Gloriously Loved by Christ [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 8:5–7]

Who is the bride? Song of Songs 8:5–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that she is the glorious origin, display, and beloved of the Bridegroom. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: The devotional meditates upon the inseparable union between Christ and His church. Song of Songs 8:5–7 portrays the church as both the source from which Christ was born in the flesh and the eternal object of His unyielding, divine love. Central to this message is the theological truth that God’s love is stronger than death, more enduring than the grave, and utterly unconquerable by any force—neither can floods of wrath overcome it or the wealth of the whole world compare to its value. The church’s glory lies in being both the nurturing womb of Christ’s incarnation and the cherished recipient of His passionate, jealous, and fiery love, which produces in believers a reciprocal love of the same kind for Him.

2026.04.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 8:5–7

Read Song of Songs 8:5–7

Questions from the Scripture text: From where is the bride coming (Song of Songs 8:5a)? What is she doing (verse 5b)? What had the bride done to the Bridegroom (verse 5c)? Where? What had His mother done there (verse 5d–e)? What does she need/want Him to do with her (Song of Songs 8:6a–b)? To remind her of what about love (verse 6c)? And of what, about zeal (verse 6d–f)? What cannot quench love (Song of Songs 8:7a)? What cannot drown it (verse 7b)? What might a man offer to give for love (verse 7c–d)? What would the response to that be (verse 7e)?

Who is the bride? Song of Songs 8:5–7 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that she is the glorious origin, display, and beloved of the Bridegroom. 

After being charged concerning the bride and Bridegroom (Song of Songs 8:4, cf. Song of Songs 6:8), the daughters of Jerusalem are curious to ask about the one concerning whom they were charged (Song of Songs 8:5a–b, cf. Song of Songs 6:9). They see her coming up from the wilderness; they see her being redeemed out of the fruitless, waterless, nutritional place. They see her Beloved, the One bringing her out of it all. They see her fellowship and intimacy with Him, upon Whom she leans. The question, “who is this?,” is answered by eavesdropping on their conversation, even as she leans upon Him.

Who is this? The one who has the glory of bringing forth the Bridegroom into the world (Song of Songs 8:5c–e, cf. Revelation 12:2–5). We must value the church as her, through whom the Lord brought Christ into the world, according to His flesh (cf. Song of Songs 8:5), and through whom God ordinarily brings His Son into the lives of His elect.

Who is this? The one who has the glory of being the display of Christ’s royalty and status to the world. The seal upon the heart (Song of Songs 8:6a) and upon the arm (verse 6b) refers to a jewel, set in a golden pendant from the neck or bracelet upon the arm, would be the public display of His royalty and status. Just as she has wished that she could express her love to Him openly (Song of Songs 8:1), now she requests that He openly would display her as the emblem of His glory. God has exalted Him and made Him head over all things for the church (cf. Ephesians 1:19–23; Colossians 1:15–18). 

Who is this? The one who has the glory of being the object of Christ’s love, and reciprocator of Christ’s love. Love that is stronger than death, and produces in her a love that is also stronger than death. (Song of Songs 8:6c). Zeal/jealousy that is more unyielding than the grave, and that produces in her a love that is more unyielding than the grave (verse 6d). Love that burns from that which is in YHWH (verse 6e–f). Love that is not diminished by circumstances (Song of Songs 8:7a). Love that refuses to be eliminated by wrath (verse 7b). Love so valuable, in and from the Creator, that all creaturely wealth together cannot equal its worth (verse 7c–e). 

Such is the glory of the church. Such is who she is. How greatly we should value her—and her communion with Him!

What impresses you about the church? What impresses you about her intimacy with the Lord Jesus? What things threaten to impress you more? What does this tell you about the extent to which you value Christ’s glory and love?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for Your glory, and for Your glorious love to the church. Help us love her and value her, and make us to love You with the love that is from You, and for You, in our own hearts, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP87 “The LORD’s Foundation” or TPH405 “I Love Thy Kingdom Lord”

The Love and Power of Jesus [Family Worship lesson in Mark 1:40–2:12]

What does the text emphasize about Jesus, in healing the leper and the paralytic? Mark 1:40–2:12 prepares us for 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 gospel emphasizes Jesus’s compassion and power. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: This passage reveals Jesus Christ as both deeply compassionate and supremely powerful, embodying divine love through His willingness to touch the unclean and His authority to forgive sins. His compassion is evident in His emotional response to the leper and His tender address of the paralytic as 'son,' while His power is demonstrated not only in physical healing but in the greater miracle of spiritual forgiveness—affirming His divine identity as the Son of Man with authority on earth to forgive sins. The response of faith from the leper and the friends of the paralytic, who break through the roof to reach Him, illustrates the urgency to come to Christ. The crowd’s glorification of God reflects the proper human response to such divine power and grace, calling believers to marvel at Christ’s love, embrace His forgiveness, and persevere in seeking Him with faith and devotion.

2026.04.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Mark 1:40-2:12

Read Mark 1:40-2:12

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the leper believe about Jesus (Mark 1:40)? What does Jesus feel, when the leper bows before Him (Mark 1:41)? What does Jesus do to heal the leper? What does Jesus tell the leper not to do (Mark 1:43-44)? What does the leper do anyway (Mark 1:45)? Why can’t Jesus enter the city for several days? When Jesus does enter a house in the city (Mark 2:1), what happens (Mark 2:2)? How does the paralytic get to Jesus (Mark 2:3-4)? What does Mark 2:5 say that Jesus sees? What does Jesus first say to the paralytic? What do the scribes reason in their hearts (Mark 2:6-7)? What does Jesus call Himself in Mark 2:10? What does He claim to have power to do? What does Jesus then say to the paralytic (Mark 2:11)? How do people respond to the paralytic’s healing (Mark 2:12)?

What does the text emphasize about Jesus, in healing the leper and the paralytic? Mark 1:40–2:12 prepares us for 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 gospel emphasizes Jesus’s compassion and power. 

In next week’s reading, the Lord Jesus twice displays His compassion and His power.

First, with the Leper, we read that Jesus is “moved with compassion” (Mark 1:41). What glory! Our Savior’s heart is moved by compassion. Compassion for the weak. Compassion for the sinful. Compassion for people like we are. But here we also see His power. All Jesus has to do is be willing (verse 41). His will is powerful to save. His Word is powerful to save. 

Shouldn’t we respond like the crowds who came from every direction (Mark 1:45, Mark 2:2)? They heard about His love and power, and they all started coming to Him with everything. How small must our faith be, for us do not do the same? Let us come to Him with everything! He is no longer humbled and limited in the cities and hills of Galilee. Now, He is sitting on the throne of glory and will not be wearied. We may all come to Him at once!

Next, with the paralytic, look at Jesus’ compassion: He calls the man “son” in Mark 2:5, just before He refers to Himself, for the first time in the book, as the “Son of Man.” Not only does He raise the paralytic up, but He also lowers Himself down to the same level: a son. This is exactly what our Lord Jesus has done for us! These are not just facts of how our redemption came about. This is what the personality of our Savior is like: He is unashamed to call us His brethren (cf. Hebrews 2:11)!

But what’s really wonderful is the power that He demonstrates with the paralytic. No, I don’t mean the power to heal paralysis. That was the more difficult thing to say (Hebrews 2:9), but not at all the more difficult thing to do (Hebrews 2:5). The real power that He demonstrates is the power to forgive sins. The scribes were right. No one can forgive sins but God alone (Hebrews 2:7)! The One who reduced Himself to our level is God Himself!

The crowd only saw the power to heal a paralytic, and they still were amazed and glorified God. How much more should we be amazed and glorify God, when we see the real power—the power to forgive sins!

What situation have you felt alone or neglected in? Where does this passage direct you for compassion and care? What situation have you felt powerless in? Where does this passage direct you for help? What has your prayer life been like recently? When will you have your regular time of daily prayer? How will you remind yourself to take all troubles immediately to Christ? Whenever you come to Christ for forgiveness, will you do so with confidence? And, knowing that you are in fact forgiven, won’t you respond with amazement and praise? How will you express that amazement and praise? What place will being forgiven have in your personal, family, and congregational worship?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your compassion upon us. Forgive us for when we do not feel our need for Your compassion. Forgive us for when we do not perceive Your compassion to us. And forgive us for when we are not like You, in compassion to others. And thank You for demonstrating Your great power by forgiving us. We confess that we often see other forms of healing as the great displays of Your power. But Your humbling Yourself to add humanity to Yourself, and Your making atonement for the forgiveness of our sins, and Your giving us life and faith to believe into You—this is the great display of Your power. So, forgive us, and help us to see You rightly, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH151 “Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray” 

2026.04.01 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

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More Love to Thee, O Christ [2025.03.29 Evening Sermon in Song of Songs 8:1–4]

What the bride most desires is to please the Bridegroom more.

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

The Flood and Fire of His Wrath [2026.03.29 Morning Sermon in Nahum 1:8–11]

The Lord will remove all place and power from the wicked, pursuing them with darkness, and consuming them with fire.

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

Baptism Represents Christ to Us [2026.03.29 Sabbath School lesson in WCF 27.1.3—Hopewell 101]

Like the Lord's Supper, Baptism, as a sacrament, represents to us Christ and His benefits.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Israel's Blessing [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29]

What is the blessedness of God’s people? Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God Himself is the greatest blessing of His people. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript of the audio: Moses, at the end of his life, delivers a final blessing to the tribes of Israel, culminating in a profound declaration of God’s covenantal love and sovereignty. The passage reveals God as the ultimate source of blessing—riding the heavens, sustaining His people with everlasting arms, and defeating enemies on their behalf. The blessings to each tribe are not merely material promises but covenantal affirmations, with special emphasis on Levi’s role in spiritual leadership and the enduring significance of divine election. The climax of the blessing is the declaration that Israel’s true happiness lies not in land or wealth, but YHWH Himself, in and through Christ.

2026.04.01 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29

Read Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29

Questions from the Scripture text: Who spoke to whom, when (Deuteronomy 32:48)? Where does He tell Moses to go (verse 49)? To do what? What two other things will he do there (Deuteronomy 32:50)? Why must he die there (Deuteronomy 32:51)? What will he see (Deuteronomy 32:52)? What won’t he do? What does Deuteronomy 33:1 call the following verses? Who came from where (Deuteronomy 33:2a-d)? Who came with Him (verse 2e, cf. Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2)? What did He give (Deuteronomy 33:2f–g)? With what affection (Deuteronomy 33:3a)? Who are in His hand (verse 3b)? What do they do (verse 3c–d)? By whom did He command it (Deuteronomy 33:4a)? As what (verse 4b)? What does Deuteronomy 33:5a call Israel? Who was God to them? When (verse 5b–c)? What two blessings does he now pronounce on Reuben (Deuteronomy 33:6a)? Tempered by what limitation (verse 6b)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:7a)? Who will hear him (verse 7b)? And bring him where (verse 7c)? And enable him to do what (verse 7d–e)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:8a)? What will YHWH do for him (verse 8b)? What had YHWH done to him (verse 8c–d)? Whom did they resist, in order to be faithful to YHWH (Deuteronomy 33:9)? What will they do unto Israel (Deuteronomy 33:10a–b)? What will they do unto YHWH (verse 10c–d)? What will YHWH do for him (Deuteronomy 33:11a–b)? And how protect him (verse 11c–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:12a)? What will YHWH do for him (verse 12b–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:13a)? What will YHWH bless for him (verse 13b)? With what (verse 13c–d)? And with what else (Deuteronomy 33:14-16a)? But ultimately with what (Deuteronomy 33:16b)? Upon what will blessing come (verse 16c–d)? What will Joseph be like (Deuteronomy 33:17a–b)? What will he do (verse 17c–e)? In what numbers (verse 17f–g)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:18a)? With whom (verse 18c)? What will they do (verse 18b)? Whom will they lead (Deuteronomy 33:19a) in what (verse 19b)? What will they have a share in (verse 19c–d)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:20a)? By blessing whom else (verse 20b)? What does he do (verse 20c–d)? In what role (Deuteronomy 33:21)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:22a)? By describing him as what (verse 22b)? And doing what (verse 22c)? Whom does he bless next (Deuteronomy 33:23a)? With what will he be satisfied (verse 23b) and full (verse 23c)? What will he possess (verse 23d)? Whom does he bless last (Deuteronomy 33:24a)? By calling him what (verse 24b)? Who else will favor him (verse 24c)? With what richness (verse 24d)? And what strength (Deuteronomy 33:25a)? In accordance with what (verse 25b)? Whose uniqueness does Deuteronomy 33:26a declare? How does He show it (verse 26b–c)? Who is He (Deuteronomy 33:27a)? What is He to them? How are they upheld (verse 27b)? How are they protected (verse 27c–d)? What will be their security (Deuteronomy 33:28a)? How is their life described (verse 28b)? And their richness (verse 28c)? And their freshness (verse 28d)? What, therefore, is their condition (Deuteronomy 33:29a)? What makes them so happy (verse 29b)? What two things is He to them (verse 29c–d)? What will they do to their enemies (verse 29e–f)?

What is the blessedness of God’s people? Deuteronomy 32:48–33:29 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirty-four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God Himself is the greatest blessing of His people.  

Moses has preached his last sermon now, which takes up the bulk of the book of Deuteronomy. And in order that the written copy of the book might be a witness, and heaven and earth might be a witness against all Israel in the generations to come, the Lord had him conclude the book with the song that summarized the rest of the book. And he has written the song, and he speaks it all to Israel, and he finishes that and tells them what to do with it in verse forty-five and forty-six.

Now, the Lord says, it is time to die. This sentence was pronounced on Moses for failing to hallow the Lord at Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51), when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Before he dies, Moses will see the land (Deuteronomy 32:52). As something of a father to Israel, he blesses them before dying, like Jacob had done in Genesis 49. Many blessings overlap between the two. Genesis 49:7 has already begun coming true for Simeon, who is missing from Deuteronomy 33. The curse on Reuben (cf. Genesis 49:4) is affirmed in the fewness of their number (Deuteronomy 32:46b, NKJ’s “nor” is incorrect), though Moses’s blessing preserves their existence (Deuteronomy 32:6a). Zebulun’s blessing in Genesis 49:13 is confirmed here in Deuteronomy 33:19d–e, and they continue to be connected with Issachar (Deuteronomy 33:18, cf. Genesis 49:13–14). 

Israel’s earthly blessings are rounded out by Benjamin’s security between two ranges of hills (Deuteronomy 33:12), Joseph’s many earthly blessings (Deuteronomy 33:13-17), Gad’s enjoyment of the territories of Sihon and Og (Deuteronomy 33:20-21), Dan’s lion-like nature (Deuteronomy 33:22), Naphtali’s blessings around the sea of Galilee (Deuteronomy 33:23), and Asher’s riches (Deuteronomy 33:24-25).

Other nations may possess material wealth or geographical advantages, but for Israel, for God’s people, and for you who are in Christ, the good things you receive in this world come to you through the love that gave you Christ. They are manifestations of God’s special, covenantal, electing, and adopting love toward His people. Therefore, you give thanks to God for them as covenant blessings. 

This is where the emphasis ultimately lies. Enclosing these tribal blessings, Moses introduces (Deuteronomy 33:2-6) and concludes (Deuteronomy 33:26-29) with general blessings and the general blessedness, focusing upon their greatest blessing: the Lord Himself. YHWH shined forth as pillar of fire and cloud of glory (Deuteronomy 33:2). Israel are made holy ones (Deuteronomy 33:3), being consecrated to Him like the thousands of angels who had been at Sinai (Deuteronomy 33:2, cf. Hebrews 2:2). In this, we see the love of God, even for sinners, redeeming  them to be His holy ones. His law comes in that love, as their heritage (Deuteronomy 33:4). And in His love, He was king to them (Deuteronomy 33:5). He is their help (Deuteronomy 33:26), their refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27a), their support (verse 27b), their avenger (verse 27c–d), their security (Deuteronomy 33:28a), their life (verse 28b–d), their joy (Deuteronomy 33:29a), their salvation (verse 29b), their defense (verse 29c), their gory (verse 29d–f). YHWH is everything to them.

This is why Levi’s blessing is the most important (Deuteronomy 33:8-11). On several occasions, they have been faithful to YHWH, over-against the rest of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:9). Now, they are blessed to minister spiritually to man (Deuteronomy 33:10a–b) and God (verse 10c–d). 

All the blessedness that the Lord gives, and especially the blessedness of the Lord Himself being ours, belongs ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who pronounces blessing upon us, and especially the blessing of God Himself being our happiness. Happy are you, O Israel, who is like you, a people saved by YHWH, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty. This belongs to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

What material blessings have you received? How are you taking and enjoying the Lord Himself as your greater blessing?

Sample prayer: Lord, You have given us many material blessings. Forgive us for when our hearts make more of them than of You. Grant that we would receive all blessings as from the love that gave us Jesus, the love that made us Your own people. Most of all, we pray that You would enable us to receive Yourself as our great blessing and blessedness, in the Lord Jesus, and by Your Spirit. For we ask this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”