Great Faithfulness Overcoming Great Faithlessness [2025.03.16 Evening Sermon in Deuteronomy 2:1–25]

Our faith should respond to the overwhelming evidence of God's faithfulness

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

God's Mind About Christ [2025.03.16 Morning Sermon in Matthew 16:21–23]

Knowing Jesus as Christ and God means adoring His glory at the cross and humbling ourselves to learn more about Him from Him Himself.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Nurturing the Christian Life [2025.03.16 Book Study in How to Live as a Christian]

Nurturing the Christian life: • Reading the Scriptures • Why and How We Pray • Worship and the Means of Grace • Fellowship with Believers(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Lion Who Tears and Heals Us [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 5:1–6:3]

How severe is the Lord’s chastening of His people? Hosea 5:1–6:3 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord chastens His people as severely as necessary for forcing them to turn to Him Himself for healing.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 5:1–6:3

Read Hosea 5:1–6:3

Questions from the Scripture text: What three groups are addressed in Hosea 5:1a–c? What are they urged to do? Why—what is theirs (verse 1d)? Why—what have they done/been (verse 1e–f)? What have they been involved in (Hosea 5:2a)? What will YHWH do (verse 2b)? What does He know about whom (Hosea 5:3)? What do they not direct toward what (Hosea 5:4a–b)? What is in their midst (verse 4c)? Whom do they not know (verse 4d)? Who stumble, in/due to what (Hosea 5:5)? What will they “do” in Hosea 5:6a–b (cf. Hosea 5:4a–b; Exodus 10:9)? With what success (Hosea 5:6c)? Why (verse 6d)? What have they done (Hosea 5:7a)? In what manner (verse 7b)? So, what will their worship do to them (verse 7c)? Where will the alarms be sounded (Hosea 5:8)? Who else will be devastated (Hosea 5:9)? Whose princes were doing what (Hosea 5:10a)? How will YHWH respond (verse 10b)? To what extent (cf. Hosea 5:12)? What is one form this wrath will take (Hosea 5:11a)? Why is the Lord doing this (verse 11b)? To whom will Ephraim and Judah first turn in their distress (Hosea 5:13a–d)? With what effect (verse 13e–f)? Why won’t these be able to help them (Hosea 5:14)? What will this force them into (Hosea 5:15)? What will the logic of their seeking Him be (Hosea 6:1)? What will He do (Hosea 6:2)? Unto what end (verse 2c)? What do they urge one another to do (Hosea 6:3a–b)? Why—how strong and faithful is He (verse 3c–e)?

How severe is the Lord’s chastening of His people? Hosea 5:1–6:3 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord chastens His people as severely as necessary for forcing them to turn to Him Himself for healing.

Complete judgment, Hosea 5:1-12. Most of our passage is concerned with the massive scope of the judgment. 

The judgment will be upon all classes of people (Hosea 5:1-4). The clergy and bureaucrats are named specifically. With leadership comes increased responsibility and guilt. However, sandwiched between the two we find the entire house of Israel, the general population. The “you” is plural. The reason all these classes of people are to pay attention to what is coming is because the judgment is for all of them. God’s justice is equal-opportunity.

The judgment will be upon both kingdoms (Hosea 5:5). That Judah is specifically included is important because of the seeming protection of Judah as the covenant people toward the end of chapter 4. The unity of north and south in their punishment should not surprise us, however, because the first few chapters had already introduced the idea of their having both been guilty—and that God’s plan for their restoration included a plan for reconciling them to one another.

The judgment will be complete and certain (Hosea 5:6-12). They won’t be able to find Him anywhere (Hosea 5:6). Their devastation will be the very picture of certainty (Hosea 5:9). Note here that judgment is described in terms of an inability to find YHWH in their seeking. There is no greater chastening, discipline, or trial for a covenant people than being cut of from fellowship with the covenant God—even when they have not properly desired that fellowship! Though we disregard Him (Hosea 5:12), He is what we must have.

Where help cannot be found, Hosea 5:13. This is just one, small verse, but it really stands on its own in the passage. The people recognize their infirmities, and seek out the aid of various secular sources, but there is no help to be found in any of them. When we as believers find ourselves hurting, where do we turn? Do we examine ourselves and turn to YHWH as sinners, or do we seek first another solution that seems as if it could rationally offer us some help?

Why none else can help: the Lion Who tears, Hosea 5:14-15a. The image is strong. It is of a lion (two different words for lion are used here) tearing its prey limb from limb and carrying it off to enjoy it. This has at least two primary implications: the death is gory and final, and the carcass is irrecoverable. The image of the exile comes with fearful violence and finality!

Who alone can help: the Lion Who heals, Hosea 5:15-16:3. 

The purpose of the tearing (Hosea 5:15b). Though there is great finality of judgment through verse 15a, verse 15b clues us in that this finality is not permanent. This brutal attack has a purpose: to cause YHWH’s people to seek Him. Indeed, we find that His discipline in our daily lives has the same purpose (cf. Hebrews 12). On a grander scale, the most brutal of deaths was endured to ensure the reconciliation of covenant God to covenant people. The final statement of the chapter is plain vanilla indicative in the Hebrew, just a matter of fact. Yahweh declares that His people will seek Him.

The certainty of the tearing’s success (Hosea 5:15-16:1). As soon as YHWH speaks it (Hosea 5:15b), we have the very “seeking” (Hosea 6:1) of which He speaks. The response itself will take years, even generations. But it is reported immediately as an indication of how certain it is to come.

The description of the tearing’s success (Hosea 6:1–3). Note their twofold reasoning as they repent: YHWH is the only one who can help, and that it is certain that He will. If it is YHWH who has torn, then it must be YHWH who heals. The language of Hosea 6:2 implies that only One Who has resurrection power will be able to heal them from such death as has come upon them. This is how every believer feels as he comes to the Lord. 

Finally, there is a theme of certainty in this passage. It began with Yahweh’s judgment as the very definition of certainty, but it ends with His grace as certain as the dawn. “His going forth is established as the morning (Hosea 6:3c). Through the One Whose violent death and third-day-resurrection are hinted at in this very passage, God’s grace is certain for His people.

What are some situations from which it was painfully evident that you needed divine power and mercy to rescue you? Who brough you into those circumstances? Why? From what ultimate/great trouble, inflicted by the Lord, is He the only true hope of rescue/healing? Is He YOUR hope in this?

Sample prayer: Lord, like Israel and Judah, our guilt has been complete, and we deserve complete wrath. How much of our life has been lived apart from knowing You, and even rejecting to know You. At times, even when we have made effort and appearance to seek You, yet we did not direct our deeds toward turning to our God. So we thank You for that severe kindness in which You have afflicted us so that we might know that only You can heal us. Forgive us, however, when we have turned to other things for that healing. How grievous our sin can be! And thank You that You made us to find healing only in You Yourself. Truly, You have given that healing in Christ. So, we praise You and thank You and look to You for all forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus Christ, through Whom we also now pray, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace” 

The Greatest Display of God's Glory [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 138]

For what is the Lord worthy of praise? Psalm 138 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord is great in glory, and the great display of that glory is especially in His grace. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.03.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 138

Read Psalm 138

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose psalm is this (superscript)? What will he do to the Lord (Psalm 138:1a)? With how much of himself? Before whom, will he do what (verse 1b)? What will he do (Psalm 138:2a)? Toward where? And do what (verse 2b)? For what attributes of His (verse 2c)? What has He magnified above what (verse 2d)? To what day does Psalm 138:3a refer? What did the Lord do, when David cried out? What form dd that answer take (verse 3b)? Who will do what, in Psalm 138:4a? In response to what (verse 4b)? Of what will they sing (Psalm 138:5a)? Why? Where is YHWH (Psalm 138:6a)? Whom does He regard (verse 6b)? Whom does He keep at a distance (verse 6c)? What may happen to the lowly who cries to Him (Psalm 138:7a)? What will the Lord do to him (Psalm 138:7a, d)? And what will the Lord to whom else (verse 7b–c)? What is the Lord sure, ultimately, to do (Psalm 138:8a)? In accordance with what attribute of His (verse 8b)? With what request does the psalm close (verse 8c)?

For what is the Lord worthy of praise? Psalm 138 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord is great in glory, and the great display of that glory is especially in His grace.   

The Lord is great in glory. The word translated “gods” (Psalm 138:1b) can sometimes mean supremely great ones. Rather than this communicate that there are multiple gods, the fact that YHWH is infinitely above any of these great ones is further demonstration that He alone is the one, true God. This is supported by David’s statement in Psalm 138:2a. Remember, the physical temple hasn’t been built yet. David is identifying YHWH’s holiness as His true temple (cf. 1 Kings 8:27). 

The Lord glorifies Himself especially by His Word. In showing Moses His glory (cf. Exodus 33:18–34:8), YHWH especially glorified Himself as “abounding in goodness and truth” (cf. Exodus 34:6)—the same words in the original as “lovingkindness” and “truth” in Psalm 138:2c. God’s “favorite” way of displaying His glory is by His Word. When He shows His glory, it is by proclaiming His Name (cf. Exodus 34:6). 

This is not only vocally as in Exodus 34; and written, as in His showing His glory by use of Scripture and the plain speaking of the truth (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:2–6)—but most of all in the Word, made flesh. When John refers to this as a display of His glory, he emphasizes the same attributes, quoting from the Greek translation of Exodus 34:6 in John 1:14. The Lord Jesus, Himself, is God’s great display of His own glory.

The Lord is especially glorified in His grace. Considering that proclamation in Exodus 34:6, before it climaxes at “abounding in goodness and truth,” YHWH’s declaration of His own Name begins with “merciful, gracious, longsuffering.” The Kings of earth respond to the greatness of YHWH’s glory in His Word (Psalm 138:4-5), but it is especially the Lord’s regard for him in his lowliness (Psalm 138:3, Psalm 138:6-7) that is David’s focus in this Psalm. His lowliness and trouble were an occasion for the greatness of YHWH’s mercy to be displayed. 

If you know yourself to be the “work of His hands” (Psalm 138:8c), and that His covenant love (NKJ, “mercy,” verse 8b) endures forever, then you may be confident that YHWH will perfect (complete) what concerns us (verse 8a). You know that His beginning the work came from electing and redeeming love, so you may be confident that His completing the work will come from the same electing and redeeming love (cf. Philippians 1:6). 

God displays the riches of His glory especially in His mercy (cf. Romans 9:22–23), which He shows forth especially by His Word, and especially in the person of His Son!

When you are brought low or in trouble, what opportunity is there for glorifying God’s mercy? To what activities does His preferred method of glorifying Himself direct you for seeing His glory? How does your own talking to God, and about God, reflect His own emphasis upon His mercy? How does it reflect His own emphasis upon His Son, the Word made flesh?

Sample prayer:  We praise You with our whole heart, O Lord. You are infinitely above everything that seems great. Heaven and highest heaven cannot contain You, so we worship Your holiness, and come to that very holiness through Your Son, our Lord Jesus. Magnify Your steadfast love and faithfulness in Christ, as we worship You through Your Word. We are lowly and often troubled, which makes us precisely the sort to whom You show Your great mercy. You have begun Your good work in us; do not forsake the works of Your hands, but perfect that which concerns us, that we may praise Your steadfast love and faithfulness forever, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP138 “With All My Heart, My Thanks I’ll Bring” or TPH138A “With All My Heart, My Thanks I’ll Bring”

Our Neighbor's Precious Name [Westminster Shorter Catechism 76—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 76—especially explaining how the our neighbor’s name isa valuable gift to him from God.

Q76. Which is the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Certainty and Necessity of the Resurrection [Children's Catechism 137—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 137—especially explaining how the resurrection is a historical fact, and a theological and spiritual necessity.

Q137. Did Christ remain in the tomb after His crucifixion? No; He rose from the tomb on the third day after His death.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Discrete Words and Diligent Work [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 12:15–28]

What does walking with God involve? Proverbs 12:15–28 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture. the Holy Spirit teaches us that walking with God involves godly speech, and diligence, in the path that leads to eternal life. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)