The Centrality of Christ's Priesthood [Family Worship lesson in 1Chronicles 6]

Why are the Levites so central to Israel? 1Chronicles 6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Levites are central to Israel because their priesthood anticipates the great benefits and privileges into which Christ Himself brings us. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This passage centers on the tribe of Levi, particularly the priestly line of Aaron and the Levitical musicians, highlighting the centrality of worship in God’s people. The detailed genealogies trace the unbroken lineage of high priests from Aaron to Jehozadak and Joshua, affirming divine preservation of the priesthood despite exile. The chronicler emphasizes the Levites’ roles in music and service, underscoring that their ministry—especially the singing—anticipates Christ, Who is both the ultimate High Priest and the One Who leads worship in the heavenly sanctuary. Unlike other tribes, Levi received no territorial inheritance, as God Himself is their portion, pointing to the believer’s eternal inheritance in Christ. The devotional concludes with a call to recognize Christ as the sole mediator, the true temple, and the source of all worship, inviting believers to serve as a priesthood of all believers through Him.

2026.05.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Chronicles 6

Read 1 Chronicles 6

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose families do 1 Chronicles 6:1–3 trace? What direct line do 1 Chronicles 6:4-15 trace? Which two events receive special mention in this line (1 Chronicles 6:10, 1 Chronicles 6:15)? What branches are traced further in 1 Chronicles 6:16-30? Upon which priestly service do 1 Chronicles 6:31-47 focus? Who appointed them (1 Chronicles 6:31)? When was this initiated (1 Chronicles 6:32)? In anticipation of what? Who joined their fathers in this? What is noted in 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 6:44? What other service is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:48? And whose service, where, is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:49-53? With repetition from which line (cf. 1 Chronicles 6:4-8)? Finally, what provision is listed in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81?

Why are the Levites so central to Israel? 1 Chronicles 6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eighty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Levites are central to Israel because their priesthood anticipates the great benefits and privileges into which Christ Himself brings us.  

Just as with the order of camping in the wilderness, the Levites occupy the center of the genealogies in 1 Chronicles. 

The Lord redeems a people in order to make His presence to dwell among them. We are also reminded of this by the fact that the Levites were spread throughout Israel (1 Chronicles 6:54-81). This was, in part, because the Lord was their portion (cf. Deuteronomy 10:9). But it was also so that the Levites would be throughout Israel, to teach them God’s judgments and law (cf. Deuteronomy 33:10). 

The Lord also provides mediators to atone for His people. We see this in the double repetition of the high priests’ line in 1 Chronicles 6:4-8 and 1 Chronicles 6:49-53. It began with Levi, came into a new phase with the temple (1 Chronicles 6:10), and was preserved despite the exile (1 Chronicles 6:15). The mention of Jehozadak is important, because is son Joshua (or Jeshua, cf. Ezra 5:2) would be high priest for the returned exiles. The chronicler here puts his legitimacy beyond a doubt.

The Lord gives to His people to praise Him. It is interesting that the priestly singers are given seventeen verses (1 Chronicles 6:31-47), and the rest of the service of the tabernacle is given just one (1 Chronicles 6:48). These singers were specially appointed by David (1 Chronicles 6:31) in anticipation of the temple (1 Chronicles 6:32). 

Thinking about our Lord Jesus’s priesthood, it becomes clear why the Levites would be so “central” in the chronicler’s account after the exile. They needed to be encouraged that God’s plan to bring the Christ into the world was still in full force, and they needed to take up the responsibility of rebuilding the temple and resuming the priestly service in it. Two other contemporary books (Haggai, Zechariah) emphasized this. 

Jesus ministers the presence of God to us. He is “God with us,” Immanuel. Christ’s Spirit comes to dwell in us; He unites us to Christ and enables us to draw near to God through Christ. We realize how wonderful true Christian worship is, as we see the importance of the priesthood that anticipated God’s presence with us in Christ.

Jesus is the Mediator Who atoned for us once for all. This He did at the cross. Then, He ascended into glory—that reality of which the Holy of Holies was a shadow copy—consecrating our worship there by virtue of His blood. And not only did He ascend, but He is our anchor there, and we enter past the veil through Him.

Jesus leads us in praise to God. He is the great Singer in Christian worship (cf. Hebrews 2:12). He leads us in praise to God. The fact that we all sing is a great privilege of New Testament worship, for the melody now is not played upon priestly instruments but by the grace of Christ in the heart (cf. Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). 

How is drawing near to God, through Christ, central to each day of your life? How is it central to each week of your life? How do your habits reflect the importance of drawing near to God? Why do you need Jesus to be Your Priest? What use are you making of His provision of atonement? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the One Who leads us in praise?

Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for the priesthood of Christ. Please forgive us for how we have taken for granted the marvelous privilege that we have, that we may draw near to You in Him. We confess that we have much neglected this privilege, failing to appreciate it in our hearts and failing to make good use of it in our habits. And thank You for His offering His own blood as an atoning sacrifice at the cross. Sometimes, we have made too little of our sins, rather than seeing how dreadful they must be to require such a Priest and such a Sacrifice. At other times, we have made too little of His atonement, continuing under the weight of our guilt, rather than knowing our full and free forgiveness in Him. Finally, we thank You for the honor of singing Your praise in the public worship. How marvelous that Jesus sings through us! But we have often failed to sing in the awareness of the glory that was occurring. Please forgive us, and cleanse us from our sin, through Christ, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Your Face” or TPH456 “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”

For His Sheep [Children's Catechism 52—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 52—especially explaining how Jesus laid down His life for His sheep, whom He received from His Father.

Q52. For whom did Christ obey and suffer? For those whom the Father had given Him. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Christ's obedience and suffering were specifically for the people the Father has given to Him, a definitive and exclusive group whom He calls His sheep. Drawing from John 6:37, 10:11–15, and 17:6, 11, the lesson emphasizes that Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection are not universal in application but are rooted in a divine, covenantal relationship between the Father and the Son.

Integrity in Adversity [Family Worship lesson in Job 2:1–10]

What is happening when the devil attacks us? Job 2:1–10 prepares us for the opening part of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, when the devil attacks believers, the Lord is doing them good through it. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional centers on Job’s unwavering faith amid profound suffering, highlighting the tension between human experience and divine sovereignty. Drawing from Job 2:1–10, it emphasizes that despite Satan’s malicious intent, Job's confidence that God is sovereign over all, enables him to remain blameless, upright, and committed to trusting God in both prosperity and adversity. The passage underscores the theological truth that all circumstances—good and evil—are ultimately under God’s sovereign control, and that true faith involves accepting both as expressions of His goodness and wisdom. Pastor contrasts Job’s steadfast integrity with the spiritual danger of grumbling, especially within close relationships, warning that discontentment can harm others and reveal a failure to trust God’s providence. Ultimately, the devotional calls believers to emulate Job’s contentment, rooted in the knowledge that God, who gave His Son for us, is faithful and good, and thus worthy of praise even in suffering.

2026.05.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Job 2:1–10

Read Job 2:1–10

Questions from the Scripture text: What was there in Job 2:1? Who came to do what on that day? Who came among them? What does YHWH ask in Job 2:2? How does the adversary answer? About whom does YHWH ask him (Job 2:3)? What does He call him? What does He say about him? What does He point out that Job is still doing? Despite what? But how does the adversary answer now (Job 2:4)? What does he say will happen, under what circumstances (Job 2:5)? What does YHWH permit (Job 2:6)? Within what limit? From where does the adversary go (Job 2:7)? What does he do to whom? How much? What does Job take, to do what, where (Job 2:8)? Who speaks to him in Job 2:9? What is the point of her rhetorical question? What does she tell him to do instead? What does Job say about her speech (Job 2:10)? What is the point of his rhetorical question? What assessment does the text make about him?

What is happening when the devil attacks us? Job 2:1–10 prepares us for the opening part of public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, when the devil attacks believers, the Lord is doing them good through it. 

God still sovereign. The superintending sovereignty of God over the actions of demons and angels is again explained to us in terms of a council meeting, in which the subordinate powers report before the Lord (Job 2:1-2). Notice that, while Job was “in the adversary’s hand” (cf. Job 1:12), YHWH does not diminish His own superintending sovereignty (“you incited Me against him, to swallow him without cause,” Job 2:3). Now, more than ever, Job is YHWH’s servant, blameless, upright, fearing God, shunning evil. As always ultimately occurs, Satan’s attack has backfired. Job has been sanctified, and God has been glorified.

Satan still satanic. Alas, the adversary’s malice is not satisfied (Job 2:4). The selfishness described in Job 2:5 is characteristic of Satan, but at this point it rings hollow about Job. Again, we have the “two hands”: “stretch out Your hand” in verse 5, and YHWH saying, “he is in your hand,” in Job 2:6. Satan’s evil is his own, but YHWH’s good and sovereign hand overrules. Satan’s malice is restrained by the good will of God: “spare his life.” This is always the case, dear Christian. The almighty providence of God is always overruling; the good providence of God is always prevailing. Truly, His goodness and mercy are hot on your heals, always.

Job still being sanctified. Job is left miserable from head to toe, but we find out from his wife that he continues to be YHWH’s servant, blameless, upright, fearing God, shunning evil. She is actually irate that he continues to “hold fast to [his] integrity” (Job 2:9), even suggesting that he do precisely as Satan had said (Job 2:5). Without knowing it, she has been left alive as a tool of the devil. What a danger there is, when think according to the flesh, of becoming a tool of the devil! And this is most of all the case with those to whom we are closest. God gives man a wife to be his helper for worship and obedience; let her not influence him otherwise. For Job’s part, since he knows that God is good, he is willing to accept whatever He sends, whether pleasant or painful (Job 2:10). Dear Christian reader, whether in pleasantness or pain, trust the goodness of your God!

What hardship in your life do you need to be reminded is under God’s almighty and good providence? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for Your almighty, sovereign, wise, good providence. Truly, You accomplish all Your holy will, and all the malice of men or demons cannot hinder that. So receive our worship, and help us in it. Grant that, by Your Spirit, You would be everything unto us, in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH231 “Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right” 

Wisdom's Necessary Vigilance [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 24:30–34]

Why must the wise be vigilant about wisdom? Proverbs 24:30–34 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must be vigilant about wisdom, because of the creation’s cursedness, our remaining corruption, and folly’s capacity for harm. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Proverbs 24:30–34 uses the image of a neglected field overrun by thorns and thistles to illustrate the destructive consequences of laziness and spiritual complacency. It emphasizes that even small, seemingly harmless indulgences—like a little sleep or rest—can spiral into ruin when unchecked, revealing that there is no tolerable amount of folly or sin. The passage calls believers to constant reflection and vigilance, reminding them that wisdom is not a one-time achievement but a lifelong practice. The tone is both convicting and pastoral, urging a zero-tolerance attitude toward spiritual negligence, as harm from folly can come suddenly, like a prowler or an armed man. Ultimately, the devotional underscores the necessity of disciplined diligence and continual dependence on God’s Word to resist the creeping decay of apathy and sin.

2026.05.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 24:30–34

Read Proverbs 24:30–34

Questions from the Scripture text: By what two things did the teacher go (Proverbs 24:30)? Whose? In what condition did he find them (Proverbs 24:31)? What did he take away from this (Proverbs 24:32)? How much of what (Proverbs 24:33) does it take for what to come (Proverbs 24:34)? In what manner?

Why must the wise be vigilant about wisdom? Proverbs 24:30–34 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that  we must be vigilant about wisdom, because of the creation’s cursedness, our remaining corruption, and folly’s capacity for harm.

Vigilant wisdom in light of a cursed world (Proverbs 24:30-31). The thorns and thistles in Proverbs 24:31 are not just inconvenient accidents of nature. They are the embodiment of the fall (cf. Genesis 3:17–18). The thorns and nettles are presented as an invading army, even breaking down the stone wall. Creation’s being bound to corruption and decay (cf. Romans 8:19–22), together with our own original sin and remaining corruption, demand constant, vigilant exercise of wisdom. To be lazy is to lack understanding of ourselves and of God’s world (Proverbs 24:30).

Vigilant wisdom in light of remaining corruption (Proverbs 24:32). One of the most repeated themes in the book of Proverbs has been the father’s urging the son to see, consider, look, and receive instruction. But in verse 32, it is Solomon who is doing the considering and receiving instruction. We never mature past learning. In fact, it is a sign of maturity that we continue to reflect, meditate, learn, receive instruction. Obviously, Solomon already knew that laziness is destructive (cf. Proverbs 6:9–11). But, he knows that laziness continues to be a threat from within him. Just as with the condition of the creation, our remaining corruption means that we need to maintain constant vigilance against folly.

Vigilant wisdom in light of folly’s great potential for harm (Proverbs 24:33-34). The triple repetition drives home the point. How much sleep does it take? A little! How much slumber does it take? A little! How much folding of the hands to rest does it take? A little! Now, we know that the Lord gives to His beloved to sleep (cf. Psalm 127:2). So this isn’t establishing a zero-tolerance policy for sleep. Rather, Proverbs 24:33 is what the lazy men tells himself when it is time, not for sleep, but for work. He seems to know that it is folly, or he wouldn’t justify it to himself by saying that it is only a little. But even “a little” folly can bring sudden, overwhelming harm (Proverbs 24:34). So we must have a zero-tolerance policy for folly. 

Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, our righteousness. He watched and prayed, when none of His disciples were able. He grew in wisdom His whole life long. He never indulged in folly, even for a moment. And it is His righteousness that is both counted for the believer, and worked out by His Spirit in the believer’s life.

What aspect of the broken creation has been threatening to sneak up on you? How are you continuing to observe things and receive instruction? In what folly are you tempted to indulge “a little”?

Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for the wisdom and righteousness of Christ. Please work in us, by Your Spirit, making us to be like unto Him. Keep us from indulging in laziness or any other folly. And, hasten the day when our folly will be eliminated altogether, and a new creation will enjoy sharing in the glorious freedom that belongs to us as Your children, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH73B “Yes, God Is Good to Israel”

Be Covenantally Faithful [2026.05.05 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 24:26–29]

The Lord has bound us to various people to whom we must be faithful.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The passage calls believers to covenantal faithfulness in three key relationships: the community, the household, and the neighbor. It emphasizes truthful public testimony—especially in judicial settings—as a reflection of marital covenant loyalty, where honesty is not merely ethical but a sacred duty. The command to prepare one’s field before building a house underscores a moral and spiritual responsibility to provide for future family, both materially and spiritually, rooted in the biblical imperative to care for one’s household as a sign of genuine faith. The prohibition against bearing false witness against a neighbor without cause exposes the danger of harboring resentment and seeking personal vengeance, which distorts truth and leads to deceitful speech; instead, believers are to trust God as the ultimate judge and refrain from usurping His role. Ultimately, all relationships are seen as divinely ordained, requiring integrity, self-control, and grace, with the heart’s posture toward others being the foundation of faithful action.

2026.05.10 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, and 3p)

To tune in for the Lord's Day streams, we recommend that you visit the livestream page.

The Ultimate Glory of Marriage [2026.05.09 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – May 9, 2026

Dear Congregation,

Matthew 22 begins, “And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son…’”

This is a parable about those who hear the gospel but refuse to enter the kingdom, and even those who are part of the visible church (so, in the kingdom in some sense)—but who do not have Christ and His righteousness counted for them by faith, so they never come to have His righteousness clothing them in personal holiness either.

But the choice of a wedding intends to remind us of something that is more than a parable: THE parable, or as Ephesians 5:31–32 puts it, “the mystery” of Christ and the church. Hebrews 1:8 teaches us to understand Jesus as the great Bridegroom of Psalm 45 (and, of its parallel song, the Song of Songs).

Marriage is the parable of Christ and the church. It is secondary to God’s eternal intention to wed the Son to a bride whom He would redeem, and betroth to Himself, and perfect, and marry.

It is on account of this intention that God creates and designs man to be married. The startling “it is not good” (that the man would be alone), in Genesis 2, after five repetitions of “it was good,” shows us how central marriage was to the creation plan and the creation order. Rapidly, at the end of day 6, the first marriage takes things from, “it is not good,” to the triumphant, “it was very good.”

So, it is not surprising that the first place the devil attacked humanity was in the context of their failings as wife and husband in Gen 3. And the nature of marriage itself has been under attack in every single generation since then. The consequence is the corruption of man’s purpose, the destruction of man’s joy, and the obstruction of this glorious parable of Christ and His church.

Marriage, well-understood and faithfully lived by grace, is the greatest earthly blessing. It is not surprising that the Lord would make it so, in light of the great glory of what it shows forth.

But, an approach to marriage that pursues it for oneself, rather than in self-sacrificial love to one another, to show forth Christ and His church, is the most common of the nearly innumerable perversions with which marriage has been attacked.

As we increasingly discovered, under the preaching of the Song of Songs, it is the sweetest possible thing to know the greatness of Christ’s delight in His bride, and His relentless efforts to produce in her that which is delightful, and to be with her. Enjoying Him, and His love to us, and His work in stirring up our love to Him… this is the pleasure of heaven. And we can have it already on earth. Meditating much upon this does much to motivate us to the most faithful and affectionate earthly marriage that grace gives us. Best of all, it prepares us for the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Looking forward to the Bride’s meeting with her Betrothed tomorrow,

Pastor

Audio lessons to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:

▪Theology Simply Explained — CC51, God's Workmanship for God Works 
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC28, Christ Exalted Yesterday, Today, and Forever
▪Job 1:6–22, “When God Is Everything to You”
▪1Chronicles 5, “Historically Sad Sin and Chastening”
▪Mark 4:1–20, “The Hearing Heart That We Need”
▪Ephesians 1:3–4, “Blessed in the Blessed One”
▪Zephaniah 1:1–3, “YHWH's Word of Warning”

LORD'S DAY – May 10, 2026 

9:50 a.m. Breakfast Line Opens

10 a.m. Sabbath School
We are preparing our minds and hearts for public worship by studying our Confession of Faith from Scripture, affirming that Scripture is our only ultimate authority, but also discovering that what we confess is thoroughly Scriptural.

11 a.m. Public Worship

▫Songs for public worship on May 10: ARP73C [mp3], ARP80 [mp3], ARP65A [mp3]

Scripture Text for first portion of worship service
Job 1:6–22

Scripture Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
1Chronicles 5
Mark 4:1–20

Sermon Scripture text and topic

We will be hearing the sermon from Ephesians 1:3–4 about “Every Spiritual Blessing”

Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for and take it).

1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class

1:30 p.m. Fellowship Lunch

▫Children’s Catechism for May 10. Q51 What is sanctification? It is God's making sinners holy in heart and conduct. [CC 51 Simply Explained: “God's Workmanship for God Works”]

▫Shorter Catechism for May 10. Q28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. [WSC 28 Simply Explained: “Christ Exalted Yesterday, Today, and Forever”]

▫Memory Verse for May 10, Ephesians 1:4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

3:00 p.m. Evening Praise and Preaching
We will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from Zephaniah 1:1–3 about “Man, the Stumbling Block”

Hopewell this Month

Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for May
Prosperity ARP in Taft, TN

May Psalm of the Month
ARP80 Hear, O Hear Us

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, May 13, Midweek Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from Proverbs 24:30–34 then pray until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 13, Session Meeting, 8 p.m. in the Pastor’s Study
• Saturday, May 23, Men’s (and future men) breakfast, 7a in the Fellowship Hall
• Thursday, June 4, Diaconate Meeting, 8 p.m.