The Bible's Chief Message (Man's Chief End) [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 12:8–14]

What is the chief end of man? Ecclesiastes 12:8–14 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional draws together the profound truth of Ecclesiastes, revealing that life under the sun is fleeting and transient—like vapor—yet not meaningless, because its true substance lies in one's relationship with God. Far from advocating despair, it calls believers to live with eternal perspective, grounded in the fear of God and obedience to His commandments, which constitute humanity's ultimate purpose. The Word of God is both a goad, to awaken and redirect the soul, and a well-driven nail to anchor life amid life’s storms, offering enduring stability and truth. Scripture, as the inspired, unified message of one Shepherd, is the sole authority for faith and practice. Ultimately, the conclusion is both a call to joyful reverence and righteous living, inviting believers to find lasting joy in God and to live with the certainty of future judgment and eternal glory.

2026.02.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 12:8–14

Read Ecclesiastes 12:8–14

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Ecclesiastes 12:8 summarize the preacher’s (assembler’s) conclusion about the length and significance of life in this world, on its own terms? What had the concluding teaching been, rather than to live life on its own terms (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:10–12:1)? So, what did the preacher still do to the people (Ecclesiastes 12:9)? And what did he seek out and set in order? What sorts of words, specifically (Ecclesiastes 12:10)? What two things does verse 10 say about the words that were written? What are the words of the wise like (Ecclesiastes 12:11)? What are the words of masters-of-collections like? By Whom are these goads and well-driven nails given? To whom is Ecclesiastes 12:12 addressed? What does the preacher tell him to do with those words? What does he say about other books and other study, by comparison? What is the concluding command (Ecclesiastes 12:13)? As what, must he do those two things? What truth/reality drives home that this must be how we live?

What is the chief end of man? Ecclesiastes 12:8–14 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 

Here, we come to the conclusion of the whole book, indeed the conclusion of all of life. In and of itself, our life in this world—indeed the life of this entire world—is a vapor of vapors (Ecclesiastes 12:8). The most fleeting blink of a moment.

So what do we do? That’s what the project of Ecclesiastes (and Proverbs) has been all about. Solomon, by the Holy Spirit, has been writing as the caller of assemblies (NKJ “Preacher,” Ecclesiastes 12:9). The fleeting nature of life in this world makes it all the more crucial that people learn to fear God, and what that looks like in the details of life. 

The main thing is to rejoice and live righteously, as we have already seen (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:7–10), and this is the book of Ecclesiastes. More details are fleshed out in the book of Proverbs. 

Together, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs are the “many proverbs” (Ecclesiastes 12:9) and “delightful/pleasant words” (Ecclesiastes 12:10, more literally). These are the righteous and true words that we have in these two books of Scripture. In Ecclesiastes 12:11, the word “wise” is plural, indicating that Solomon understands that he is writing as just one of many, who give the words of the “one Shepherd.” Here is a biblical doctrine of Scripture: one Shepherd, using many wise men (carried along by the Holy Spirit) to set down the very words of God!

What do these words do? They move and stabilize. Goads move us to do what God says when we are stationary, or back into God’s path, when we are wayward. The well-driven nail, stabilizes the tent against the storm, and this is the other way that the Scriptures help us: giving the stability, strength, gladness, purpose, in God Himself. God uses the Bible to move the believer and to establish the believer.

This is why the Bible is the single book for your admonishment (Ecclesiastes 12:12a). Men will pile up other books, and men will wear themselves out trying to know more (verse 12b), but God has made full provision for our instruction and warning in the Bible. Just as no other words are on par of it (the words of the one Shepherd), so also no other words are to be added it as a rule of faith (nails) and practice (goads). 

So, what does the Bible teach? Fear God (nails), and keep His commandments (goads), “for this is the mannishness of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, more literally). And, what man gets out of being a proper man is God Himself! Being a true man begins by being not-God, by fearing God alone as God. A true man images God, worships God, obeys God, enjoys God. This is the mannishness of man.

The truth, and certain expectation, of God’s judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14) is a gift from Him to drive us back to our chief end. The fact that we are sure to appear before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10), together with the fleetingness of this life and this world, drives us to this one great aim: to be well pleasing to Him, so long as we are present in the body (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:9), while we look forward to this mortality being swallowed up in the life and pleasure of enjoying Him forever (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1–8). 

Why is the only chief end that makes sense, the chief end of glorifying God and enjoying God? Who can teach you how to glorify and enjoy Him? What has He given us, by which He teaches us to glorify and enjoy Him? What use are you making of what He has given us? And how is this helping you live life in this world, like someone who expects to enjoy God forever in the next world? What sort of life does this give you to live now?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for the Bible. Please forgive us for when Your words would have goaded us into action, but we have not moved. Forgive us for when Your words would have goaded us back into Your own paths for us, but we have continued in our incorrect ways. Forgive us for when Your words would have stabilized us in You as our great purpose, but we have lived as if we had other, competing purposes. Forgive us for when Your words would have stabilized us in You as our great pleasure, but we have lived as if we had other, competing pleasures. Grant that Your Spirit would use Your Word to remind us that we are coming to the judgment, so that we will live always by Your Word, we ask in Christ’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH116A “I Love the LORD, for He Has Heard My Voice” 

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Grace to Love and Cling to God [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 30:11–20]

How does the Christian choose life? Deuteronomy 30:11–20 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Christian chooses life by God’s grace, which gives him to love and cling to God, in Christ. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Deuteronomy 30:11–20 reveals that God’s commandments are not distant or unattainable, but near—accessible through His Word and Spirit, Who makes them real in the heart and mouth of the believer. The passage emphasizes that true obedience is not mere external compliance but a life of loving, hearing, and clinging to God, rooted in His grace and made possible only by the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration.

2026.02.25 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 30:11–20

Read Deuteronomy 30:11–20

Questions from the Scripture text: What is not true of the Word that Moses preached (Deuteronomy 30:11)? Where wasn’t it (Deuteronomy 30:12)? What wouldn’t they have to do? Where else wasn’t it (Deuteronomy 30:13)? What wouldn’t they have to do? But where was it (Deuteronomy 30:14)? In what particular places? So that they might do what with it? What two pairs of things has Moses set before them on that day (Deuteronomy 30:15)? What primary thing has he commanded them to do with YHWH their God (Deuteronomy 30:16)? In what other four commandments does he describe what it means to love God? How would YHWH their God respond to their doing this? How does he describe the heart that fails to do this (Deuteronomy 30:17)? Whom are they worshiping and serving, if they do not keep his commandments, statues, and judgments? What will happen then (Deuteronomy 30:18)? What will they not prolong? Whom does Moses call as witness against them (Deuteronomy 30:19)? What two pairs of things does he now say that he has set before them? What does he urge them to choose? So that they may do what (Deuteronomy 30:20)? What does loving YHWH mean obeying? To what (Whom!) does loving YHWH mean clinging? As what two things for them? How does he describe the land in which they will dwell, if they do this?

How does the Christian choose life? Deuteronomy 30:11–20 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Christian chooses life by God’s grace, which gives him to love and cling to God, in Christ.  

“Deuteronomy” means second law. It is a sermon on the ten commandments, given by Moses, as he is about to die, and Israel is about to cross over to enter the land. Just as with YHWH’s giving of the original ten commandments, this giving of the law is couched within the covenant of grace. It is just when He has finished telling them that He must be the One to circumcise their hearts that He comes and points out the great instrument that He uses to do this, and the great result that it produces in the redeemed. 

The great instrument is the Word of God, which He has brought near. And the great result is that they cling to YHWH, and are not put to shame, but live righteously and blessedly with Him, enjoying the fulfillment of all of His promises. This is why this is the passage to which the apostle refers in Romans 10:4–17. He goes directly to the place where the legalist, or Judaizer, or Pharisee, would go to demonstrate law-keeping as the hope of the godly, to announce that the hope of the godly is God’s grace, through God’s means, to produce clinging to God. And God Himself puts His Son forward, as Christ, as the One in Whom we especially know His grace, have His means, and cling to Him.

So, in our passage, Moses begins with the nearness of the Word (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). It is not mysterious or far off (Deuteronomy 30:11). It does not require heroic effort (Deuteronomy 30:12-13). God circumcises the heart to bless us by means of a submission that His Spirit produces. His providence brings His Word to our eyes and ears. And, His grace brings that Word into our mouth, heart, and hands (Deuteronomy 30:14).

The choice of life and death (Deuteronomy 30:15, Deuteronomy 30:19) is a choice to love YHWH as our very own God (Deuteronomy 30:16, Deuteronomy 30:20), and to cling to Him (verse 20). Love walks in ways because they are His (Deuteronomy 30:16). Love keeps commandments, statutes, and judgments (verse 16), because it is in these that He has given us to hear the voice of YHWH Whom we love, and to cling to YHWH Whom we love (Deuteronomy 30:20). We cling to Him as our life. We cling to Him as the length of our days. And we cling to Him in the fulfillment of all His promises, which He has sworn.

This enriches our understanding, not only of the obedience of the believing life, but of the horror of disobedience. Disobedience is much worse than the violation of standards and terms, which incurs particular punishments. Disobedience is to turn our hearts away from YHWH (Deuteronomy 30:17a), and to reject Him from being our own covenant God. Disobedience is to turn our hearts unto another than YHWH (verse 17b). Whomever, or whatever, we obey—it is they that we worship and serve (cf. Romans 6:16–19). 

So, dear reader, let us embrace God’s good law, through which He brings us into eternal life and blessedness, because it is His. He has given Himself to us in Christ. In Christ He gives us His grace—blessing, where we deserve only curse, and strength, where we have only weakness… especially the ministry of His Spirit to circumcise our hearts. His Spirit has given the Word, and preserved the Word, and brought us into contact with it. And it is His Spirit Who gives us tender hearts, so that the Word will penetrate our hearts, fill our mouths, and move our hands. And, it is this Word that speaks to us of Christ (cf. John 5:39). So, as we love Him and cling to Him, by His Spirit’s work, it is especially Christ Whom we love, and Christ to Whom we cling; for, YHWH God has given us to know Him especially in Christ.

What place has love had, in how you have responded to God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments? What place has clinging had, in how you have responded to them? What might it look like for you to grow in loving and clinging? What (Who!) is your hope for this growth? What means does He use to give this? How will this loving, clinging, speaking, and obeying be especially centered upon Jesus Christ?

Sample prayer: Lord, as we have learned that to love You and cling to You means to walk in Your own ways, and to obey Your own voice, and those to keep Your commandments, statutes, and judgments, we have realized something horrible about ourselves. When we have not kept Your commandments, statutes, and judgments, it is because we have worshiped and served another, instead of You. When we have disobeyed, it has been because we were not loving You or clinging to You. Truly, we deserve to perish. But You have given Christ to suffer in our place. And You have given Christ to be our goodness and strength. Help us, now, by Your Spirit. Apply Christ to us. For His sake, forgive us. And by His life, make us to live in love to You, and in clinging to You, in obedience to You, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace” 

He Is Altogether Lovely [2026.02.22 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 5:9–16]

The believer's great desire is to hear the altogether-loveliness of Christ, and the church's great privilege is to proclaim that loveliness

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Sovereignly Saving Providence [2026.02.22 Morning Sermon in Matthew 27:55–56]

God uses the insignificant, the unlikely, and even His enemies, in accomplishing His salvation and applying it to us.

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The Covenant and It's Sign [2026.02.22 Sabbath School in WCF 27.1—Hopewell 101]

We learn, from Gen 17, the way that the sign of the covenant relates to the covenant itself. God uses the sign to strengthen our faith, and He honors His sign by taking it seriously. So, we should take the sign seriously, both in being diligent to apply it and meditate upon it, and in taking to heart the hope and comfort of it. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on the theological significance of signs and seals—particularly circumcision in Abraham’s life and baptism in the lives of believers—as divine means of strengthening faith and reinforcing God’s covenant promises. Drawing from Romans 4 and Genesis 17, it emphasizes that these sacraments are not magical rituals but meaningful signs and seals that reinforce faith in God’s power to give life to the dead and call into existence what does not yet exist. The narrative traces Abraham’s journey from unbelief, marked by the birth of Ishmael through human effort, to renewed faith at age 99, when God reaffirms His covenant and institutes circumcision as a sign and seal of the faith already credited to Abraham. The lesson warns against both the superstitious use of the sacraments and the neglect of their spiritual significance, affirming that their true power lies not in the ritual but in God Himself, Who uses them. It applies this truth to Christian parenting, highlighting how baptism serves as a seal of God’s promise to save children by the same grace, through the same faith, that saved their parents.

The Altogether Loveliness of Christ [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 5:9–16]

Why does the bride desire Christ? Song of Songs 5:9–16 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 the bride desires Christ because He is altogether lovely. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional presents a rich portrait of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His divine beauty, purity, and relational intimacy as the Beloved and Friend of the church. Central to the message is the call for believers—especially those in spiritual slumber—to rediscover and deeply cherish Christ’s full glory, not merely as a doctrinal truth but as a living, personal reality. Through vivid imagery—His white and ruddy complexion, golden head, dove-like eyes, fragrant countenance, and majestic works—the passage reveals Christ as supremely pure, vigorous, gentle, and majestic, worthy of wholehearted devotion. The church’s revival is portrayed as a return to this intimate knowledge of Christ, fueled by the Spirit and nourished by Scripture. Ultimately, the devotional affirms that Christ is not only the object of our affection but also the source of our transformation, and that knowing Him as 'altogether lovely' is the essence of eternal life.

2026.02.24 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 5:9–16

Read Song of Songs 5:9–16

Questions from the Scripture text: What do the Daughters of Jerusalem ask the bride (Song of Songs 5:9a–c)? How do they clarify the question (verse 9d–e)? In response to what (verse 9f)? What does she say about His appearance (Song of Songs 5:10a)? And His uniqueness (verse 10b)? What does she say about His head (Song of Songs 5:11a)? And His hair (verse 11b–c)? And His eyes (Song of Songs 5:12)? And His cheeks (Song of Songs 5:13a–b)? And His lips (verse 13c–d)? And His hands (Song of Songs 5:14a–b)? And His body (verse 14c–d)? And His legs (Song of Songs 5:15a–b)? And His face (verse 15c–d)? And His mouth (Song of Songs 5:16a)? In what three ways does she summarize (verse 16b–d)? Unto whom (verse 16e)?

Why does the bride desire Christ? Song of Songs 5:9–16 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the bride desires Christ because He is altogether lovely. 

The bride has asked the daughters of Jerusalem to pray for her (Song of Songs 5:8), but they serve her in an additional way: they ask her about the Bridegroom. 

She has failed to enjoy Him, because she was consumed with herself, rather than with Him (cf. Song of Songs 5:3). But now, she is put to it to describe Him. 

It will always do much good to the church, when she focuses upon the glories of her Lord Jesus Christ. It is especially when the believer has learned from Christ to take His view of the church (Song of Songs 5:9, cf. Song of Songs 1:8), that he is prepared to learn from the church a proper view of Christ. 

The rest of the passage has the flavor of Psalm 45:1–9, “overflowing with a good theme.” 

He is pure (“white,” Song of Songs 5:10a) and full of life (“ruddy,” verse 10a). 

As the greatest head there is (verse 10b), His authority exceeds all others in value (“gold,” Song of Songs 5:11a) and His vigor does not decline (full, dark hair, verse 11b–c). 

His eyes (Song of Songs 5:12), themselves being doves, indicate the gentleness of Christ, which is ever fresh (“by rivers of waters,” verse 12b), comforting (“washed with milk,” verse 12c), and properly dignified (“fitly set,” verse 12d). 

The fellowship of His face is so delightful that just a fragment of it (“cheeks”) is like beds and banks of spices and flowers (Song of Songs 5:13a–b). 

It is especially His lips, by which the bride hears His Words and knows His kisses, that flow with abundance of myrrh (verse 13c–d). There is no end to the sweetness of His anointing that flows to her from His lips. 

His works (“hands,” Song of Songs 5:14a–b), strength and beauty (“body,” verse 14c–d), and ways (“legs,” Song of Songs 5:15a–b) exceed all men in dignity and royalty.  Finally, the fellowship enjoyed now in His full face (“countenance,” verse 15c, not just cheeks) and mouth (Song of Songs 5:16a) take all that He is and bring them near to His bride in incomparably sweet, intimate fellowship. To conclude, every aspect of His is lovely (verse 16b), but even above this is that He has made Himself her Beloved Husband (verse 16c) and Companion (verse 16d). Let all believers learn from the church to make their soul’s great boast in the glory of the Lord Jesus!

What glory of Christ has meant the most to you? What glory hasn’t meant enough to you? Whom do you tell of His glory?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You are the chief of ten thousand, the fairest of all, and altogether lovely. Forgive us for when we have lost the sense of the greatness of Your glory. Restore to us a true perception of Christ, and make us those who tell His praise to others, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45A “My Heart Is Greatly Stirred” or TPH282 “I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”