Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Stanzas 1 and 3 translated from German to English by John F. Young, 1863; translator of stanzas 2 and 4: anonymous.

SILENT NIGHT
Click here for tune.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Holy night, peaceful night!
Through the darkness beams a light
There, where they sweet vigils keep
O’er the Babe in silent sleep;
Resting in heavenly peace,
Resting in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing;
Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus, the Savior is here,
Jesus, the Savior is here.

Holiest night, peaceful night!
Child of heaven, O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou was born;
Blessèd was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy,
Full of heavenly joy.

Holy night! Peaceful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigil keep
O’er the Babe who in silent sleep
Rests in heavenly peace,
Rests in heavenly peace.

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!
Only for shepherds’ sight
Came blest visions of angel throngs,
With their loud alleluia songs,
Saying, Christ is come,
Saying, Christ is come.

Thought Provoker

What is to be our relationship with the world around us? Should we separate ourselves from the ungodly and not be around them? If we do so, how can we be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them? Read 1 Kings 22 and see from the example of Jehoshaphat what our relationship to the world is not to be like, then read John 17:13-21 to see what Christ had to say about this important matter.

Dad’s Study

In 1 Kings 22 we have an alliance between Jehoshaphat, one who did right in the sight of the Lord (verse 43) and Ahab who did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all the kings of Israel who came before him (1 Kings 16:30). Jehoshaphat pledges his assistance to Ahab in verse 4 and goes to battle with him to retake a city of Israel. This he does almost to his destruction as he is mistaken for the king of Israel when Ahab uses him as bait and he is pursued by the soldiers of Aram.

Prior to going to battle, Jehoshaphat, in obedience, sought the word of the Lord through one of his prophets. Ahab called his false prophets who would tell him what he wanted to hear, but Jehoshaphat desired to hear the truth from a prophet of God. Ahab’s official tried to convince Micaiah to say favorable, but false, words to Ahab because he knew that was what Ahab wanted to hear. Micaiah, however, was faithful and spoke that which was truth from God, even to his detriment, since he was imprisoned for it. It is interesting that when Micaiah spoke to Ahab words that agreed with those of his false prophets that Ahab recognized it as false and adjured him to speak the truth to him. Then, with a clear declaration that the Lord had sent the words of Ahab’s false prophets to lure him to destruction, Ahab does not believe and goes off to battle.

Ahab dies in battle after being struck by an arrow shot at random, thus fulfilling the prophecy given by Micaiah. As Micaiah himself had said, if Ahab returned from the battle the word spoken by Micaiah was not from the Lord, because the words of a true prophet are always true and Ahab’s survival would have proven Micaiah false.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

The Lord is displeased when we keep bad company.

(Prov 4:14) Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. The Lord wants us to associate with the godly and walk in righteousness. When we do not it brings His divine displeasure and wrath. Jehoshaphat was rebuked by God for this alliance. (2 Chr. 19:2) And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. We are to guard ourselves against the corruption of bad company be keeping separate from it. Children, heed your parents regarding your choice of friends and enter not into the company of the wicked.

Speak the truth.

We live in a day when people will not tolerate the truth but want to have their ears tickled. (2 Tim. 4:3, 4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But we must be faithful to God and speak the truth. (2 Tim. 4:2, 5) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine…But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The Word of God is sure.

The Word of God is completely trustworthy. What God promises in his Word will come to pass. (Ezek. 12:25a) For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; and (John 10:35b) the scripture cannot be broken.

Catechism

Question 35

Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification (Rom. 5:1,2,5), are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), increase of grace, perseverance in it to the end (Pr. 4:18; 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5).

Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them (Psalm 54:1-3).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Stanzas 1 and 3 translated from German to English by John F. Young, 1863; translator of stanzas 2 and 4: anonymous.

SILENT NIGHT
Click here for tune.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Holy night, peaceful night!
Through the darkness beams a light
There, where they sweet vigils keep
O’er the Babe in silent sleep;
Resting in heavenly peace,
Resting in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing;
Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus, the Savior is here,
Jesus, the Savior is here.

Holiest night, peaceful night!
Child of heaven, O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou was born;
Blessèd was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy,
Full of heavenly joy.

Holy night! Peaceful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigil keep
O’er the Babe who in silent sleep
Rests in heavenly peace,
Rests in heavenly peace.

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!
Only for shepherds’ sight
Came blest visions of angel throngs,
With their loud alleluia songs,
Saying, Christ is come,
Saying, Christ is come.

Thought Provoker

A very practical question to consider is, “How much is enough?” How much allowance is enough from your parents? How much of a salary is enough for a couple? How big of a house is enough to live in? To the natural man the answer is simple: “Enough is never enough.” Today we learn a very practical lesson from a king whose royal palace was not quite enough.

Dad’s Study

To fallen man, enough is never enough. In today’s chapter King Ahab, with all of his wealth and royal palaces, wanted just a little more. This time he wanted to expand his palace ground to include a vineyard which belonged to Naboth (v. 1). Ahab offered to trade him for another vineyard of equal value (v. 2). However, Naboth was a righteous man who chose to please God by keeping the vineyard which he rightly inherited. When the king’s wife, Jezebel, inquired why her husband seemed so depressed, Ahab told her that Naboth would not give him his vineyard (v. 6). Jezebel told her husband to quit pouting and leave the matter up to her. She wrote letters, under the king’s seal, directing them to stone Naboth on the trumped up charge of blaspheme. Upon the testimony of false witnesses Naboth was captured and stoned to death (v. 14). God now intervenes and speaks to the prophet Elijah, telling him to go to the vineyard and tell King Ahab, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine” (v. 19). Furthermore, God was going to bring his dynasty to an end and the dogs were going to eat Jezebel as well. Fearing God more than an earthly king, Elijah declared the word of judgment to the king. As you begin to read verse 27 you might expect to find Ahab struck dead and the dogs picking on his bones, but instead, Ahab appears humbly repentant (v. 27). We will see in the chapters ahead that his repentance didn’t last and was more remorse than true Godly sorrow. Surprisingly, God looked down on King Ahab and saw his humility and postponed his judgment until the days of his son.

This chapter raises a troubling question. Ask your family why it is that the man of God (Naboth) is killed for his faithfulness to God while the wicked king, who falls short of true repentance, receives mercy? There is a difference between judgment that is postponed and true pardoning. In God’s dealing with Ahab we see God as a gracious God who is longsuffering to sinners. God is not fooled by false tears of repentance. Here He is giving the humbled Ahab more days to truly repent and turn to God. He is giving him more days of grace! The justice of God must be seen in its broader context. Judgment day is coming. The day of longsuffering will come to an end and the wicked will be eternally judged for there sins. The unrepentant Ahabs and Jezebels of this world will face the wrath of God. The righteous Naboths who were martyred for their faith will enter into the heavenly presence of the Lord!

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Do you find yourself a Naboth or an Ahab today? Are you forgiven and clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ? Have you truly repented of your sins? Have you trusted in Christ’s work on the cross alone for the forgiveness of sins? For such faith you will suffer persecution in this life and eternal blessings in the life to come. Remember Ahab. Don’t be deceived; make sure of your calling and election. True repentance produces the God-given fruit of holiness.

Catechism

Question 35

Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification (Rom. 5:1,2,5), are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), increase of grace, perseverance in it to the end (Pr. 4:18; 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5).

Lord God, let me seek your glory above all things. May I live and pray to see Your name honored, defended, and exalted.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Stanzas 1 and 3 translated from German to English by John F. Young, 1863; translator of stanzas 2 and 4: anonymous.

SILENT NIGHT
Click here for tune.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Holy night, peaceful night!
Through the darkness beams a light
There, where they sweet vigils keep
O’er the Babe in silent sleep;
Resting in heavenly peace,
Resting in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing;
Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus, the Savior is here,
Jesus, the Savior is here.

Holiest night, peaceful night!
Child of heaven, O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou was born;
Blessèd was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy,
Full of heavenly joy.

Holy night! Peaceful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigil keep
O’er the Babe who in silent sleep
Rests in heavenly peace,
Rests in heavenly peace.

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!
Only for shepherds’ sight
Came blest visions of angel throngs,
With their loud alleluia songs,
Saying, Christ is come,
Saying, Christ is come.

Thought Provoker

Can you name the first thing in the list of seven things that are an abomination to God? The list is in Proverbs 6:16-19. Consider in the light of 1Kings 20 why that sin is listed first.

Dad’s Study

This lengthy chapter centers on two main characters, Ben-Hadad and Ahab, and there are many warnings evident from the lives of both of these men. Let us briefly consider the first half of the chapter, and then focus on the second battle between these two kings. Though Israel deserves the judgment of God for turning away from His covenant, God in this chapter is patiently extending mercy. After Ahab surrenders to Ben-Hadad, the Syrian king gets greedy and asks for a more thorough and humiliating surrender, which Ahab refuses with the strong warning, “Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.” Ahab has been a wicked king, but God in His providence has plans to deal with the prideful heart of Ben-Hadad, and so he promises victory in the coming battle, which occurs just as the prophet of the Lord declares. However, the Lord through His prophet warns Ahab that Ben-Hadad will be back in the spring.

In this second battle, the issue centers around the claim of the counselors of the king. They tell him that “their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore, they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.” In other Words, this God of the Israelites is not the Almighty, all-powerful God. He is limited and can be defeated. This arouses the anger and jealousy of the Lord, as we see, and he not only protects the Israelite army, but He strengthens them to inflict a massive slaughter on the Syrians. The crucial lesson is the seriousness with which God regards His name and His honor. His mighty sword will be wielded against all who will doubt and question His claims as the Almighty God.

This is the power in the life and especially the prayers of God’s people-the invocation of His name. When we bring our prayers to God with the intent to see Him glorified, to see Him known and honored, He is aroused to action! The Lord hears and blesses the people who have His cause at heart, who are interested not in how they will appear, but how their Lord will be regarded. If the great name of the Lord is our great issue, we have every reason to be hopeful to see God’s work in the world. We are showing interest in what He is most interested in.

The reverse is also true. If we do not hate and detest whatever runs contrary to God’s glory, we are in serious danger. In the end of the chapter, Ahab receives severe condemnation (v42) for dealing lightly with someone who dealt with God’s name and God’s people severely. He is condemned because, just as he did not have a great ambition to see God glorified, so he did not have a righteous anger when God was blasphemed or His name derided.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

A great lesson from this passage is that we ought to focus our prayers around the glory of God. This is the model that the Lord set for us. He tells us to hallow God’s name in the beginning of our prayer, to set as the framework God’s will, and to seek to see God’s kingdom extended in the world (for, of course, the further hallowing of His name). Even at the end of the prayer in Matthew, the reason we pray this way is given-it is because God deserves all glory.

A second way to implement the teaching of this passage is to have a righteous hatred for sin. A Christian doesn’t smile at the use of foul language or innuendo or especially cursing God’s name. He does not have friendly terms with any sin, in himself or others, because all sin is an attack against the glory of God. Let us long to see God glorified, and hate to see His Word, His name, or His person, treated with contempt. All glory to God!

Pastor James Williamson

Catechism

Question 35

Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification (Rom. 5:1,2,5), are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), increase of grace, perseverance in it to the end (Pr. 4:18; 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5).

Our gracious and loving Father as we approach You through Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ we thank You for the grace and mercy You continue to bestow upon us. You are a patient and kind Father who desires to bless His children. You’re a righteous and holy God who takes pleasure in those who fear You and keep Your commandments. As we come to seek You today we ask that You enable us to understand Your Word and live according to its truth. May this time of prayer and meditation be honouring to You and edifying to our hearts.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Stanzas 1 and 3 translated from German to English by John F. Young, 1863; translator of stanzas 2 and 4: anonymous.

SILENT NIGHT
Click here for tune.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Holy night, peaceful night!
Through the darkness beams a light
There, where they sweet vigils keep
O’er the Babe in silent sleep;
Resting in heavenly peace,
Resting in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing;
Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus, the Savior is here,
Jesus, the Savior is here.

Holiest night, peaceful night!
Child of heaven, O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou was born;
Blessèd was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy,
Full of heavenly joy.

Holy night! Peaceful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigil keep
O’er the Babe who in silent sleep
Rests in heavenly peace,
Rests in heavenly peace.

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!
Only for shepherds’ sight
Came blest visions of angel throngs,
With their loud alleluia songs,
Saying, Christ is come,
Saying, Christ is come.

Thought Provoker

The New Testament records a very well-known incident in the life of the apostle Peter that illustrates well the main point of our meditation today. It is recorded in Matthew 14:30ff where the Lord Jesus calls Peter to come to him by walking on the water. As the apostle started out for the Lord he made a fatal mistake. He took his eyes off of Christ and looked at the waves around him (his circumstances) and he began to flounder. His trust in God wavered and he began to sink into the depths. If we would avoid sinking into the depths of our circumstances we must keep our focus upon the Lord Himself.

Dad’s Study

There is always a danger when we read the word of God that we elevate the saints mentioned on to a pedestal that is way above our attainments as Christians. We see them as the spiritual super-heroes who lived on a higher level. Such a view is seriously unbiblical and we need to recognize that it is far from reality. James 5:17 makes this very clear – ‘Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are….’. This is most vividly seen in the portion we are reading today.

Having been used of God to accomplish a great victory over the enemies of righteousness at Mount Carmel we find the prophet ‘running for his life’ v4 as a result of Jezebel’s death threat. Here is a man mighty in the Lord one day, slaying false prophets, facing down error and evil and the next he is fleeing from a woman’s wrath. One day he is trusting in the sovereign Lord to give him victory the next he is floundering in despair and depression as his providential circumstances terrify him. Here is a man seriously discouraged and certainly despairing at the situation he is in. There is no doubt that he has been involved in fierce spiritual warfare. It has taken its toll on him mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. As a result he finds himself downcast and troubled when another attack from the evil one looms before him. He is a man feeling so tired, so afraid, so discouraged and so alone v.5-8 and v.10

Yet the Lord knew all about his circumstances and the Lord knew exactly what he needed, v. 5-7 and v.9 and v.11-17. First he needed physical rest and recuperation then he needed spiritual reviving. The Lord graciously ministered both these things to him with one express purpose, his full recovery and usefulness in the service of God. Elijah is reminded that God is still in control and that he is not alone in serving the Lord. In grace the Lord deals with his struggling child and restores him in both body and soul.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

It is not uncommon for the saints of God to know something of Elijah’s experience in this passage. We live in a hostile world and there are many spiritual battles to fight. Often we can grow physically and spiritually tired and find ourselves downcast. Learning from Elijah’s experience is vital if we would combat the threat of spiritual depression.

If a husband or wife is spiritually depressed it affects the marriage. As parents it will affect our whole family and could do lasting damage to the children. Take stock of your soul today. Discuss the reality of this problem and seek to help in practical ways to sort it out. God’s solutions are wise straightforward. We should not lie down and want to die, but it may be good to lie down and rest a while. Perhaps we need to take a few days out resting our bodies and minds and waiting upon the Lord.

We need to seek Him not only in the great events of Mount Carmel but in the place where we hear his still small voice? Are you spiritually depressed? Are you weary of the Christian life? Are there evidences that it is affecting your marriage or your family in general? Deal honestly with your heart today. Plan time out; seek the Lord in a secluded place. Learn from the Lord’s dealings with Elijah how to deal with spiritual depression that you might be raised up to greater usefulness.

Pastor Robert Briggs

Catechism

Question 35

Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification (Rom. 5:1,2,5), are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17), increase of grace, perseverance in it to the end (Pr. 4:18; 1 John 5:13; 1 Peter 1:5).

“Hold not Thy peace, O God of my praise; for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love” Psalm 109:1-5.

Today’s Hymn

JOY TO THE WORLD

Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Thought Provoker

The Apostle Peter told us that in the last days scoffers would come “walking after their own lusts” (II Peter 3:3). It is an interesting phrase, meaning they pursue the course of their own desires without regard to the truth of God. What this indicates is that there are people who form an element in our society that openly scoff at or mock the things of God because they have their own agenda. I’d say that fits the modern rise of “the media,” especially our news outlets and television programming. What other group has arisen whom has the ability to spread its agenda of godlessness, of truth twisting so convoluted that there is no real way to judge the accuracy of a report? One pattern you may have already learned about the wicked is the fact that often, when they complain about the one in the right, it is they who are doing the very thing they complain about. Such is true of King Ahab.

Dad’s Study

(You may want to read the whole chapter, as this is one of the greatest reports in the Bible on God’s direct confrontation of the false worship of “gods.” This study will just focus on Ahab.) Elijah is being sent by God to proclaim the end of the drought, one that was begun in direct judgment against Ahab. It is not that the king had repented, but the Lord was going to do something marvelous, bringing many to see the truth. Elijah meets with Ahab, and Ahab accuses Elijah of troubling Israel (Read vs. 17). Now, who was the real troubler of Israel? Was it not the king who had built the altar of Baal for the Israelites to worship? Was not the goal to turn all Israel away from their true God, mix in worship of this false god until the Lord was fully denied? And so Elijah answers (v. 18). The twisting of truth flows easily from the lips of evil men. It matters not that it is not logical, or reasoned, or that they even contradict themselves without blushing. Their intelligence has made them into fools, who deny the existence of the true Creator and thereby corrupt all their thinking with their own lusts.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

As you give testimony to sinners concerning the Lord Jesus, and the truth of the Scriptures, you will find those who are forceful in their arguments against God. There comes a time when all the logical (the Bible calls this “spiritual”) points you make are simply ignored, twisted, or have provoked the listener into anger or rage. These are men who are scoffers, who are unable to see your reasonings, who will reject any proof you may offer because it goes against their dark desires and wicked thoughts and they want others to follow them into their darkness. They will argue using deception. It may be that the Lord will bring about a confrontation where many see the truth of God, like Elijah, or, it may be that you will have to end up turning away from such men (see II Timothy 3:1-5). Trust the Lord for wisdom to know when to speak, and then speak with confidence. Yet, keep in mind that in these last days there will be perilous times, and sometimes it is better not to cast our pearls before swine.

Pastor Craig Chambers – Alberton, Montana

Catechism

Question 34

Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit (2 Th. 2:13) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God (Eph. 4:24) and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live to righteousness (Rom. 6:11).

Heavenly Father, Thou hast placed me in the church that thy Son purchased by His own blood. Add grace to grace that I may live worthy of my vocation. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

JOY TO THE WORLD

Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Thought Provoker

When God provides you with clear direction, even though you may not understand the purpose or intent, what is your response to be? Are we to obey? If so, how can we be sure that this is the proper path for us to take? The Word of God is to be our guide in all things. We are to test the spirits with the Word to see if they be true.

Dad’s Study

God pronounces His judgment upon Ahab’s sin (1 Kings 16:30) through Elijah by the declaration of drought on the land. Just as God had punished Israel for the sins of Saul by 3 years of famine in 2 Samuel 21, He now punishes Israel for the sins of Ahab that he caused Israel to sin by leading them further into idolatry, by drought. Immediately after calling Elijah to confront the king, God then sends him off into the wilderness to wait upon Him. Elijah spent approximately one year in the wilderness waiting for God to direct his next steps. He was there long enough for the brook supplying his water to dry up through the normal cycles of the seasons. Yet, what was supplied by the miraculous work of God’s hand never dried up; the ravens continued to provide until God sent him forth.

Next, God sends Elijah to the widow of Sidon. Again Elijah obediently goes forth and entrusts himself according to the Word of God into the hand of the poor widow woman. This gentile woman is in despair due to the drought and resulting famine. As a poor widow it would have been difficult enough for her to have sufficient provision even in good times. Now that famine has struck she is despairing of death as Elijah meets her. Yet, by God’s grace, she heeds Elijah’s request to “first” make him a bread cake. She obeys God in this matter and God grants her supply of bread throughout the rest of the famine, nearly two years.

We see in the life of the widow that obedience is not an immunization to trials in this life. Even though she has been obedient, still her son is taken ill and dies. Elijah takes the lad and offers up a prayer on his behalf (James 5:15) and God raises him up and brings him back to life. It is this, the resurrection of her son, that causes the widow to finally proclaim that now she knows that Elijah is a man of God and that the Word of the Lord is true.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

What truth do we see being worked out in these three miracles in the life of Elijah?

1.Seek first His kingdom Matthew 6:33

Elijah placed obedience to God’s revealed will to him first and foremost. He went as the Lord commanded, confronted the king, waited in the wilderness and went to the destitute. In each circumstance the Lord “added all these things unto” him and provided his daily sustenance of food. We too are to set our minds on pursuing the things of God and not to fret and worry about our needs. God is gracious and will provide for his children.

2. Living Water

In God’s provision for Elijah, that which was natural went away; the water of the brook dried up, yet the provisions of the ravens continued. Christ provides our salvation supernaturally. Since it is impossible with the natural man to earn or merit his salvation, with God, who provides us living water through Christ (John 4:14), all things are possible. Therefore our hope for future life is in Christ and Christ alone.

3. Resurrection

It is the resurrection that is our verification of the truth of Jesus’ words. All that Christ said He was and would do can be trusted because of the resurrection. Christ said that He would rise again and ascend to the Father. This He has done, as verified by hundreds of witnesses, therefore, we can trust His word as truth.

Catechism

Question 34

Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit (2 Th. 2:13) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God (Eph. 4:24) and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live to righteousness (Rom. 6:11).