Heeding Calls to Repent [Family Worship lesson in Amos 4]

How should we respond to difficult or shocking providence? Amos 4 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God gives difficult and shocking providence as an opportunity for repentance. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Amos 4

Read Amos 4

Questions from the Scripture text: What words introduce the new declaration of charges in Amos 4:1a (cf. Amos 3:1a)? What does the prophet call them? Where are they? What three behaviors are exhibits of their transgression (Amos 4:1b–d)? Who has sworn by what in Amos 4:2a? What days are coming (Amos 4:2-3c)? How does this part of the declaration of charges conclude (Amos 4:3d, cf. Amos 4:5e, Amos 4:6d, Amos 4:8d, Amos 4:9h, Amos 4:10f, Amos 4:11e)? What sort, and what amount, of religious activity were they doing (Amos 4:4-5)? Where (Amos 4:4a–b)? With what attitude (Amos 4:5c)? What had the Lord done for them (Amos 4:6a–b)? And what else (Amos 4:7-8b)? And what else (Amos 4:9a–f)? And what else (Amos 4:10a–d)? What effect did all of this fail to produce (Amos 4:6c, Amos 4:8c, Amos 4:9g, Amos 4:10e)? How does Amos 4:12a–b introduce the summons? What is the substance of the summons (verse 12c)? What are their Accuser’s/Prosecutor’s credentials and qualifications (Amos 4:13a–f)? What is His identity (verse 13g)?

How should we respond to difficult or shocking providence? Amos 4 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God gives difficult and shocking providence as an opportunity for repentance.  

Israel’s Sentence. The wealthy ladies from the fertile land of Bashan were accustomed to the rare air of the royal court at Samaria (Amos 4:1a), where they didn’t just oppress and crush the lowest classes (verse 1b–c), but even lorded it over the lords (more literal than NKJ’s “husbands”) of the land (verse 1d). How far they would fall, when the time of the exile came (Amos 4:2-3)! Chapter 4 is a hearing in which the Lord announces to them why. Amos 4:12 concludes the presentation of His case, saying “therefore thus will I do to you.”

Self-deceiving religion. Bethel (Amos 4:4a) was the place where the Lord had met Jacob in the vision of the ladder (cf. Genesis 28:19). Gilgal (Amos 4:4b) was the place where Israel had rededicated itself to the Lord after the wilderness period (cf. Joshua 5:9). The northern kingdom kept religious observances to the Lord surrounding some of His greatest redemptive revelations and acts up to that time. They didn’t just tithe on Sabbaths but twice as often (Amos 4:4d). They loved religion (Amos 4:5c). But their wickedness in the second table of the law (Amos 4:1) should have been a clue to the falsehood of their love for God in observing man-made religion (Amos 4:4-5). Here are two things that can give us massive spiritual cataracts to blind us to our need for repentance: worldly wealth/comfort/influence and spiritual/religious fervor. Israel had them in spades. They are not necessarily wicked to have, but if we have them, we should be watchful against how easily they can deceive us.

Providential calls to repentance. God’s Word should have been enough to call them to repentance. And may He grant unto us that His Word would be enough to do so for us. Certainly this is a good reason to worship Him genuinely from that Word, evening and morning every day, and all day long on the Lord’s Day. But when they needed to be urged to repent, God came in mercifully severe providence to grab their attention. Amos 4:6-11 list five categories/ways in which the Lord had done so, each one ending with “says YHWH.”

He had given famine (Amos 4:6). He had brought unusual/peculiar drought (Amos 4:7-8). He had prevented some crops from growing, and alternatively permitted locusts to wipe out bumper harvests (Amos 4:9). He had even come with the severity of deadly plagues, and invading/military devastation (Amos 4:10). And even near-total overthrow of one or another city or town (Amos 4:11). But in every case, we read the same sad result: “yet you have not turned to me.”

We must remember that all providence is personal. The God Who gave us the Bible is the same Who works all things according to the counsel of His will (cf. Ephesians 1:11). And He often brings shocking or difficult providence into our lives to grab our attention (cf. Luke 13:1–9).

If He has brought such providence into your life, don’t miss the opportunity for putting yourself under the lens of the Word and examining if there is sin where you thought that all was well. It may be that it is more for the purpose of growing your patience or sweetening Himself to you as the Gift that makes all else worth it. But, if He is providentially alerting you to some sin or folly, how sad it would be to have said of us, “yet you have not returned to Me.”

Who it is with Whom we must deal. “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” When their exile did come, they did not have an Assyrian problem but a YHWH problem. Why is He, alone: Prosecutor, Witness, Judge, and Executor? Because He is singularly qualified for all of these. 

He forms mountains (Amos 4:13b); He has power. 

He creates the spirit (Amos 4:13c); it is His right. 

He declares to man what his thought is (Amos 4:13d); He is a more expert witness, pertaining to us, than we are, pertaining to ourselves. 

Indeed, darkness and light are alike to Him because of the perfection of His knowledge and observation (Amos 4:13e, cf. Psalm 139:12). 

There is nowhere that anything can be hidden from Him (Amos 4:13f, cf. Psalm 139:8). “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). 

How marvelous, how glorious, that this One Who knows our sin perfectly is the One Who has borne its guilt for all for whom He died! And how dreadful for those who, rather than turning to Him in repentance and faith, pacify their consciences with intense or emotional spirituality, as if that can absolve them. God have mercy and keep you from doing so, dear reader.

To what extent are you comfortable in the things of this world or in your enjoyment of religious celebrations and exercises? If you have something of which you need to repent, how might earthly comforts or religious celebrations/exercises What shocking or unusual providence have you received from God? What place does self-examination have in your reading and praying? What other opportunity do you take for it?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how easily we mistake Your patience and kindness for approval of our ways and our worship. Grant that we would measure what we do by Your Word and not by our comfort with it. Forgive us for how slow and dull our consciences have been, when You have given us shocking providence to grab our attention. Cause us to remember that all things are naked and open to Your eyes, and that we must give account to You. Thank You that we may do so as those who have been atoned for by Christ. Forgive us for His sake, and receive us in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH467 “Cast Down, O God, the Idols” 

A Story of Sin and Grace [2024.10.20 Evening Sermon in Numbers 25]

God's grace isn't for those who are good, but for those whom He must save from wrath-deserving sin.

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

Disobeying the Gospel [2024.10.20 Morning Sermon in Matthew 12:22-32]

As the Holy Spirit presents Christ to you in the gospel, harden not your heart, but come to Him and find the rest of forgiveness for your soul.

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

What Christ Liberates Us Unto [2024.10.20 Sabbath School in WCF20.1—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continue Westminster Confession chapter 20—Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience. We continue Article 1, considering UNTO what Christ has liberated believers(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Longing for the World of Well-Used Mouths [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 120]

What does slander do? Psalm 120 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that slander hurts brethren and provokes God’s wrath. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2024.10.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 120

Read Psalm 120

Questions from the Scripture text: What is this Psalm called (superscript)? What had been the psalmist’s condition (Psalm 120:1)? What did he do? To Whom? And what did YHWH do? From what is the psalmist now asking deliverance (Psalm 120:2)? What has he concluded/discovered that liars deserve (Psalm 120:3-4)? Where has this distress come upon him (which is a further part of the distress, Psalm 120:5-6a)? What are the people there like (Psalm 120:6b, Psalm 120:7b)? As opposed to whom (verse 7a)? 

What does slander do? Psalm 120 looks forward to opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that slander hurts brethren and provokes God’s wrath.  

This is the first of the songs of ascent, which Israel would sing as they approached Jerusalem for feast. It starts far away, but ends in the worship of the congregation of God’s people at the temple (Psalm 133–134). 

Past performance is indicative of future results, Psalm 120:1. Why is to YHWH that the psalmist now resorts? Among other things, it is because YHWH has heard his prayers before. We should learn to be strengthened to make present prayer by the Lord’s answering of past prayer. And, knowing that we shall need encouragement in prayer in the future, let us pray much in the present, so that the Lord’s answers may strengthen us unto that future praying.

The present crisis: the false tongue, Psalm 120:2-4. The psalmist is now, again, asking for deliverance. This time, it is from some distress brought about by someone’s slandering him. For emphasis, he describes this three different ways (“lying lips,” “deceitful tongue,” “false tongue,”). What harm we can do to others with our words! Death (“mighty sharp arrows”) and hell (“coals of the broom tree,” cf. Revelation 21:8) are what all liars have to look forward to (Psalm 120:4).

What slander does, Psalm 120:5-7. Without knowing more about the context, it is difficult to determine whether the psalmist was actually at some intersection of Japhethites (Psalm 120:5a, cf. Genesis 10:2) and Ishmaelites (Psalm 120:5b, cf. Genesis 25:13). Either such foreigners are displaying the fruit of their unbelief, or this is a way for him to talk about Israelites whose conduct has made the godly as a stranger even among the covenant people. For, they are not reciprocating his love of peace and peacemaking (cf. Matthew 5:9), but rather they indulge enmity (Psalm 120:6-7). But the psalmist continues to be for peace (Psalm 120:7a), which he is enabled to be by leaving vengeance to God by prayer. Let us not act as enemies to God or brother, but guard our lips and hearts for peace.

About/with whom do you need to guard your tongue more? Toward whom do you need grace to incline you to peace?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You and praise You Who hear prayer. Deliver us from every trouble! Grant that our lips would be used in Your worship to praise you, and then in other circumstances to do good to the brethren. We thank You that we may leave all vengeance to You by prayer, so that we can seek peace with our lips. Now be praised by these same lips we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP120 “I Cried in Trouble to the Lord” or TPH464 “The Beatitudes”

Don't Treat God as Common [Westminster Shorter Catechism 55—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 55—especially explaining how we must neither abuse nor treat as common any of God’s communication to us of Himself.

Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh Himself known. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Petitions Great and Small [Children's Catechism 116—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 116—especially explaining how going from immense petitions about God to tiny petitions about ourselves teaches us that we are to pray to God about everything, big and small.

Q116. What is the fourth petition? That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Listening Your Way into the Right Path [2024.10.16 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 4:10–27]

Give your heart to the Lord and His Word, and enjoy true and everlasting life.

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