (v29)? What does he tell the second son (v30)? What does the second son say, but what does he do? What question does Jesus now ask (v31)? What do they answer? How does Jesus apply the parable to them? How did John come to them (v32)? How did they respond to John? Who responded properly? What impact did this fail to have? What does He proceed to tell them in v33? About whom? What did this landowner do? To whom does he lease the vineyard? What time drew near (v34)? What did the landowner do? But what do the vinedressers do (v35)? Then what does he do, and what do they do (v36)? What does he do last of all (v37)? And what do they do with the son, and why (v38–39)? With what question does Jesus conclude the parable (v40)? What do they answer (v41)? What does Jesus ask them in v42? To what does He compare the vinedressers? What did they reject (analogously to the son of the landowner)? But what happened to this stone? But Whom does Jesus say has done his? And how do the people respond? To whom does Jesus now apply both the parable and Ps 118:22 (v43)? What will be taken from whom? To whom will it be given? What will happen to whom (v44)? Who heard these parables (v45)? What did they perceive? What did they seek to do to Him (v46)? Why didn’t they?

From where does questioning Jesus come? Matthew 21:23–46 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that questioning Jesus comes from a heart that is in danger of being destroyed.

The chief priests and the elders challenge Jesus (v23) concerning His authority to cleanse the temple. Jesus’s answer isn’t a dodge of the question but an explanation of why they cannot have the answer. John has already proclaimed Jesus’s authority (v24–25). But he came in the way of righteousness (v32), and even tax collectors and prostitutes were more responsive to him. Because the chief priests and elders care more about appearances (v25–26) than righteousness, they would not be able to receive Jesus’s testimony any more than John’s (v27). 

If we care about righteousness, we must receive the witness of Christ’s prophets in the Scriptures, which is to receive His own witness.

These priests and elders have made a display about willingness to obey God, like the second son (v30), but when God sent His own Son into the world, they did not give the obedience of receiving Him. Yet, tax collectors and prostitutes, who had initially rejected the will of God (v29a) repented (v29b) at the preaching of John (v32).

There is a lesson here about pretended religion vs the true work of God that produces righteousness from the heart.

And there is a lesson here about the sheer grace at work, when God gives this repentance. He is pleased to give it to the “worst” sorts of sinners. He will be pleased to give it to you! 

Finally, Jesus finishes this encounter by teaching a parable about God’s forthcoming response to them. Their self-interest was on the verge of breeding murder of God’s Son, just as it had previously bred murder of His servants the prophets (v33–v39). 

But as these hired builders/vinedressers reject the stone/Son, it is all under the sovereign and gracious providence of God. Not only is the Lord’s graciously making Him the chief cornerstone “the Lord’s Doing,” but even His sovereignly doing so by means of the builders’ rejecting Him is also the Lord’s doing! For, it is His intention to build a covenant nation out of Christ (v43).

And it is not just the Father Who will “destroy them miserably” (v41). They harm themselves by their assault upon Christ (v44a), and He will add to that His own devastating retribution (v44b). 

Sadly, our sin makes us completely blind. Those who knew the obvious answer in v41 fail to see how their own response in v45–46 demonstrated exactly what Jesus was saying about them. To others, it was being granted to take Jesus for a prophet. Others were ahead of them for entering the kingdom! God give us, dear reader, to realize the truth about ourselves, so that we might turn from ourselves unto Jesus. Otherwise, we might find ourselves blind to the fact that resistance to Jesus is both harming ourselves provoking Him to righteous wrath against us.

How have you responded to God’s offer of repentance? In what ways are you taking shape and direction from Jesus as your cornerstone?

Sample prayer:  Lord, give us to kiss the Son before His wrath is kindled even a little. By Your Spirit, make us to be those blessed who put our trust in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”

2025.08.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 6:1–9

Deuteronomy 6:1–9

Questions from the Scripture text: What had Who commanded Moses to teach (Deuteronomy 6:1)? To whom? So that they may do what? Where? What would they do to Yahweh (Deuteronomy 6:2)? Who is He to them? What would they keep? Who would keep it? How long? With what result? And what other results (Deuteronomy 6:3)? How can they know this would happen? What is the command in Deuteronomy 6:4? To whom? What is the declaration in verse 4? What are they commanded to do in Deuteronomy 6:5? With how much of their heart? With how much of their soul? With how much of their strength? What shall be where (Deuteronomy 6:6)? What shall they do with the commandments in their heart (Deuteronomy 6:7)? In what manner? To whom? In what four situations shall they talk about them? What does that leave? What two other things are they to do with the Lord’s words (Deuteronomy 6:8)? And on what two places to write them (Deuteronomy 6:9)?

How are God’s people as a whole prospered? Deuteronomy 6:1–9 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Scripture-saturated religious habits in the heart and the home are the means by which God prospers His people as a whole. 

In this passage, the prospering of the entire nation of God’s people (Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 6:3), and of generations of God’s people (Deuteronomy 6:2), is connected directly to the day-by-day, moment-by-moment living of each particular household among that people (Deuteronomy 6:6).

Yahweh Himself is the point of all things’ existence (Deuteronomy 6:4). And this is true, in a special way, of those to whom He has given Himself as their very own covenant God in order that they would love Him with every part and aspect of who they are and what they have (Deuteronomy 6:5). 

Surely, you who have been redeemed by Christ and His blood, you whom God has taken to Himself as His very own covenant people, you to whom God has given Himself as your very own covenant God… surely You wish to make all of your living into a loving of Him with all that you are!

But what does it look like? Is it an emotional ecstasy that you experience as you go about doing whatever you otherwise would have done? Is it a volitional exercise, in which you do those things but offer your will in them unto the Lord? Is it merely measured by doing the right things with as much effort as possible? It is all of these things, but Deuteronomy 6:6-9  teach us that He Himself has made it all about His words: His words in the heart, His words in the hearing (and speaking), His words on the hand, His words in the head, and His words on the house.

Heart. “These words shall be in your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). The “heart” was used of the control center for the intellect, emotions, and will. God’s word must control the basic instruction set at the center of who we are, determining everything else about us. God’s word must be the non-negotiable, inalterable architecture of our “CPU.” However accurately we think about Him, mushily we feel about who we think He is, or diligently we obey His words, it isn’t love unto Him unless these things are in control of our identity, our being, our life. So when we read on our own, or consider His Word in family worship or public worship, we ourselves must be formed and shaped by His Word. It’s not enough to have that Word direct various other things about us. It must be in our hearts.

Hearing. The fundamental command in Deuteronomy 6:4 was to “hear” … “these words which I command you today” (Deuteronomy 6:6). How can the words get to the heart unless they are first received? God’s primary method for our receiving them is hearing. Yes, there is benefit to reading God’s Word, and we are commanded to do so in Scripture (cf. 1 Timothy 4:13, Revelation 1:3). But God especially uses the hearing (cf. Romans 10:14–15). So here, the command is “hear” in Deuteronomy 6:4 and then “you shall teach them diligently” (Deuteronomy 6:7a) and “you shall talk of them” (verse 7b). God’s plan for getting His words into our hearts is that we hear His words from a preacher. And God’s plan for getting His words into our children’s hearts is that they hear His words not only from a preacher but also from their parents.

Where should our children hear the Scriptures from us? Everywhere. “When you sit in your house” (Deuteronomy 6:7c), we should not “relax” from being “on” with God’s Word. That’s specifically where we should be verbalizing it. Where we make it auditorily available to our children. And when we go out—"when you walk by the way” (verse 7d)—we are not to “tone it down” because we’re “in public.” No, that also is a specific place that we should talk of God’s words. We mustn’t deprive our children based upon location (and who knows who else might get to hear those words as they eavesdrop upon us?).

When should our children hear the Scriptures from us? All the time. But especially “when you lie down” (Deuteronomy 6:7e). Speaking to them from Scripture isn’t just something that we are to do throughout the day, but we should have a special time of it at the end of the day. And especially “when you rise up” (verse 7f). We should have a special time of speaking God’s words to our children at the beginning of the day. This habit of stated times of discussing God’s Word with them is what facilitates saturating the rest of the day with that Word. The bookends of the day determine the manner in which we live through all the time in between.

Hand. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand” (Deuteronomy 6:8a). God’s words should determine what we are going to do and the way in which we are going to do it. But that needs to be evident to more than just ourselves. The words are to be “as a sign on your hand”—there should be a clearly evident connection that someone who hears those words and then sees what your hand does. Our children should be able to tell that the things that we are always talking about with them from the Scripture are the very things that determine what we do and how we do it. In this way, not only do you tell them the role that God’s words should have in their lives, but by observation of this “sign on your hand” they are also able to see what that looked like in your life, so that they can apply it to theirs.

Head. “They shall be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 6:8b). Put your finger upon the bridge of your nose. Because you have binocular vision, the way that you see anything else will be affected, shaped by the presence of your finger. God’s words should be like that to us: affecting how we see anything and everything. But again, for our children, that should be evident to them. It’s strange to see someone who has always worn glasses around you without them, or who has always had a beard with it shaved off. And our seeing things according to God’s words should be so normal to our children, that they would find us strange-looking indeed if this ever were not the case.

House. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:9). The Scripture-saturation of our lives should be evident to all who come onto the property or enter our home. These signposts in verse 9 are like fair warning that you won’t be toning anything down for outsiders. I had friends growing up whose parents liked to say, “my house, my rules.” But the believer should be someone who could consistently say, “my house, God’s rules.”

In some circles these days, someone who lives as described above may be accused of “bibliolatry.” But here in Deuteronomy 6:1–9, we can see that this is God’s own description of what it looks like to love Him with all that we are. A divorcing of God from His Word could certainly make someone what might rightly be called a “bibliolater.” But there is no level of intensity or frequency of discussing and following that word that is too much, any more than there is any level of loving the Lord that is too much. The Scripture-saturated life is simply how we love the Lord.

What is your thought life like? What are your days like? What might those who live with you conclude about the place of God’s words in your life? Based upon an honest answer to those questions, how might you better love the Lord?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us Your own words by which to love You. Forgive us for when we let something else be at the center of our heart or life, and grant that Your Spirit would make us so full of Your words, that our children would hear and see that, as also would anyone else who enters our house. For we ask this in Him Whose Name is itself the Word, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP128 “How Blessed Are All Who Fear the Lord” or TPH548 “Oh, Blest the House”

2025.08.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 20:1–10

Read Revelation 20:1–10

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom did John see (v1)? Coming down from where? What two things did He have in His hand? Of whom did He lay hold (v2)? Who is this dragon (cf. 12:9)? What did He do to him? For how long? Into what did He cast him (v3)? And do what two other things to him? So that he would no longer do what? Until when? What must happen then? What else did John see (v4)? And whom else? What was committed to them? What part of whom did John also see? What had happened to them? What two things had they not worshiped? What had they not received? But what two things do these souls now do with Christ? for how long? But what happens to whom else (v5)? Until when? What does v5 call the “coming to life” of v4? What two things does v6 call the one who has part in this resurrection? What has no power over them? What shall they be unto Whom, and what shall they do with Christ (cf. 5:10)? When will what happen in v7? What will Satan go out to do to whom, where (v8)? What name does v8 use for these attacking enemies (cf. Ezk 38–39). How many will this army be? Whom will they surround (v9)? What came from Whom and did what? And what happened to whom else (v10)? Who else was there already? What will happen with all of them?

What is the millennium? Revelation 20:1–10 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the millennium is Christ’s reign in the age of the gospel, looking forward to the fuller and forever reign when He destroys His and our enemies.

Satan bound. Jesus has had this key, and used this chain, ever since His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement. Certainly, Satan is still very active in the earth, but he is no longer given free reign to deceive the nations as a whole (v3). v2 ties us back to 12:9, indicating that all of Satan’s raging is the fury of a defeated devil. He cannot stop the advance of the gospel. He cannot defeat the church. He cannot defeat a single believer (cf. 12:11). We must be encouraged and confident about the progress of the gospel, despite all that the church currently suffers. The remnant that is being saved out of every nation amounts to an innumerable multitude of a glorious assembly.

Saints reigning. We know that the beheaded saints (v4) overcome by this (cf. 12:11), and now we learn that their souls, which lived and conquered on earth, proceed to live and reign with Christ in heaven (v4). The new birth (cf. Jn 3:3) is called, here, “the first resurrection” (v5). Just as the day that God set apart to Himself was blessed and holy (cf. Gen 2:3), so also, those who have part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy (v6a). The language describing them as kings and priests unto God identifies them as the same group as sing to God during their reign in heaven (v6b, cf. 5:10), looking forward to the time when this reign will be on the earth. Taken together with that passage, it is plain that the “millennium” is referring to the same period of time as covered by the other vision cycles in Revelation: namely the entire time between the two comings of Christ. 

If you are a Christian, you have already been resurrected once! Either you have two resurrections and only one death; or else, when you die, you will be resurrected unto a second death. But being alive is just the beginning of the happiness and holiness of the saints. For, they are priests unto God. They have the nearest fellowship with Him, and the leading role in all the creatures’ bringing Him glory. And, they are kings unto God. Kings with Christ, who reign with Him already in His heavenly reign in glory and spiritual reign on earth—and will reign with Him, physically and entirely, in the new heavens and the new earth. The “thousand years” of the current reign is, of course, a literary number of great length (long is the age of the gospel!). But it is not the duration of the reign of the saints on the earth from 5:10b. No! They, with Christ, shall reign on earth forever, and ever, and ever!

Enemies crushed. How long does the heavenly enthronement of Christ last, until His coming again? One Scripture answer, from 1Cor 15 and Heb 1–2, among others, follows Ps 110 in saying that this reign is “until all His enemies are put under His feet.” This is what is happening during the “thousand years.” But the end of this is not the end of the reign of Christ. Rather, it marks the arrival of the fuller and climactic and eternal reign of Christ! The release of the devil for a little while (v3) is only for the purpose of gathering the nations against the church (v7–9a). 

Ezek 36–39 provides very important background to this passage. Ezek 36–37 describe a spiritual resurrection of God’s Israel into an army. And then Ezek 38–39 describe a war by the nations, led by “Gog and Magog,” against the army of God’s people. Just as the army in Ezek 37 is a spiritual army, what v9 is describing is a spiritual war. This is not something that happens outside of the thousand years, but during the end of it, bringing it to a fulfillment. It implies a time when Satan is given more leash for persecution. But it is a very brief time, and it is anticlimactically concluded when God devours with fire the enemies of the church (v10). And, just as with the rest of the time of the thousand years, even while the church is being persecuted, it continues to be victorious! 

The conclusion of this battle describes (from another perspective) the same event as described in 19:19–21, under the image of the casting of the beast and false prophet, and the unleashing of the sword from Christ’s mouth. Here, the fire from God is described as sending the dragon into the same location as the other two members of the false trinity. Christians always win, though they die, for Christ’s victory is complete and instantaneous!

How are you encouraged by all that Satan is now no longer permitted to do? How are you reigning with Christ on earth? How are you reigning with Him in heaven? What is the explanation for your already having spiritual life? How does participation in the first resurrection encourage and help you? Why shouldn’t you be afraid of persecution, or even the much intensified persecution that comes at the end?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for being intimidated by a chained devil. Give us to rejoice at Christ’s reign, both in our hearts and on the throne of heaven! And forgive us for fearing persecution, whether now, or more intensely when the current part of Christ’s reign is fulfilled. Grant that we would rejoice in the fuller, forever reign that the end brings, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”

2025.08.13 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:

August 13 Prayer Meeting Folder

Proverbs 16:16–19 sermon outline

We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

2025.08.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Micah 4:6–8

Read Micah 4:6–8

Questions from the Scripture text: On what day does this occur (v6a, cf. v1–5)? Whom will YHWH also assemble with the nations (v6b–d)? Into what will He make them (v7a-b)? What will He do with them (v7c)? Where? For how long (v7d)? Whom does He address in v8e? What other two things does He call them (v8a, b)? What will come to them (v8c, d)?

What else will happen in the last day? Micah 4:6–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, in the last day, YHWH will bring the Jews whom He has brought to faith in Christ, into a place of leadership in Christ’s church.

In v1–4, Micah described a “last days” in which the Gentiles would be gathered (grafted!) into Zion and Jerusalem. In the wake of the apostolic ministry into Samaria, and then with Peter and Cornelius, and finally the missionary journeys of Paul, every Bible-believing, Christ-worshiping, true Jew would have known what this means: this is the end of the ages (cf. 1Cor 10:11)!

Now, the Lord divulges some more information about “that day” (v6). He’s not done with Israel. Surely, we see them (and much of the “Gentile” church, to be honest) now as He describes them: lame (v6b) and scattered (v6c—probably better than NKJ “outcast,” with the rest of the sheep vocabulary in the passage). 

But let us not forget how they came to be this way: YHWH has afflicted them (v6d). And this means that there is a sure hope that the same Lord will gather them. 

Though they may be a remnant of what they were before numerically (v7a), this remnant will be a strong nation (v7b). And not only will YHWH have reconciled them to Himself for Him to rule over (v7c–d), but He will restore them to a place of leadership among His flock (v8).

The old ceremonial law, and the civil state that was enmeshed with it, are never coming back. There is a new priesthood and new law (cf. the bulk of the book of Hebrews!). This is no “replacement theology,” but the remnant theology and ingrafting theology that are taught throughout Scripture. There are 24 sub-thrones, not twelve, in Christ’s kingdom in the last day. And the Lord will show Himself to be the God of reconciliation, restoration, and revival when He brings Jewish leadership to the fore under Christ. 

This is especially encouraging when we are the lame and the scattered. For the God of Israel is our God of grace, and this is exactly what we need Him to be, and what we trust Him to be, and what we worship Him for being!

In what way are you maybe “lame” or “wandering” spiritually, right now? How does the view of God here give you hope?

Sample prayer:  Lord, if You abandoned the lame and the wanderer, then we would perish. For, we have all been lame and wandering from You. But we rejoice to see that You are the God Who restores a remnant, and makes them strong and noble. Do this for us by Your Spirit, we ask through Your Son, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2025.08.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 3:1–15

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–15

Questions from the Scripture text: What has God assigned to everything (v1a)? What purposes/things are subject to time, and assigned a time (v1b)? What is the first pair of these things (v2a–b)? What is the second (v2c–d)? What is the third (v3a–b)? What is the fourth (v3c–d)? What are the fifth and sixth, related, pairs (v4)? What is he seventh (v5a–b)? What is the eighth (v5c–d)? What is the ninth pair of things to which a time is appointed (v6a–b)? What is the tenth (v6c–d)? What is the eleventh (v7a–b)? What is the twelfth (v7c–d)? What are the thirteenth and fourteenth, related, pairs (v8)? What question does v9 repeat from 1:3 and 2:22? What does v10 assert about these tasks? What has God done to the tasks (v11a)? And to the hearts of men (v11b)? But what has He put out of man’s reach (v11c, cf. Deut 29:29)? 

What makes life fulfilling and joyous? Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that embracing the sovereign providence of God makes life fulfilling and joyous.

Due to an American folk rock song from the 60s, this is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible—and one of the most incorrectly (indeed, oppositely!) understood. It is NOT about us figuring the right time to do things. That should have been obvious from the very beginning of the list (v2a–b). We most certainly do not pick the time to be born, and it is great wickedness for a man to attempt to select the time of his own death.

This passage is rather about the absolute sovereignty of God. Even those things that seem to be under our control (planting, sowing, killing, healing, breaking down, building up; v2c–3), and those emotional things that feel like they are both controlled from within us and themselves control us (weeping, laughing, mourning, dancing; v4). Even those have their season, time, and purpose assigned by God (v1). How much more those events that come upon us in v5–8 (though, the times for silence and speech in v7c–d are often misunderstood or misapplied by men).

The song famously says, “a time of peace… I swear it’s not too late.” Besides blaspheming, in flippantly using the oath and goading hundreds of millions into doing the same, this line misses what is being said about peace, and about everything else in the list. It is entirely under the sovereign providence of God. As such, if God is plucking up, tearing down, casting down stones, and throwing away (all language that Scripture uses for when the Lord brings war to destroy a nation)…the hope still remains of repentance. This was repeatedly offered to Israel (and famously accepted by Ninevah!). But that is the only “not too late” for peace that a nation may ultimately have.

It is uncomfortable for unregenerate man that he is not God. But, for the believer it is the key to purpose and joy. When v9 restates the introductory question from 1:3, it leaves off the “under the sun” this time and instead provides the solution to every problem in v10: the children of Adam (it’s singular) are to receive every moment and every part of their life as God-given, within the whole of His perfect, sovereign plan.

Why is every part of life beautiful? Because God has made it so (v11a). We trust the One behind the purpose, seasons, and times. We are temporary, and so are all of our labors and pleasures. But He is eternal, and our hearts were made for Him (v11b). Still, we must trust and love Him in humility, because we cannot comprehend His work (v11c). Those are secret things that belong to God (cf. Deut 29:29), and the key to purpose and joy is to leave the overall plan exclusively in His hands, where alone they are safe.

Our part is to rejoice and do good (v12), in every task, receiving the task as a gift from God. And also to enjoy the fruit of that labor as a gift, and to enjoy the enjoyment itself as its own separate gift (v13).  

Our works may be fleeting as vapor, but God’s is exactly the opposite (v14), so that we are brought not to despair of our works, but to worship of Him and His. His works are determined from eternity, and perfect (v15a–b). So, we worship the perfection of the plan that we do not even know, and we do our part in it with obedience and joy. Even under God’s sovereign lordship, He has granted unto men to be free and accountable agents; He will require an account of all that we have done (v15c).

What, in your life, seems least fulfilling and enjoyable? How can this be remedied by the knowledge of God’s sovereign providence in/over it?

Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You for sovereignly ruling and overruling every part of our lives. Grant that we would rejoice to be under Your sovereign rule as part of Your sovereign plan. Fill our lives with the purpose and pleasure that comes from knowing that You assign to everything its season. And grant, especially, that we would delight in those seasons and times that You have especially consecrated unto Your worship. Most especially, grant that Your Spirit would help us to worship You on Your holy day, in Your holy assembly, we ask through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH222 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

God Does All His Holy Will [Children's Catechism 13—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 13—especially explaining how God isn’t only able to, but actually does, do all His holy will.

Q13. Can God do all things? Yes; God can do all His holy will. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Getting a Good Heart [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 16:16–19]

What are the prerequisites for godly speech? Proverbs 16:16–19 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom, uprightness, and humility are the prerequisites for godly speech.

The devotional emphasizes that godly, beneficial speech stems from a heart cultivated through wisdom, uprightness, and humility, rather than material wealth or association with the proud. Drawing from Proverbs 16, the message clarifies that true wisdom and understanding, gained through fellowship with God, are far more valuable than gold or silver, while departing from evil requires a steadfast commitment to righteousness and a humble spirit content in God's provision. Ultimately, the speaker underscores that conforming to the example of Christ—who embodies wisdom, righteousness, and humility—is the path to cultivating a heart that overflows with good and godly speech.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)