The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever (Psalm 23) Amen!

Today’s Hymn

Words: Samuel Medley, 1775.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES (Medley)
Click here for tune.

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Thought Provoker

One of the sure marks of genuine Christian faith is a love for fellow Christians (1 John 3:14). What does it mean to love the brethren? How are we to display this love for fellow believers in Christ? For many, brotherly love is a one hour one day a week love. It is a Sunday only “lip love.” True Christian love doesn’t evaporate as you exit the church doors. You might be surprised to discover from today’s passage that the most common display of true Christian love is most uncommonly found in today’s church.

Dad’s Study

When is the last time your love for the brethren was displayed by opening your home to strangers? You do not have to go out looking for them; you will find them in your local church. How many members or visitors have you had in your home during the past year? Take out your calendar and the church directory and invite strangers into your home for a meal or a cup of coffee. Perhaps your mind is being flooded with obstacles standing in your way such as, But, our home is too small; we don’t have much furniture; our house is a mess; we don’t have the funds, or . . any other objections that come to your mind. Don’t let little obstacles become excuses for not loving. One of my warmest times of hospitality was in a little 7′ x 8′ living room with two hard back chairs. Hospitality does not have to be expensive. Your cupboard more than likely has all the ingredients for coffee and dessert. The next time a traveling pastor or missionary visits your church volunteer your spare bedroom. Your act of love will bring joy to the stranger and a blessing to your family. I highly recommend, “Face to Face” written by Steve Wilkins for additional reading and encouragement on hospitality

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

We see in Isaiah 59 the extensive wickedness of the depravity of man and the extensive mercy of a loving God. They stand in sharp contrast to one another. For the sinner who is still groping in darkness like a blind man this passage cries out to you to come to the Redeemer and be brought into His kingdom of light. Repent of your sin, trust in Christ for eternal life and know what it is to have peace with God. For the redeemed saint this is a reminder of the greatness and the glory of your God who has saved you from such iniquity, who has shown you great mercy and who makes and covenant with Christ your Redeemer that He will put His words in your mouth and they will not depart to the 3rd generation. Therefore we are to be diligent to speak the Word of truth and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord to our children and our children’s children and a world lost in darkness around us until He comes.

Catechism

Question 44

Q. Which is the second commandment?

A. The second commandment is, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 10. Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland H. Prichard, 1830.

COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS
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Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Thought Provoker

Discuss together whom you desire to please in your life? Perhaps younger children might express their desire to please Mom and Dad. In fact, I have found, even at the age of 54, I still desire to please my parents. Many young people live to try and please their peers. In order to be liked and accepted, they dress, act, and conform to the pressures of peers. Would you agree that most people today are living to please themselves? God created you to live your life to please Him! If you please God you will have realized the very purpose for your existence! For His pleasure they are and were created. The question is, how do you please God? Discuss some of the ways that people try to please God. While on a recent trip to Hermosillo, Mexico, I learned of sincere people trying to please God by annually crawling on their knees to a religious shrine. How can we live our life in such a way that God is pleased? The writer answers this question in verse 6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, it is impossible to please God at all! If faith is the only way you can please God, let us open our Bibles to the faith chapter, Hebrews 11, in order to learn the nature of true God- pleasing faith.

Dad’s Study

We find a twofold definition of faith in verse 1. First, faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for. Secondly, it is the evidence (conviction) of things not seen. How is faith the assurance of things hoped for? Faith is spiritually seeing or perceiving the fingerprints of God all around you. God graces you to see the evidence of Himself in His handiwork, and therefore to believe in the invisible God. Faith is also the substance or assurance of things hoped for. That means that faith grasps or lays hold of God’s precious promises. Faith enjoys the promise even before it is fulfilled and treats it like it has already been fulfilled. This chapter gives us example after example of the great saints of the Old Testament who lived by faith. God graced Noah to see the evidence of His person and promises whereby he had the assurance of things hoped for. Thus, Noah, trusting the promise of God that the world was going to be destroyed by a flood, saw the beauty of God’s promise and began to act on it even though he could not yet see its fulfillment. He built a boat as if it was going to rain. He preached righteousness and repentance, warning about a flood, while it was yet dry. This is what faith is. Faith is the God-given ability to see the evidence of God’s person and promises and then to act upon them even though they are yet seen. Faith is not like what many people think, wishing and hoping and believing something with such a positive attitude that God then does what you want Him to do. Thus, it is not faith to believe that God can give you a new car and to believe enough, until God gives you that car. Faith is trusting in what God promises to do, and then acting upon those promises even though they might be unseen.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Are you living a life of faith? If not, you are living a life that does not please God! First believe that Christ bore the guilt of sin upon the cross, and by His death has made atonement to God the Father. may God grace you to see and believe His nail scared hands and feet and flee from your sin into the merciful, saving arms of Jesus Christ. Such saving faith is just the beginning of a life of trusting God’s Word and promises in every area of your life and joyfully acting upon them. Such faith pleases God.

Catechism

Question 42

Q. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God: when shall I come and appear before God (Psalm 42:1-2)?

Today’s Hymn

Words: Henry Alford, Psalms and Hymns, 1844. Music: St. George’s Windsor, George J. Elvey, 1858.

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME
Click here for tune.

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Thought Provoker

Read together Hebrews 10:19-22, and see if you can find the one clear thing that God would have your family do today. What is it that God wants his Hebrew readers to do? Did you find it in verse 22? That’s right, Draw near! This is the message from God’s Word today, Draw near!

Dad’s Study

What is it that God wants you to draw near to? Have your family read together Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 11:6 and you will discover that God want you to draw near to Him! He wants you to come to His throne to find help whenever you have need! God wants you to get near to Him, have fellowship with Him, and not live a Christian life that is distant. How can you draw near to an omnipresent God? Not by a physical act. Many people think that they can go to where God is and draw near to Him. God is not more present in a building or at the altar. I recently read of a so-called revival in a Pensacola, Florida church. People have been traveling across the country to enter that building so that they can experience the presence of God. Drawing near to God is an act of the heart. It can happen wherever you are! You can draw near to God bowing at your bedside, in the car, at your desk at school or work, or in the pew at church. Drawing near to God is not changing your physical location; it is changing your heart by drawing near to Him in faith. This is good news for any of your family members who are unsaved. God the Father has sent His Son into this world to suffer and die so that through Him we might draw near to God. Does this mean that God needs us to be happy? No! God does not need any of His creation to satisfy Himself, rather through forgiveness of our sins by His grace He receives greater glory!

Many try to draw near to God on their own terms. You must draw near to God based on truth. To draw near to God is to enter into a holy place (v. 19a). Drawing near to God is not to come flippantly. In fact you must be holy yourself to enter His presence. That is why the only way to enter into the presence of God is by the blood of Jesus (v. 19b). The blood of Christ cleanses the sinner so that you can have forgiveness and the holiness of God will not consume you. How should you draw near to God? With a true heart in full assurance of faith…(v.22). In other words, draw near to God with confidence and boldness (v. 19). If you still feel a sense of inadequacy, the writer adds, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure waters (v. 22b). In other words, remember that all of your sins have been cleansed as evidenced by the outward sign of your baptism.

During times of great spiritual revival and awakening, God’s people daily pursued God. Today’s church speaks about its programs and activities rather than God’s presence. The church prayer meeting is the first meeting to be canceled in the midst of its busy schedule. Personal and family worship died out with the dinosaurs.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Time is short! It is still day! You still have sight to read and ears to hear. Draw near to God personally and as a family. First draw near by salvation. Have each within your family been converted through repentance and trust in Christ’s work on the cross alone? If so, draw near to Him daily, moment by moment. Immerse yourselves in the reading and mediation upon His Word. Draw near to Him through prayer. Gather the family regularly for family prayer time. Take your family to your church prayer meeting.

Discuss together this quote from a puritan of old, Lord, I will never come away from Thee without Thee. Let this be a Christian’s resolution, not to leave off his meditations of God till he find something of God in him. Thomas Watson.

Catechism

Question 41

Q. What is the sum of the ten commandments?

A. The sum of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Romans 1:5-6).

Today’s Hymn

Words & Music: Robert Lowry, in Gospel Music, by William Doane and Robert Lowry (New York: Biglow & Main, 1876).

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
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What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Now by this I’ll overcome-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Glory! Glory! This I sing-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

We are in the midst of much campaigning for Presidential primaries in America this year. Each of the candidates is out there trying to convince the voters to elect him to the Office of President of the United States. There is much planning and strategy that goes into how they will try to convince people to vote for them. Simply put, one candidate is trying to convince the voters that he is the better choice than the other. One way they may try to do this is to ask the voters the question, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” and try to convince the voters that by voting for him, they will be better off four years from now than they are today.

Dad’s Study

Better. That is the theme of the letter to the Hebrews. The author is contrasting Christ to the sacrificial system of Judaism and in each point is demonstrating that Christ is better. In chapter 9 the author contrasts the old covenant to the new and how the new is better, providing full and complete forgiveness of sin that could not come through the old covenant.

The Old Covenant:
1. Sacrifices cannot make you perfect in conscience (cleansed from sin) (verse 9).
2. Sacrifices must be offered continually (verse 25).

The New Covenant:
1. Christ cleanses completely (verses 11- 12).
2. Christ cleanses the conscience (forgiveness of sins) (verses 13-14).
3. Christ’s once for all sacrifice was sufficient to accomplish redemption (verses 23-28).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Christ, being the Son of God, God and man, was the perfect sin sacrifice. His sacrifice was better than that of bulls and goats. Christ’s sacrifice accomplished in one instance what the continual sacrifice of the inferior old covenant could not. The old covenant was a picture of the perfect sacrifice to come, the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Each time we observe the Lord’s Supper may it call to mind the perfect, once for all, sin sacrifice of the perfect God-man that brings full redemption.

Catechism

Question 40

Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law (Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17) which is summarised in the ten commandments.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart (Psalm 51:1-2) Amen!

Today’s Hymn

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

WITH MY WHOLE HEART I’LL RAISE MY SONG
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With my whole heart I’ll raise my song,
Thy wonders I’ll proclaim;
Thou, sovereign Judge of right and wrong,
Wilt put my foes to shame.

I’ll sing Thy majesty and grace;
My God prepares His throne
To judge the world in righteousness,
And make His vengeance known.

Then shall the Lord a refuge prove
For all the poor oppressed;
To save the people of His love,
And give the weary rest.

The men that know Thy Name will trust
In Thy abundant grace;
For Thou hast ne’er forsook the just,
Who humbly seek Thy face.

Sing praises to the righteous Lord,
Who dwells on Zion’s hill,
Who executes His threatening word,
And doth His grace fulfill.

Thought Provoker

Here are three important questions to discuss as a family before reading today’s chapter from Hebrews.

• Where do you go to worship God?
• Who do I have to go through?
• What must I do to approach God?

Think of all the different ways people answer these fundamental questions.

• Where do you go? The Native American might answer, “to the sacred grounds.” The Muslim might answer, “Mecca,” while the Mormon would say, “to the temple.”

• Who must you go through to approach God? Many religions would agree with the Roman Catholic church that you must go through a qualified priest.

• What must I do to approach God? Many religions answer that you must fast, do good deeds or give an offering.

If you were a Jew under the Old Covenant you might answer that you must go to the tabernacle of God (temple) where you must go through a high priest who would offer up on your behalf an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God. As we are going to see today, the tabernacle, high priests, and sacrifices were all types or shadows that looked forward to their fulfillment in the true tabernacle, high priest and sacrifice.

Dad’s Study

In Hebrews 8 we find that the tabernacle, high priest and sacrifices of the Old Testament were shadows and types that waited for their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Under the Old Covenant the Jews went to the tabernacle (temple) to approach God. The fullness of God dwelt in the Holy of Holies where mercy was received when the blood was placed on the Mercy Seat. However, the temple was destroyed (70 AD). Today the Temple is Jesus Christ! Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body (John 2:19-21). In Revelation 21:2 John declares, And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

When you come to Christ you cannot approach the all holy and powerful God without first going through a high priest. Today, not only is Jesus the tabernacle He is also the only High Priest, positioned at the right hand of the heavenly Father (v. 1). The high priests were earthly mediators who were ordained to offer up sacrifices for sin. Paul reminds us, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Every time you approach God you are going through His Son. Because Christ is our High Priest we can pray, worship, and seek forgiveness in Jesus’ name.

Blood sacrifices had to be offered over and over again for the forgiveness of sins. But Christ was not only the Sacrificer, He was also the Sacrifice (v.3). He shed His blood once and for all on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of His people.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Have you come to God on His terms? Your sin not only separates you from God but also places you under His wrath. There is only one way to approach God and that is through His Son Jesus. Flee to the tabernacle (temple) there you will find access to the heavenly Father. Go to the High Priest! You cannot approach God without going through the Mediator. Present your offering! He has already offered up the sacrifice of Himself. You may receive all the forgiveness and eternal blessings by trusting in the sacrifice that Christ offered once and for all on a blood stained cross. Go to Christ!

Catechism

Question 39

Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?

A. At the day of judgment the bodies of the wicked being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels for ever (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41).