2025.04.08 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 140

Read Psalm 140

Questions from the Scripture text: To whom is this psalm addressed (superscript)? Whose is it? With what double request does it begin (Psalm 140:1)? What do these men do with their hearts (Psalm 140:2a)? With their selves (verse 2b)? With their speech (Psalm 140:3)? With what double request does Psalm 140:4 continue? What have these men done with their hearts (verse 4c)? With their activities (Psalm 140:5)? How does David identify the Lord in Psalm 140:6a? What does he ask his God to do (verse 6b)? How does he identify the Lord in Psalm 140:7a? What has the Lord done for him? What double request does he make for the Lord to prevent (Psalm 140:8a–b)? Why (verse 8c)? To what does he refer in Psalm 140:9a? What does he ask would happen to them (verse 9b)? And what other two things (Psalm 140:10)? What does he ask would not happen in Psalm 140:11a? And what does he ask that it would happen in verse 11b? What does he know (Psalm 140:12)? What will be done, by whom, in response (Psalm 140:13a)? With what final and enduring outcome (verse 13b)? 

How should we pray when we are in trouble from others? Psalm 140 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray as those who belong to God, and who desire that He would display His character in His responses to others and to us.   

Why the believer needs deliverance (Psalm 140:1-5). David’s requests for deliverance in the first five verses focus upon the wicked ones to whom he is asking the Lord to respond. They are wicked to the core, with evil plans in their hearts (Psalm 140:2a) and their purposes (Psalm 140:4c). In this wickedness they are collaborative (Psalm 140:2b), communicative (Psalm 140:3), and very active (Psalm 140:5). So, David needs to be delivered (Psalm 140:1a), preserved (verse 1b, Psalm 140:4b), and kept (verse 4a). He is very vulnerable, and his vulnerability is one great plea with the God Who cares for the vulnerable!

Why the wicked needs his comeuppance (Psalm 140:6-11). The focus in verses 6–11 shifts to the Lord Himself, Who is responding to the wicked. Obviously, there is much overlap in the themes of these two sections, but there is an evident shift in emphasis. As Scripture teaches us to do, the psalmist’s heart turns especially to the Lord Himself.

He focuses on his relationship to the Lord, being covenantally bound to Him (“You are my God,” Psalm 140:6a) and entirely dependent upon Him (“the Strength of my salvation,” Psalm 140:7a). You, too, should learn to address the Lord this way, as your very own covenant God.

He requests the Lord’s personal interaction with him. “Hear the voice of my supplications” (Psalm 140:6b) drives home the concrete reality of this interaction, asking YHWH to listen to the particular sounds that he is making.  

He recounts the Lord’s having delivered him before: “You have covered my head in the day of battle” (Psalm 140:7b).

Consideration of the Lord brings to mind something even more urgent than the enemies’ attacks against David: the enemies’ wickedness against the Lord Himself. It is of the utmost importance that the wicked not be exalted (Psalm 140:8), but rather that thanks be given to the name of the exalted Lord (Psalm 140:13a). God’s character as being just in His vengeance upon the wicked is on the line (Psalm 140:9-11).

And God’s character as just being just in His compassion upon the afflicted is on the line (Psalm 140:12). But He will surely have that compassion upon those afflicted ones whom He has justified. He will most certainly sanctify and glorify them; in His presence (Psalm 140:13b), they will be the ones giving thanks to His Name (verse 13a).  Dear believer, learn from this psalm to tell the Lord the details of your circumstances, but to focus especially upon His character, and His glory in the display of that character in how He responds to your circumstances!

What dire circumstances have you been in, or perhaps are in even now? Concerning these circumstances, how have your prayers emphasized your covenant relation to God? How have your prayers emphasized His personal interaction with you? How have your prayers focused on seeking the glory of His character in His responses to the wicked? How have your prayers focused on seeking the glory of His character in His responses to the elect?

Sample prayer:  O Lord, You see and hear everything in heaven and earth. But, since we are Yours in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we ask that You would give special regard to the sound of our voice and the cries of our heart. You are our God, and the strength of our salvation. Truly, You have been our help before, and we are confident that You will continue to maintain our cause, until we dwell in Your presence and give thanks to Your Name. So, give us now to enter that presence in union with Christ by faith, in dependence upon Your Holy Spirit, and be glorified in our praying, and indeed in all of our worship unto You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP140 “Save Me, O LORD” or TPH140 “O Save Me, LORD, from Evil Men”

Taught to Be Satisfied in God [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:12–19]

What is at stake in how we receive instruction? Proverbs 13:12–19 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that life, health, and joy come, in part, through the instrumentality of humility to receive the Word. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:12–19

Read Proverbs 13:12–19

Questions from the Scripture text: What does hope deferred do (Proverbs 13:12a)? What does fulfilled desire do (verse 12b)? What happens to the one who despises the Word (Proverbs 13:13a)? And to him who fears the commandment (verse 13b)? How does the law of the wise function (Proverbs 13:14a)? From what does it turn one away (verse 14b)? What does good understanding gain (Proverbs 13:15a)? What is the way of the unfaithful like (verse 15b)? With what does the prudent man act (Proverbs 13:16a)? What do a fool’s actions lay open (verse 16b)? Into what does a wicked messenger fall (Proverbs 13:17a)? What does a faithful ambassador bring (verse 17b)? What comes to him who disdains correction (Proverbs 13:18a)? And what comes to him who regards rebuke (verse 18b)? What effect does fulfilled desire have upon the soul (Proverbs 13:19a)? What do fools think of departing from evil (verse 19b)?

What is at stake in how we receive instruction? Proverbs 13:12–19 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture ,the Holy Spirit teaches us that life, health, and joy come, in part, through the instrumentality of humility to receive the Word.

The inclusio (bookends) that marks this passage is the fulfillment of desire in Proverbs 13:12 and Proverbs 13:19. Whereas the wicked will lose all they desired (Proverbs 13:11b), the wise/righteous will have their desire fulfilled. This will have a healing effect upon them (“tree of life,” Proverbs 13:12b; cf. Revelation 22:2) and be sweet to their soul (Proverbs 13:19a).

This passage returns to theme of being instructible. The one who humbles himself under instruction is the one who will have the healing and sweetness of ultimately fulfilled desire. He “fears the commandment” (Proverbs 13:13b), drinks life from “the law of the wise” (Proverbs 13:14), “gains favor” (Proverbs 13:15a) and health (Proverbs 13:17b) by obtaining “good understanding” (Proverbs 13:15), shows knowledge in his actions (Proverbs 13:16a), and gins honor by regarding rebuke (Proverbs 13:18b). What a blessing teachability is!

By contrast, the one who insists upon his folly is responsible for his own sickness (Proverbs 13:12a) and poverty and shame (Proverbs 13:18b), because his evil is so precious to him that it would be an abomination to him to depart from it (Proverbs 13:19b). Such a fool will despise the word (Proverbs 13:13a), making his own way hard (Proverbs 13:15b). He has no knowledge to act from, so his actions broadcast his folly (Proverbs 13:16b). Instead of health (Proverbs 13:17b), he finds trouble (verse 17a).

Every time you have opportunity to receive biblical instruction from the wise and godly, there is a choice before you: life and health and the fulfillment of desire, or the sickening of the heart and poverty and shame. The Lord, Who has given His Son, into Whom we believe, also gives the spiritual life necessary for yielding to instruction. May He give it to you, dear reader.

How do you receive Scripture teaching from those whom the Lord has given you for that purpose? How do you receive instruction and rebuke from the godly and the wise?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us Your Word and Spirit, to direct us into Your Son and conform us to Him. By Your Spirit, grant unto us the humility that we need to submit ourselves under Your Word, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP16A “Keep Me, O God” or TPH400“Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me” 

2025.04.06 Lord's Day Livestreams (live at 10:10a, 11:10a, 3p)

Click below for the:

April 6 Lord's Day Worship Booklet

Matthew 17:14–21 sermon outline

3p song selections & Deuteronomy 3:23–29 sermon outline

We urge you to assemble physically, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

Only Jesus Can Save [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 17:14–21]

Why can’t we save? Matthew 17:14–21 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only Jesus can save, because Jesus is God. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 17:14–21

Read Matthew 17:14–21

Questions from the Scripture text: To whom did they come in Matthew 17:14? Who came to Jesus? What posture did he take? Upon whom did he ask for mercy (Matthew 17:15)? Why? What had the man tried (Matthew 17:16)? With what effect? Who answers in Matthew 17:17? Whom does He accuse of what two things? What two rhetorical questions does He ask? What does He say to do? Whom does Jesus rebuke in Matthew 17:18? What does it do? With what result for the child? Who come to Jesus in Matthew 17:19? In what manner? What do they ask? What is Jesus’s first answer (Matthew 17:20)? What size faith does He say that they need? With such faith, to what would they be able to give commands? What would be impossible for them? But what does Jesus say about this demon—what is the only way that it goes out (Matthew 17:21)?

Why can’t we save? Matthew 17:14–21 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that only Jesus can save, because Jesus is God.  

Jesus can, and will, save you. What the boy’s father was so desperately searching for in the multitude below (Matthew 17:14), and what the other nine disciples were so desperately failing to give, was gloriously being displayed for sinners on the mountain above. The man has no doubt that Jesus is powerful. All that is needed is mercy, and he has hope for that as well, as he asks Jesus to have mercy upon him (Matthew 17:15).

No one else can, or will, save you. “they could not cure him” (Matthew 17:16) and “why could we not cast it out (Matthew 17:19) present the problem by use of the nominative pronouns “they” and “we.” The answer that Jesus gives (Matthew 17:20) has, sadly, been used by many to say that what is needed is more faith. So, people try to believe harder, but this is exactly opposite what Jesus’s answer actually means. The reason is: because they are not Jesus! This is what is behind Jesus’s agonized answer in Matthew 17:17. He has come to the generation for whom it will be worse for them than Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon. Here is God the Son in the flesh, and they receive Him not, and hope in men instead. The apostles are His commissioned servants for taking the gospel to the world. But they are not to be trusted in, not the smallest bit. However great a blessing a man may be, and however much instrumentally assigned to be used by God in our life, we must not put our trust in him. Only, entirely, Jesus can save you!

Because Jesus is God. The reason that the smallest faith can do the largest thing is not because faith is powerful, but because its object is powerful. What percentage of God’s power is required to accomplish the greatest possible task in all of creation? This is why He attaches Matthew 17:21 to His answer about the mustard seed. It so poignantly makes the point. What is only possible to the disciples by prayer and fasting is available to Jesus, instantaneously, by His mere will and Word (Matthew 17:18). As a man, Jesus prays and fasts. But He is also God. He is the One unto Whom we pray and fast. What a wonderful thing prayer and fasting is! In it, we have a sweet fellowship with Jesus, Who did so in His own humanity, and through Whose intercession we come in our prayer and fasting. And, in it, we come to Jesus as our God and Savior, acknowledging that “we are not able” (prayer) and that He is all that we need (fasting).

What might you be trying to do in your own strength? How might you be treating faith as a work (trying to get it up to “mustard seed level”), rather than as the abandonment of any dependence at all upon work? What is your prayer life like? What is your fasting life like? What is your experience of the enjoyment of both sweet fellowship with Jesus, and secure dependence upon Jesus, in your prayer and fasting?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving Your own Son, Who is God with You and with the Spirit, to be our Savior. Give us to see His glory by faith, so that we will depend entirely upon Him for our deliverance from the enmity of devils and men, from the cursed condition of the world, and especially from our own sin, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP65A “Praise Awaits You, God” or TPH332 “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

Seeing and Serving God's Glory [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 3:23–29]

For what do the godly plead? Deuteronomy 3:23–29 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the godly plead to know the glory and the goodness of the Lord.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 3:23–29

Read Deuteronomy 3:23–29

Questions from the Scripture text: What did Moses do, when (Deuteronomy 3:23)? What did he say the Lord YHWH had begun to show him (Deuteronomy 3:24)? How had the Lord shown this to him? By what rhetorical question does he communicate this? What does he ask in Deuteronomy 3:25? But how did YHWH receive this request (Deuteronomy 3:26)? And with what command did He answer it? Yet, what command does He give in Deuteronomy 3:27? What is Moses to do there instead of seeing the land in person? And what is Moses to do instead of leading the people in person (Deuteronomy 3:28)? Whom is he to command? What else is he to do to him? What will Joshua do? With what result? And what did Israel do at this time (Deuteronomy 3:29)?

For what do the godly plead? Deuteronomy 3:23–29 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the godly plead to know the glory and the goodness of the Lord.

This passage gives us an important insight into Numbers 20:12. YHWH was already angry with Moses on Israel’s account before the incident in Numbers 20. Deuteronomy 1:37 traces this back not to the incident with the rock but the incident at Kadesh Barnea. The Lord had been angry with Moses on their account back then, and still, when Moses makes this final plea in prayer, the Lord is angry with him on their account. Moses was covenant mediator, and the Lord was angry with him on account of Israel’s sin. It was this judgment that left Moses to himself, being permitted to stumble in that way. 

Here is something for those who are in positions of federal responsibility: they should labor and pray for those in their care as those with whom the Lord will deal covenantally according to those whom they are over. As with Moses, this doesn’t refer to the eternal reward to their soul, but in God’s dealing with them in this world. Fathers, elders, and civil magistrates should be earnestly pleading with God for godliness among their families, churches, or communities—and laboring in their office to see the Lord give that godliness and reward that godliness.

There is One, however, Who is covenant Mediator for us in the spiritual and eternal sin, and indeed, the Lord was angry with Him for our sakes (cf. Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He had no sin of His own, and the worthiness and greatness of His Person was such that the infinite wrath of God against our sin was exhausted upon Him for all for whom He died.

Another takeaway, here, is something for us all to ask of the Lord: that He would not leave us to ourselves. That He would forgive our past sin and not give us over to our remaining sinfulness in the future. We follow “forgive us our debts” with “and lead us not into temptation.” 

Still, Moses knows the Lord to be compassionate and forgiving, as He Himself declared to Moses in Exodus 34:6. And so Moses pleads with the Lord (Deuteronomy 3:23). He appeals to God’s glory (Deuteronomy 3:24), just as he had done in behalf of the people in Exodus 32:11–14. Moses prays in humility, calling himself the Lord’s servant (Deuteronomy 3:24), and he prays from the desire to see the good that the Lord has provided (Deuteronomy 3:25). This is exactly opposite how Israel had responded to the report from the spies. Moses’s great desire is to display and enjoy the glory of God. May the Lord give us such motives of heart, that would overflow from our hearts in prayer, dear reader.

Though the Lord has fixedly determined that Joshua would lead the people and cause them to inherit the land (Deuteronomy 3:28b), He does give Moses the heart of what he asked: to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. “Speak to Me no more” in Deuteronomy 3:26 is not so much a “no” as it is a “not in the way that you have asked.” God has decided to grant Moses’s request to view the good land from the top of Pisgah (Deuteronomy 3:27). Because Moses is the servant (Deuteronomy 3:24), and God is the Master, Moses is to embrace the part that God has given him. In this case, it is not for Moses to lead the people but to strengthen and encourage Joshua. 

Dear reader, truly, God is good, and He only does you good. He constantly gives us to see His goodness in Scripture and in life. In Scripture, He gives us to see His goodness especially in giving Christ (cf. Romans 5:8). And in our lives, He gives us to see His goodness especially in proclaiming Christ to us, and giving us light and life to believe into Him, and uniting us to Him, and giving us to know Him, increasingly, forever. And to this, He adds all other things (cf. Romans 8:32). Rather than fret over what we may not be given, shouldn’t we rejoice to see His good gifts from whatever vantage point He brings us to?

What place does being upheld against your sinfulness have in your desires and prayers? What place does seeing the goodness and glory of the Lord have in your desires and prayers? What is the greatest good that He has given you? What is some other examples of good that He has given you?

Sample prayer: Lord, You have begun to show Your servants Your greatness and Your might hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your might deeds? Grant that we would see Your good gifts in fulfilment of Your good promises, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People” or TPH153 “O Day of Rest and Gladness”

How the Demonic Should Alarm Us [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 8:13–9:21]

How should we respond to the locusts of Revelation 9? Revelation 8:13–9:21 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the horrors of the enmity of devils and men should be a clarion call to us to repent before we find ourselves on the receiving end of the enmity of God.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 8:13–9:21

Thursday, April 3, 2025 ▫ Read Revelation 8:13–9:21

Questions from the Scripture text: What does John see, in between the fourth and fifth trumpets (Rev 8:13)? What does it pronounce upon whom? Why? Who sounds his trumpet in Rev 9:1? What does John see? What happens to the star? What is given to him? What happens when he opens it (Rev 9:2)? What come out of the smoke (Rev 9:3)? What power are they given? What don’t they harm (Rev 9:4)? Whom do they harm? But what couldn’t they do (Rev 9:5)? What did they do for how long? With what effect? What would men seek and desire in those days (Rev 9:6)? With what “success”? What were the locusts like (Rev 9:7–10)? What power of theirs is repeated in Rev 9:10? Who was their king (Rev 9:11)? What are his names? What does Rev 9:12 declare has passed? What does it say are to come? Who sounds his trumpet in Rev 9:13? What does Joh hear from where? To whom does the voice speak (Rev 9:14)? What does it say to do? How precisely was this timed (Rev 9:15)? What were they released to do? To how many? What sort of army did they lead (Rev 9:16)? How many were there? What did they look like (Rev 9:17)? What three things came from their mouths? What did these three things do (Rev 9:18)? To how many? Where is their power (Rev 9:19)? What do the rest of mankind still not do (Rev 9:20)? What did they continue to worship? What other four things are a sampling of the immorality that they continued (Rev 9:21)?

How should we respond to the locusts of Revelation 9? Revelation 8:13–9:21 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the horrors of the enmity of devils and men should be a clarion call to us to repent before we find ourselves on the receiving end of the enmity of God.

Just as there was an interlude between the fourth and fifth seals, now we see one between the fourth and fifth trumpets. The last three alarms to the unconverted are particularly dreadful. They are introduced with a triple cry of “woe” (Rev 8:13)!

The fifth trumpet/alarm is the warning that only the sealed (Rev 9:4, cf. Rev 7:2–3) are under the protection of God in the midst of the raging of the devil.

We have seen that protection before, in the book of Job. It is only as far as he is permitted that the Devil may afflict Job, and there, as in the fifth trumpet, he is not permitted to kill. The difference between the sealed and the unsealed is that for believers, this affliction comes as a help not a harm.

Like Job (cf. Job 42:5) and the psalmist (cf. Ps 119:67, 71, 75), the sealed saint knows that even the evil of the evil one cannot assault him unless God has intended it for his good.

The unsealed, however, who lack the Spirit, lack assurance, and lack Christ—there is a sting for them in all of the attacks of the devil (1Co 15:55–56, Heb 2:14), and the fear of death which they desire, here, but cannot attain (v6)! If this is how dreadful it is for them under the attacks of devils, how much worse it will be when they experience the fullness of the enmity of God!

These stinging locusts (Rev 9:3, 7–11) are other-worldly in their description and have a king over them.

The sixth trumpet/alarm is, again, demonic. These angels are not only otherworldly and hideous, but what comes from their mouths clearly indicates the demonic (Rev 9:17–18). Indeed, much human war is demonic! It is also ubiquitous, with the four demonic angels representing the four winds, i.e. all the earth. Thankfully, it is also under the sovereignty of God. Its precise timing, and even the demonic element of it, is ordained (Rev 9:15).

Grievously, these trumpets/alarms do not produce the desired result in those who have not been elected unto life. They see and know the horrors that afflict them and await them, but they still don’t repent (Rev 9:20)! We are reminded here that idols are nothing, but that false worship is actually offered to demons (cf. 1Cor 10:20). Murder, sexual immorality, and drugs/potions (NKJ “sorceries”) are profoundly harmful, yet not even the horrors of war bring men to their senses. How hard is the unregenerate heart!

No one will be able to say, in the last day, that they had not been warned. Throughout history, and in every part of the world, there are moments of intense evil and harm perpetrated by demons and men, which remind us that this is a world under judgment. For the believer, there is great comfort in knowing that even these things must work together for our good and are ruled and overruled by God. For the unbeliever, it is an urgent trumpet-call to repentance before an infinitely more dreadful day arrives!

What wars or other evils of devils of men are you aware of, or have you experienced? How have you taken them as reminders for repentance? What is your comfort, as you consider them?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for our idolatries, and murders, and immoralities, and thefts. Grant to us repentance from them. We thank You for those woes that trumpet a warning to us. Grant that Your Spirit would make these warnings penetrate our hearts and send us flying to Jesus, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear?”