The Bride's Crowning Beauties [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 7:1–9a]

How much does Jesus adore and enjoy the church? Song of Songs 7:1–9a prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus is captivated with delight in His bride. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional presents the church as the beloved bride of Christ, emphasizing her beauty in the divine actions and spiritual qualities that reflect His grace. It unfolds a theological vision where the church’s feet—her godly actions—are celebrated as beautiful footprints of divine workmanship, the work of Christ’s own skillful hand. Her nourishing ministry, depicted through wine and wheat, reflects the means of grace through which Christ sustains His people, while her watchful purity, likened to ivory and royal towers, underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and doctrinal integrity. The devotional culminates in the bride’s adorning beauty—her godly character, modesty, and worship—portrayed as surpassing earthly splendor, with her hair like purple and her stature like Mount Carmel, signifying her royal identity and spiritual fullness. Ultimately, Christ goes to great lengths to delight not only in the church’s works but especially in her worship, where her breath is like apples and her speech like fine wine, affirming that true worship is the highest expression of her love and the greatest delight to her Bridegroom.

2026.03.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 7:1–9a

Read Song of Songs 7:1–9a

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the Bridegroom praise (Song of Songs 7:1a)? What does He call her (verse 1b)? What does He praise in verse 1c–d? In what way? What two things does He praise in Song of Songs 7:2? In what manner? And what, in Song of Songs 7:3? In what manner? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:4a? How? And in verse 4b–c? How? And in verse 4d–e? How? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:5? In what manner? How does He summarize His praise in Song of Songs 7:6-7? And how does He describe His desire to delight in her (Song of Songs 7:8-9)? 

How much does Jesus adore and enjoy the church? Song of Songs 7:1–9a prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus is captivated with delight in His bride. 

Not only have His expressions praise of her, and desire for her, not diminished, but now we see that they have even greatly increased. She had praised Him from head to toe in Song of Songs 5:10–15, and now He literally mirrors it, praising her from feet to head in Song of Songs 7:1–5. 

It is this composite that is the main force of the passage, but without becoming creative, we are to learn from some of the details of His adoration and affection. 

Living by grace, Song of Songs 7:1. The feet and thighs are an obvious place to start, because He has just described her as dancing “the dance of the two camps.” Indeed, the word in Song of Songs 7:1a is more literally “steps,” and the curving in verse 1c may well refer to motion rather than shape (the word for “jewels” only appears in the singular elsewhere, and the plural here may also imply motion). The bride is lovely not only in herself, but especially in her actions. And we see two more beauties in these actions: her status (prince’s daughter, verse 1b) and their source (the work of the hands of a skillful workman, verse 1d). Her beauty is not her own; it comes by her royal (re!)birth, and it comes as the skillful work of Another. How beautiful is the work of the Spirit in those who are God’s children.

Means of grace, Song of Songs 7:2-3. Song of Songs 7:3 reprises Song of Songs 4:5, lacking that the twins feed among the lilies. But, taken with Song of Songs 7:3, the bride’s beauty in provision is much richer than nourishment. There is the wine for refreshment and celebration, and the wheat for energy and strength. And not just wine, but mixed/spiced wine (Song of Songs 7:2a–b). And not just wheat, but heaps of it, and adorned with lilies (verse 2c–d). She is equipped for all that the saints need, and she is beautiful in her provision of it. Of course, as with the wine and bread of the Lord’s Supper, the point is not the means of grace, but the Lord of grace Himself.

Guarded by grace, Song of Songs 7:4. He praises her preciousness and purity (white) by the ornamental tower of ivory in Song of Songs 7:4a. The purity and peace of her eyes has been communicated by the figure of a dove before, and the pools by the gate in verse 4b–c convey the same idea. The nose is another tower, keeping vigilant watch in the direction of Damascus (verse 4d–e). The implication is diligence against enemies, especially the greatest enemy of sin. Taken altogether, the images of verse 4 focus upon her purity and peace, maintained by watchfulness. 

Adorned by grace, Song of Songs 7:5. Finally, the description arrives at her head and her hair. This part of her adornment has been compared twice to a flock of goats, must recently in Song of Songs 6:5. And on those occasions, we have noted that the true adornment represented here is modesty and good works (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9–10), and a gentle and quiet spirit (cf. 1 Peter 3:3–4). In this case, there is greatness and glory of this adornment, as indicated by the mountain and the purple. 

Delighted in by the Groom, Song of Songs 7:6-9. The last thing He says about her tresses is that a king is held captive by them (Song of Songs 7:5c), and now the section concludes by His demonstrating that she has indeed captured His heart. He summarizes her as “fair and pleasant,” bringing together words that He has already used to describe her, but the image of the palm tree is brand new. He zooms out to take her in as a whole. The palm is tall, straight, and slender. Exalted dignity. And there is a focus here on the breasts, that by which she would nourish their children. The image is not meant to be physical or sensual, as he switches from twin gazelle babies to clusters of dates and clusters of grapes. The abundance of her provision for the saints is sweet to Him like dessert. He puts forth great effort (“taking hold of its branches” (Song of Songs 7:8b) means a climb to the top of the tree) to take delight in her ministry of teaching and praise—her breath (verse 8d) and her palate (Song of Songs 7:9a).  

As the Bride, and members of her, it should be our delight to be delightful to Christ. God give us to live godly, attend upon His means in the church, be spiritually watchful, and adorned with modesty, gentleness, and good works.

What acts of obedience and service do you do, unto the delight of Jesus? What use do you make of the means of His grace? How do you maintain watchfulness for purity and peace? How is your life adorned by humility and gentleness?

Sample prayer:  Lord, come and delight in Your bride. Delight in her feet, her movements that are the result of Your own skillful work. Delight in the nourishment that she provides—the pure milk of the Word, and the bread and wine of fellowship with Christ. Delight in her purity, like ivory, and her peacefulness like pools. Delight in her nourishing her offspring, and enjoy the sweets of her mouth. We are amazed that You, the all-glorious King would take such delight in us. Come, by Your Spirit, and make us to take delight in delighting You, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” 

Why the Gospel Is Good News [Family Worship lesson in Mark 1:1–11]

Who is the Messiah, and what did He do? Mark 1:1–11 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus, the Son of God, came as the Christ Who would pour out His Spirit, and take away people’s sins. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Mark’s Gospel opens with the proclamation of good news: Jesus is the divine Savior, the Anointed One, and the Son of God, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy through His identity, mission, and divine nature. In Jesus’s baptism, His sinlessness is affirmed by the Father and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, marking Him as the one who baptizes with the Spirit and brings forgiveness, cleansing, and divine union. This event reveals Jesus as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King. The call is not merely to acknowledge these truths, but to respond in worship, repentance, and daily reliance on Christ as Savior and God, Who has brought us into union and communion with Himself.

2026.03.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 1:1–11

Read Mark 1:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: Of what is this the beginning (Mark 1:1)? Whose gospel? Whose Son is He? Where had this been written (Mark 1:2)? Whom would the Lord send before His face? What would this messenger do for Him? What does Mark 1:3 call the messenger? Where would he be found? What did he cry to do? Where did John come (Mark 1:4)? What did he come doing? What was he doing, besides baptizing? What did he preach? What sort of baptism did he preach? Who went out to him (Mark 1:5)? Who, specifically? What was done to them by John? Where? Doing what? With what was John clothed (Mark 1:6)? What did he eat? What (Whom!) did he preach (Mark 1:7)? How does this One’s strength compare to John’s? How does this One’s worthiness compare to John’s? With what did John baptize them (Mark 1:8)? With Whom will the One baptize them? Who came, in those days (Mark 1:9)? From where? What was done to Him? By whom? Where? From where did He come up (Mark 1:10)? What did He see happening to the heavens? What did He see descending upon Him? Like what? What came from heaven (Mark 1:11)? What did it call Him? What did it say about Him? 

Who is the Messiah, and what did He do? Mark 1:1–11 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus, the Son of God, came as the Christ Who would pour out His Spirit, and take away people’s sins. 

Immediately, in Mark 1:1, Mark tells us that he is writing a gospel. It’s like placing a headline, or a cover page on the book that announces GOOD NEWS. So, one thing that we may want to do, as we read through this book, is to ask ourselves frequently, “how is this good news?”

That question is actually answered in at least three ways before the verse is over. (1) His Name is Jesus. Why was He called Jesus? He saves His people from their sins(cf. Matthew 1:21). (2) His title is Christ. This is a Greek translation of the word, “Messiah,” or “Anointed One.” Jesus is the promised forever-king of 2 Samuel 7, the promised forever-priest of Psalm 110, the promised great prophet of Deuteronomy 18 (cf. Acts 3:22-23).  (3) His identity is that He is the Son of God. God Himself, the Son, has come as our Savior, King, Priest, and Prophet

Mark goes on to show the faithfulness of God, His perfect reliability. God promised that He Himself would come, and that He would first send a messenger (Mark 1:2-3). And John came, exactly as God promised (Mark 1:4-7).

But there’s a huge difference, here, between the messenger and the Messiah. What did John baptize with? The messenger baptized with water, a symbol of the people’s need for repenting from sin and being forgiven of sin. 

And in Mark 1:8, with what does John say that Jesus will baptize? Again, we can see that Jesus must be not just a man but God Himself, for He pours out God Himself—the Holy Spirit—upon those whom He baptizes. Jesus’s baptizing gives the repentance and forgiveness that John’s baptizing could only tell them that they needed.

This makes Mark 1:9 wondrous and amazing: Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan. Interestingly, Mark does not tell us that John at first refused to do this. Instead, he emphasizes God’s own testimony that Jesus did not need to be baptized for His own sin. 

God identifies Jesus not as a son of Adam (needing repentance and forgiveness) but rather “My beloved Son,” deserving of honor and glory and kingdom and power and praise. Then, God makes it doubly clear that Jesus has no sin of which to repent or be forgiven: “in Whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is identifying Himself with sinners, but He most certainly is not one Himself.

Mark is a fast-paced gospel. And already, its news has been very good: God Himself has come as a man. He is not a sinner, but He has identified Himself with sinners. And His Father has responded to Jesus’s receiving this baptism not with rebuke but with affirmation! Identifying Himself with sinners, and pouring out His Holy Spirit upon them, is exactly what Jesus has come to do.

What active, day-to-day difference does it make for you that Jesus is your Prophet? Where and how do you hear His words? And what do you do with them after you hear? What difference does it make that He is your Priest? To whom do you go for forgiveness? How do you come near to God? What difference does it make that He is your King? How have you responded to God the Son, Who has identified Himself with sinners in their sin? Is He your Savior? In what current situation do you most need the comfort of remembering the Jesus has identified Himself with you? What is your plan for reminding yourself of that in that specific situation? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving Your Son, Who needed no repentance, to be the sacrifice for our sins. And thank You for giving Him to us as the One Who gives us Your Spirit for life and faith and union with Christ. Forgive us for our many sins, for His sake. And, forgive us for how forgetful we are of His glory and His grace. Grant that by that very grace, we would remember Him and live by faith in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH492 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”  

2026.03.11 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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

Means of Generational Grace [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 31:9–13]

How do covenant blessings come from one generation to the next in God’s visible church? Deuteronomy 31:9–13 looks forward to 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 covenant blessings come from one generation to the next in God’s visible church by means of the public hearing of all of His Word. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The central message of the devotional is that God’s Word, faithfully read and heard in corporate assembly, is the primary means by which His people are renewed in reverence, obedience, and faith. Rooted in Deuteronomy 31:9–13, the passage emphasizes that the public reading of the Law every seven years—during the Feast of Tabernacles—was designed to cultivate a generational fear of God, ensuring that all, including children and strangers, would hear, learn to fear Him, and live according to His commandments. True obedience flows not from legalistic pride but from a heart humbled by the holiness of God’s Word, received with meekness and applied in gospel-centered action. The weekly gathering of the Church on the Lord’s Day fulfills the Old Testament pattern, with the goal of proclaiming the whole counsel of God so that believers and their children may grow in humility, reverence, and faithful obedience. Ultimately, the devotional calls the church to steward God’s Word with holy seriousness, trusting that the Spirit uses it to produce lasting spiritual fruit across generations.

2026.03.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 31:9–13

Read Deuteronomy 31:9–13

Questions from the Scripture text: What did Moses do with the law (Deuteronomy 31:9)? To whom did he deliver it? What did they do? To whom else did he deliver it? Then what did Moses do them (Deuteronomy 31:10)? About doing something how often? In what particular year? At what time of year? Who will do what at that time (Deuteronomy 31:11)? And what must the priests and elders do before all Israel at that time? Which of the people are they to gather (Deuteronomy 31:12)? That they may do what? And learn to do what? So that they ultimately do what? Who else will benefit from this (Deuteronomy 31:13)? By being enabled to do what two things? For how long?

How do covenant blessings come from one generation to the next in God’s visible church? Deuteronomy 31:9–13 looks forward to 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 covenant blessings come from one generation to the next in God’s visible church by means of the public hearing of all of His Word.  

The substance of the sermon of Deuteronomy 5–26 wasn’t just for one particular day and circumstance in the life of God’s people. It was for their ongoing instruction. Every seven years, there was to be a release from debts and slavery. But the real freedom is found in belonging to the Lord and being enabled to observe his commandments. 

All Israel. God’s Word is the means that He uses to do His gracious work in all of His people. This is emphasized in Deuteronomy 31:11, Deuteronomy 31:12. The reading is for “when all Israel comes to appear” and to be done “before all Israel in their hearing.” Particularly, this is to include “men and women and little ones, and the stranger.” None are to be left out

The Means Used: His Word. Twice, we see the mechanism described: “that they may hear and that they may learn to fear YHWH your God” (Deuteronomy 31:12), and “may hear and learn to fear YHWH your God” (Deuteronomy 31:13). YHWH uses the hearing of the Word to produce in them the fearing of the Lord. Here is something to aim at, and to seek from the Lord, as you listen to His Word or read His Word: that He would work in you the fear of YHWH.

The Fruit Produced: Obedience. The fear of YHWH produces what our English version describes as “carefully observe” (Deuteronomy 31:12). In the original, it is “keep in order to do.” When we “receive with meekness the implanted word” as a gift from God “to save your souls” (cf. James 1:21), we must “be does of the Word, and not hearers only” (cf. James 1:22). We keep the Word of God in order to do what it says.

Throughout Their Generations. The Lord establishes the public reading of His Word, at a great assembly, with the children there, in order to make an impression especially upon them. “Every seven years” would ensure that each child would experience this twice during his lifetime, and at least once when able to comprehend well. 

This hearing, fearing, and keeping to observe is something that the Lord commands to convey from one generation to the next “as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 31:13). That is to say: throughout the generations of the visible church, as she enjoys the blessings that belong to her in covenant with God.

There is no longer an annual feast of tabernacles, but there is a weekly Lord’s Day. In it, let the congregations of the church publicly assemble and hear God’s Word read. And, let them not shun to declare “the whole counsel of God” (cf. Acts 20:27). But, with a view to the souls of all, but especially to the children, let them hear the Word, in order to fear the Lord,  that they may both keep all of His words to do them, and teach yet another generation. 

How strongly do you prioritize assembling with the church each Lord’s Day? What does it look like to fear the Lord, Whose Word we hear? By what habits of meditation, vowing, and paying those vows, do you put into practice the words of God? How strongly do you prioritize the training of children to hear, and fear, and obey? What are you doing to facilitate this? 

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us the public assemblies of Your church on Your day. And thank You for giving us Your living, active, saving Word. And thank You for granting that, in those assembles, we and our children would hear that Word. Forgive us, for when we have missed those assemblies when we could have attended. And, forgive us, for when we have heard the Word, but not unto the fear of You. And, forgive us, for when we have not sought to put Your Word into practice. Finally, forgive us for how lightly we have taken the duty to make sure to do this with our children, with the whole counsel of God. Truly, You have greatly blessed us, but we have taken that blessing for granted. So, by Your Spirit applying to us the grace of Christ, please forgive us and help us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP34C “O Sons and Daughters, Come” or TPH173 “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast” 

Blessed RE-Assurance [2026.03.08 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 6:4–13]

When the Lord Jesus restores a church, or a believer, He strongly reaffirms His affection, adoration, union, honor, and delight for her.

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

Almighty Disciple-Making [2026.03.08 Morning Sermon in Matthew 28:16–20]

Jesus exercises His authority to make disciples out of all for whom He died.

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

Signs That Point Us to Christ [2026.03.08 Sabbath School in WCF 27.1.3—Hopewell 101]

WCF 27.1.3 teaches us that the sacraments point us to Christ. The lesson centers on the sacraments as holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, emphasizing their role in representing Christ and confirming each believer’s personal, particular interest in Him. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10–11, it warns against misusing the visible church and sacramental signs—such as baptism and the Lord’s Supper—as mere external privileges, reminding the congregation that spiritual participation requires faith and obedience. Pastor underscores that the Israelites’ experiences in the wilderness serve as cautionary examples: unbelief and presumption led to judgment, illustrating that sacraments do not guarantee salvation apart from genuine faith in Christ. Believers must examine their hearts, avoid the error of thinking they can live freely in sin under grace, and instead look to God to use the sacraments to deepen their assurance, grow them in Christlikeness, and make them live in joyful obedience. Ultimately, the sacraments are not about human merit or ritual but about God’s gracious self-communication, confirming that Christ is personally for each believer through the Spirit’s work.(click here to DOWNLOAD an mp3 file of this lesson)