Worship service 02/22/26.
Greetings and call to worship.
Greetings and good morning, saints and beloved brethren. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you through the love of the Father and the grace of the Son of God Jesus Christ, which is poured out on us abundantly through the gift of the Spirit. We are gathered once again on this blessed and glorious Sabbath morning to rejoice in the name of the Son of God for His wonderful work of redemption for us. Psalm 106:1-3 says, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can shew forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.” Inasmuch as we are freely forgiven through the righteousness of the Son, so we give him thanks and praise and offer up our lives freely in gratitude and humility, learning by his word to practice righteousness at all times. Beginning on the Sabbath and continuing throughout the rest of our lives.
A Puritan minister writes, “‘I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.’ That is, I will advance thee to honour, ascendere faciam; so Munster interprets it. Some, by the high places of the earth, understand Judea; so Grotius. I will bring thee into the land of Judea, which is situated higher than the other countries adjacent. (3) Of earth and heaven. ‘And I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob;’ that is, I will feed thee with all the delicious things of Canaan, and afterwards I will translate thee to heaven, whereof Canaan was but a type. Another promise is, ‘Blessed is the man that does this, that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.’ Isa 56: 2. ‘Blessed is the man;’ in the Hebrew it is, ‘blessednesses.’ To him that keeps the Sabbath holy, here is blessedness upon blessedness belonging to him; he shall be blessed with the upper and nether springs; he shall be blessed in his name, estate, soul, progeny. Who would not keep the Sabbath from polluting it that shall have so many blessings entailed upon him and his posterity after him? Again, a conscientious keeping of the Sabbath seasons the heart for God’s service all the week after. Christian the more holy thou art on a Sabbath, the more holy thou wilt be on the week following.”
Prayer unto the public reading of the Holy Scripture:
Our holy and righteous Father,
Full of all glory, justice, and righteousness,
Merciful and faithful—The Covenant God who will by no means clear the guilty, taking vengeance on them that follow after other gods, yet showing mercy to thousands that love thee with the whole heart and keep thy commandments:
We come before thee solemnly and sincerely, as those whom thou hast elected from before the creation of all worlds and purchased by the precious blood of thy Son, called out of darkness and brought into the fellowship of the gospel and the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We bow in all reverence before thy throne, knowing the severity of thy law, the holy requirements of the gospel, as well as our own vileness and unworthiness to draw so near unto thee.
We freely confess, O Lord, that apart from the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are denied access to the covenant promises, are under the wrath and curse of God, and must be cast from thy presence as an abominable thing. Moreover, we confess that without faith in the Mediator, consent to sound doctrine and a repentant heart, endeavouring to walk evenly and zealously for thee, which is the gracious work of the Spirit, we have no evidence of fellowship with thee. For we are by nature guilty and polluted, unable of ourselves to repent or return, and altogether unfit to render thee any service that is not defiled by sin. Therefore, do we confess our utter dependence on the Father’s love for our election, the Son’s righteousness for our justification and the Spirit’s work in our hearts for our sanctification. We believe that thou art our God, and the rewarder of them that diligently seek thy face. Therefore, inasmuch as we are convinced of our sin in Adam and the redemption in Jesus Christ alone, we cry out to thee for mercy: For pardoning mercy to cover our iniquities, And sanctifying mercy to make us meet for thy presence. Hear our prayers, deliver us from all trouble, cleanse us by the blood of Christ and the washing of the Spirit by the word. Sanctify us by the truth of thy word. Defend us from all evil, Strengthen our faith, subdue the lusts of the flesh that swell within us, And enable us to perform this holy service, Not in our own strength, But in the virtue which thou dost supply of thine own free goodness. And now, O Lord, as we come to the reading of thy holy word, we pray for a special blessing upon this portion of Scripture, that it may be effectual to build up thy holy church, which thou hast called thy special possession, and thy little flock. Open our hearts to receive it with meekness; Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and cause us by thy grace to live by it; And may the same Spirit who breathed life into the church in all ages; the fathers, apostles and prophets, the reformers and Puritans, so guide our whole lives, That we may grow up in Him in all things, even He who is the Bridegroom and Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, our Prophet, Priest and King. All this we ask in his most worthy name, Amen.
Devotional and doctrinal exposition on the Psalms:
Psalm 27 [19] (Verse 10): 1 David maketh this Psalm being delivered from great perils, as appeareth by the praises and thanksgiving annexed: 6 Wherein we may see the constant faith of David against the assaults of all his enemies. 7 And also the end wherefore he desireth to live and to be delivered, only to worship God in his Congregation.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I request; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from me; nor cast thy servant away in displeasure: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 Though my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as speak cruelly.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Exposition:
We saw previously that the Christian prays earnestly and seeks after the face of God, which signifies the sensible impression of His favourable countenance. We also observed that the only right manner of seeking the face of God is to seek Him in His Word and in the sound doctrine contained therein. For all opinions of men and all controversies of religion must be judged by the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures. And we know that nothing is more common in established religion than to build an entire system of falsehood upon one or two misunderstood passages.
Consider the absurdity of dispensationalism and the pre-tribulation rapture, which mistake the very nature of the second coming by twisting Matthew 24:40, “one received, the other refused,” when the Scripture everywhere links the coming of Christ with the end of the world. As it is written in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” There is here no room for two or three second comings, nor for a doctrine of a second chance for unbelievers.
We see also the absurdity of the papal doctrine drawn from the Lord’s words to Peter, “upon this rock I will build my church.” That rock is the confession—“Thou art the Christ”—not Peter as a pope. For Peter behaved as a minister of the gospel, humble and zealous for God, not as one seated upon a golden throne commanding worldly kings to render homage.
Likewise, the error of the Arminians, who suppose a universal saving grace through misunderstanding passages such as John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 Timothy 2:4—texts torn from their proper context and made to support an unsound and deviant system of religion which cannot be proved by the Spirit speaking according to the whole counsel of God.
We should also take note of the next verse, which is another poetic declaration of heightened expression, not uncommon in Scripture. David has already said, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;” and again, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;” and again, “Now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me;” and now here, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”
These are not exaggerated flourishes of vanity, such as fill secular poetry and tickle the imagination of men, but grave and weighty expressions from a sound mind and a holy frame of heart, declaring the greatness of God’s salvation and the effect of faith upon the soul. Here there is no idle boasting, as though he wished for some unlikely extremity, but a settled confidence: if men should forsake him—even his father and mother—yet the Lord will supply the lack and provide for His servant.
This confidence belongs to all believers who have suffered loss for the sake of truth and the gospel. As Christ Himself assures us:
“Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
GNV Mark 10:29-30— “An hundredfold as much, if we look to the true use and commodities of this life, so that we measure them after the will of God, and not after the wealth itself, and our greedy desire.” “…even in the midst of persecutions.”
John Calvin,
“After having raised the expectation of his followers to the hope of a future life, he supports them by immediate consolations, and strengthens them for bearing the cross. For though God permit his people to be severely afflicted, he never abandons them, so as not to recompense their distresses by his assistance. And here he does not merely address the apostles, but takes occasion to direct his discourse generally to all the godly. The substance of it is this: Those who shall willingly lose all for the sake of Christ, will be more happy even in this life than if they had retained the full possession of them; but the chief reward is laid up for them in heaven.
But what he promises about recompensing them a hundredfold appears not at all to agree with experience; for in the greater number of cases, those who have been deprived of their parents, or children, and other relatives — who have been reduced to widowhood, and stripped of their wealth, for the testimony of Christ — are so far from recovering their property, that in exile, solitude and desertion, they have a hard struggle with severe poverty. I reply, if any man estimate aright the immediate grace of God, by which he relieves the sorrows of his people, he will acknowledge that it is justly preferred to all the riches of the world. For though unbelievers flourish, (Psalms 92:7,) yet as they know not what awaits them on the morrow (James 4:14,) they must be always tossed about in perplexity and terror, and it is only by stupefying themselves in some sort that they can at all enjoy prosperity. Yet God gladdens his people, so that the small portion of good which they enjoy is more highly valued by them, and far sweeter, than if out of Christ they had enjoyed an unlimited abundance of good things. In this sense I interpret the expression used by Mark, with persecutions; as if Christ had said, Though persecutions always await the godly in this world, and though the cross, as it were, is attached to their back, yet so sweet is the seasoning of the grace of God, which gladdens them, that their condition is more desirable than the luxuries of kings.”
Opening Prayer.
Our gracious and glorious Father in heaven, righteous, wise, and almighty in power, who givest unto thy people all things necessary for comfort and well-being, together with the incomparable grace of thy Spirit, and all things that pertain unto life and godliness: We read in thy holy word that we are to keep judgment and to do righteousness at all times; therefore lead us and guide us unto it by thy gracious Spirit.
For we are unable of ourselves to see, to know, or to do that which is good. In thee alone is light and strength. Therefore we call upon thee and ask for strength through thy grace. Free us from the bondage of corruption.
Enliven our hearts, that we may walk more evenly and steadily before thee. Sanctify and purify us. Make us a zealous people for thy name, defending thy cross and doctrine with purity of conviction, and ordering our steps according to thy righteous word.
Defend us from the enemy, and bring to nothing the conspiracies that threaten thy truth.
Grant peace unto thy people through the diligent practice of godliness, and prepare us for that everlasting kingdom wherein is immortal and eternal joy. Do this for thy name’s sake, and for the sake of the covenant promise made unto the Son, who hath purchased unto thee a people to be holy before thee in love all our days.
We ask all in the name of Him who is our Mediator, our Captain, and faithful Governor, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lesson 72. [1.2.46.] The Contents of Holy Scripture: The Prophets. Hosea. The Prophet Against the Ignorance of the People.
Westminster Confession of Faith 1.2.
Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments,
Genesis—Daniel, Hosea.
All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
Intro. Hos. 3-6
I. Lessons from Hosea.
- Ignorance brings destruction upon a people. (Hos.4:1, 6, Rom. 10:2-3, Jer. 8:4-9)
GNV Jer. 8:6— “They are full of hypocrisy and everyone followeth his own fantasy without any consideration.” Contra. Hag. 1:5 “Consider your ways.”
Doctrine: God hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. The ground of this controversy is their utter lack of truth, mercy, and the knowledge of God.
Therefore, they are destroyed for this lack of knowledge, for the knowledge of God through His truth brings forth reconciliation and the practice of mercy towards others. The end of ignorance, therefore, is not mercy but death and destruction. (contra eCalvinism) Ignorance of divine truth is not the seedbed of faith but the womb of unbelief and all mischief. For faith cometh not from inward sentiment nor from the strength of man’s reason, but from sound doctrine revealed by God through His word. Unbelief, on the contrary, builds itself upon the sandy foundations of human wisdom, self-righteousness, the fiction of free will, and confidence in human merit. Put a bow into the hands of a man unskilled in its use, and put out his eyes—shall he hit the mark, though he endeavor with his life? So it is with sinners who attempt good works (salvation) without the knowledge of God’s truth. They may stretch the string with zeal and aim with confidence, yet being blind and untaught, they cannot but err; for without the light of sound doctrine they wander, and without the revelation of Christ they remain in darkness.
Thomas Watson,
“We glorify God by believing. Rom 4: 20. ‘Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God.’ Unbelief affronts God, it gives him the lie; ‘he that believeth not, maketh God a liar.’ I John 5: 10. But faith brings glory to God; it sets to its seal that God is true. John 3: 33. He that believes flies to God’s mercy and truth, as to an altar of refuge; he engarrisons himself in the promises, and trusts all he has with God. Psa 31: 5. ‘Into thy hands I commit my spirit.’ This is a great way of bringing glory to God, and God honours faith, because faith honours him. It is a great honour we do to a man when we trust him with all we have, when we put our lives and estates into his hand; it is a sign we have a good opinion of him. The three children glorified God by believing. ‘The God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and will deliver us.’ Dan 3: I7. Faith knows there are no impossibilities with God, and will trust him where it cannot trace him.”
“And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors… For if ye do forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye do not forgive men their trespasses, no more will your father forgive you your trespasses.”
On Forgiveness:
The free forgiveness of our sins, bestowed solely through the merits and satisfaction of Jesus Christ, is the only foundation upon which true forgiveness of others may stand; for as we have been pardoned without price in ourselves, so are we bound to forgive without exacting recompense, reflecting in measure that mercy which God hath shown us in His Son.
On doctrine ordering our affections:
The doctrine of justification by faith—wherein the truth and mercy of God meet together in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—is the only right way of knowing God; and through this knowledge alone are we enabled to love our neighbour in sincerity. For being justified freely by grace, we are neither driven to hate him in our heart, exalting ourselves above him in pride, nor tempted to esteem him beyond measure, to the point of idolatry, contending with God for that honour which belongs to Him alone; which such idolatrous elevation is but another form of hatred. - God is just to punish the children for the sins of the parents. (Hos. 4:6, Ex. 20:5, Josh. 7:24-25)
On despising or neglecting the covenant:
Those who are strangers to the true knowledge of God, and those who truly belong to Him yet grow negligent in that knowledge and the faithful application thereof, are liable unto covenantal chastisement; and the stroke of God’s displeasure may reach even unto their households. For the wicked despise the God of the covenant, and are justly cast out from the covenant’s outward privileges; and believers, though not cast off as to election, may nevertheless be sharply visited for their neglect, so that their sin becomes a scourge upon their children as well, even to their death and destruction. (Ex. 4:24, 1 Sam. 2:24, 1 Ki. 1:6) God is not known but by the revelation of Himself as a covenant God unto us in His holy Word; therefore, when men reject that light, or when saints do not walk answerably to it, the Lord may remove His blessings, withdraw restraint, and leave a family to bitter fruits. If He so dealt with the seed of the faithful for neglect of that covenant, how much more with the seed of the wicked who set themselves wholly against His truth? (on Baptists and churchgoing evangelicals. They take their families to heretics to be slaughtered, and in denying the doctrine and principles of the covenant to their children, only bring destruction upon them. They boast in free will and boast over their own children to their utter damnation. God has given them up to ignorance and the denial of the covenant to be destroyed.) - An exhortation to acknowledge offence, consider your ways, and seek the Lord. (Hos. 5:15-6:3,)
We cannot know the Lord except through acknowledgment of iniquity. Since we are destroyed in Adam, and begotten in iniquity, the right way of knowing God consists in the free confession of sin for the receiving of mercy gratuitously. God is only known where His grace and mercy is acknowledged according to truth. Justice and mercy have met together, holiness and lovingkindness have kissed in the gospel. Until sin is bitter, reconciliation through Christ will not be sweet. Thomas Watson, “Repentance is necessary: “except you repent—you shall all likewise perish!” (Luke 13:5). There is no rowing to paradise—except upon the stream of repenting tears. Repentance is required as a qualification. It is not so much to endear us to Christ—as to endear Christ to us. Until sin be bitter—Christ will not be sweet.”
1 John 1:8-10— “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us. 1If we acknowledge our sins, he is 2faithful and just, to 3forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 4If we say, we have not sinned, we make him 5a liar, and his 6word is not in us.”
GNV— “1Therefore the beginning of salvation is to acknowledge our wickedness, and to require pardon from him who freely forgiveth all sins, because he hath promised so to do, and he is faithful and just.
2So then our salvation hangeth upon the free promise of God, who because he is faithful and just, will perform that which he hath promised.
3Where are then our merits? for this is our true felicity.
4A rehearsal of the former sentence: wherein he condemned all of sin without exception, insomuch that if any man persuade himself otherwise, he doth as much as in him lieth, make the word of God himself vain and to no purpose, yea he maketh God a liar, for to what end either in times past needed sacrifices or now Christ and the Gospel, if we be not sinners?
5They do not only deceive themselves, but also are blasphemous against God.
6His doctrine shall have no place in us, that is, in our hearts.
Conclusion.
Closing Prayer.
Fearless Puritan: 