Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table (Psalm 128:1-3).

Today’s Hymn

Words: William Cowper, in Conyer’s Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.

About these lines, Cowper wrote to his aunt:
I began to compose them yesterday morning before daybreak, but I fell asleep at the end of the first two lines. When I awaked again, the third and fourth verses were whispered to my heart in a way I have often experienced.

O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
Click here for tune.

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

Thought Provoker

The Apostle Paul commands believers not to become unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14). The picture is of two animals pulling a plow. A yoke is a wooden frame that fits around the neck of both animals so that they can pull the plow as if they were one. The law commands that a farmer is not to yoke together an oxen and a donkey (Deut. 22:10). What’s the problem?. Different animals have different strides, dispositions, and sizes that make is nearly impossible for them to work together as one. One is faster and is worn out by pulling along the slower. Different sizes result in painful chaffing by the wooden yoke. Rather than working together they work against each others. From the language of the farm we learn that Christians are not to be unequally yoked. This is especially true when it comes to marriage. A Christian is not to marry a non-Christian. Rather than walking through life together as one, they work against each other towards their spiritual ruin. In today’s passage we learn of how serious it is to break the law of God.

Dad’s Study

Today we read that the Princes and the people of Israel disobeyed God and took for themselves daughters of pagan lands (vs. 1-2). Why is it that God commands His people to marry within their faith (Deut. 7:3)? Because it is God’s will that purity of the faith be maintained. Those who marry outside their faith are tempted, like Solomon, to allow pagan practices to invade true religion. Also, there is the danger of idolatrous spouses leading their spouse and children away from the Lord altogether. That’s why Ezra was shocked when he heard this bad news. Ezra tore his clothes and pulled out the hair on his head and face (vs.3). Ezra so identified with the people that their sins drove him to his knees and he spread out his hands in humble confession to God (vs. 5-15). As we are going to see in the next chapter, God’s forgiveness does not shield us from the consequences of our sins. A commission was set up to judge each marriage. If they determined that a marriage was a “mixed marriage” the wife was repudiated along with their children (Ezra 10:16-19). The pain must have been enormous as families were shattered, never to be seen again. God designed marriage to be the joining together of two, to become one flesh. You cannot walk as one if you are unequally yoked. Children are one of God’s marriage blessings. What a spiritual tragedy to bring children into a world where they might be eternally lead away from the true God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Christian young people, heed God’s word, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” This begins with an early commitment not to even date or court unbelievers. Many believers’ hearts were emotionally snagged through what they thought to be an “innocent” date. Remember, this is one of those temptations that Satan uses to snare the older single believer. Discouraged by singleness, it is easy to stop waiting on the Lord and take things in your own hands. Trust in the Lord to bring you a spiritually mature mate in His time. In the meantime, be sure you are becoming that spiritually mature person. Also, leave open the possibility that God might be gracing you with the gift of singleness (1 Cor. 7:8).

Catechism

Question 2

Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 John 1:3).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Father, not my will be done but thy will be done. Help me not to think too highly of myself at the expense of others, or even worse, leading to a disregard of You. When I am in the valley of life, may I be quick to see Your hand in my situation and look to You for my sustenance and direction. And when I can once again see from atop the mountain, may I continually glory in Your goodness. Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: William Cowper, in Conyer’s Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.

About these lines, Cowper wrote to his aunt:
I began to compose them yesterday morning before daybreak, but I fell asleep at the end of the first two lines. When I awaked again, the third and fourth verses were whispered to my heart in a way I have often experienced.

O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
Click here for tune.

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

Thought Provoker

The student receives an “A” on her calculus test. The baseball player makes a game-saving catch. The CEO turns the struggling company into a profit-maker. The pianist hits all the right notes and wins first place in the contest. It’s easy, in the midst of accomplishments, to pat ourselves on the back and bask in the accolades. What’s not so easy is to direct the praise and glory to the One who truly deserves it—our Lord! We see a wonderful example of this “not-so-easy” response in our passage today.

Dad’s Study

In Ezra 8, a lengthy list of former exiles is chronicled as the second wave of God’s people return to their land, led by Ezra (the first return was led by Zerubbabel in chapters 1-6). After the detailing of this caravan in 8:1-14, a focusing on servants for the temple is highlighted, followed by a cataloguing of the gifts for the temple, which concludes this chapter. Great excitement and anticipation fill the air. Yet in the midst of this long-awaited return from exile in Babylon in Ezra 8, and even before it, the writer points the reader’s attention to a higher source, to the One far above the travelers to Jerusalem. “For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him” (7:9). Not lost in the return from exile is the One who remains at the helm, “And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me” (7:28).

This same emphasis upon the One truly in control also weaves itself through Ezra 8, “And by the good hand of our God upon us” (8:18). Note also 8:31, “Then we departed…and the hand of our God was upon us.” As Ezra leads the Israelites’ return to Jerusalem, he does not allow the people or us to forget Who is truly gracing the way back to the home city. Though danger lurks around the twists and bends in this multi-month journey of anticipation, God’s hand is upon them, a hand Isaiah describes as “not shortened (so that) it cannot save” (59:1). Though our God, who is spirit, has no hands, He allows the writers of Scripture to attach Him with these limbs. Using such anthropomorphic terms allows us to somehow comprehend the incomprehensible, to focus on His sovereign strength and consummate counsel and not so quickly our meager might and porous plans. But His hand is also an object lesson to the unbeliever.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

His hand does not nullify or excuse our hand. He will do what only He can do, while we must do what we can do. Ezra and the people model this in 8:21 as a fast is proclaimed in order for the people to seek God’s direction in their journey. 8:23 informs us that the people then fasted and sought God—”and he was entreated of us.” Yet even in this brief response of the Israelites in 8:21 and 8:23, there flows on the scene sandwiched between these two verses God’s action: “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him” (8:22).

Never lose sight of the hand of God, which is never slack and weak. Dads, ask your family these questions to further their understanding of today’s study.

Pastor Jim Stevanus

Catechism

Question 2

Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 John 1:3).

Popularity: unranked [?]

Prayer

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations (Ezekiel 14:6).

Heavenly Father, we have broken Thy holy law and sinned against Thee. May You grace our eyes with tears of sorrow. Strengthen our hearts that we might turn from our wicked ways and walk in the pathway of holiness – Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: William Cowper, in Conyer’s Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.

About these lines, Cowper wrote to his aunt:
I began to compose them yesterday morning before daybreak, but I fell asleep at the end of the first two lines. When I awaked again, the third and fourth verses were whispered to my heart in a way I have often experienced.

O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
Click here for tune.

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

Thought Provoker

When is the last time you said, I’m sorry? One of the first lessons that Mary and I taught our little ones was to say that they were sorry when they had wronged another person. It is not unusual for one of your children to wrong one of his siblings, followed by mom’s reminder, Don’t forget to say you are sorry! Only to hear in return, He doesn’t really mean it, mom! Did you know that there are two kinds of sorrys? In fact, did you know that you can say you are sorry and it will lead you to death? Today, Paul is going to show us in chapter 7 of 2 Corinthians, that there is a sorry that leads to death, and a sorry that leads to salvation.

Dad’s Study

Read verse 10 and see if you can discover together the two kinds of sorry. What exactly is the sorrow of the world that leads to death? How does it differ from godly sorrow that leads to salvation?

Worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow centers on man rather than God. Worldly sorrow is regret of getting caught, sorrow over humiliation or punishment itself. Judas had a worldly sorrow for turning in Christ. However, his sorrow fell way short of true repentance. Sadly, many of the I’m sorrys that are spoken around the house fall into the category of worldly sorrow. It is not unusual for a child to disobey his parents and to quickly say that he is sorry when mom and dad finds him out, in hope of minimizing the punishment.

Godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is a sorrow produced by God in your heart when you have sinned against God. It’s a God-given regret for breaking the law of God and bringing reproach on His name. It is a heart that is willing to accept God’s discipline for the wrong. If you have a tender heart towards God and holiness you will feel a sense of guilt when you sin. The pain of guilt should point you to the remedy, Christ Himself!

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

What is the test of godly sorrow? How can you know if your sorrow is of the world or of God? Godly sorrow produces repentance. Godly sorrow produces a change of mind and a change of conduct. Godly sorrow results in a person turning away from his sinful conduct. This is a test to see if your sorrow is God-given: Does your sorrow lead you to turn from that sin? If you keep doing the same sins over and over again, and hear yourself saying that you’re sorry over and over again, it could well be because you have a worldly sorrow.

Where there is true repentance there is true salvation (verse 10). In fact, there cannot be true salvation where there is no God-given repentance! Just like there are two sorrows, there are also two pathways. There is a path that leads to death, which is the path of worldly sorrow. There is also a path that leads to salvation, which is the pathway of godly sorrow and repentance!

The next time that you say you are sorry, ask yourself if it is a worldly sorrow of Judas or a godly sorrow of Jesus. It is easy to say you are sorry when you are feeling guilty for being caught or you are trying to head off the consequences of your actions. Remember, this sorrow leads to death. If you profess faith in Christ, has God graced you with repentance? True repentance cannot be separated from true faith. Spurgeon said that faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin. Without repentance there is no salvation. Ask God to grace you with a deep sorrow for your sins, which will cause you to turn from your wicked ways.

Catechism

Question 2

Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 John 1:3).

Popularity: unranked [?]

Prayer

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (Psalm 51:12).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Alexander Means. Music: From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835); arranged by William Jenson Reynolds (1920-).

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?
Click here for tune.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

Thought Provoker

Is the Christian life a life of happiness or heaviness? Oh, you might respond, “Our happiness is future; this life is filled with suffering and adversity. Truly, if the Christian is to find any happiness it will be in heaven.” That is true. But what about in this life? Is the Christian life this side of glory a life of happiness? Is your life in Christ marked by real happiness?

Dad’s Study

The Psalmist answers our question in the last verse of Psalm 144 with these encouraging words, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” We look forward to our future happiness in heaven. But there is also happiness to be found this side of glory as God blesses His people with a taste of heaven here and now. In the opening beatitudes, in our Lord’s sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:1-12), Jesus pronounced all who live out His kingdom attitudes as “blessed or “happy.” Repeatedly the Bible describes God’s people as happy (Prov. 3:18;29:18; John 13:17; Jas. 5:11; 1 Peter 4:4). The shorter catechism asks, “What is the chief aim of man?” The answer is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”! Under the old covenant God delighted in bringing temporal blessings to His faithful people. These blessings included the family. What great happiness there is in seeing your sons grow up to be strong and healthy and your daughters beautiful in body and mind (v.12). Furthermore, there is great delight that comes from the prosperity that God brings as He blesses the labors of your hands (vs. 13-14). Ultimately, the Christians happiness is not found in things but in the “Supplier” who kindly supplies all that’s good. He produces in your heart an inward happiness that shines even in the face of suffering and trials. Instead of His covenant people “complaining in the streets,” they rejoice because they have been given a slice of heaven this side of eternity (v. 14).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Can you say that you have entered this day with a happy heart? Is your joy and delight in the God whose Son died for sinners? If not, I point you to the Jesus who saves the soul of all who humbly trust in Him as Savior and Lord. He can remove that heavy sinful heart and replace it with a heart of happiness. Christian, count the many blessings that God has poured out upon you. Count your many spiritual blessings that are yours through salvation. Count your temporal blessings that are yours through God’s kindness—yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. May your happiness spring forth to songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Catechism

Question 82

Q. What is meant by the words, until he come, which are used by the apostle Paul in reference to the Lord’s Supper?

A. They plainly teach us that our Lord Jesus Christ will come a second time; which is the joy and hope of all believers (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16).

Popularity: 9% [?]

Prayer

Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his
praise in the islands (Isaiah 42:12).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Alexander Means. Music: From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835); arranged by William Jenson Reynolds (1920-).

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS?
Click here for tune.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

Thought Provoker

If your host had a dozen eggs to scramble for his guests’ breakfast and only one of them was rotten, would you eat the breakfast? Surely you would respond, “absolutely not,” properly reasoning that the one rotten egg would spoil the whole batch. The same principle carries over in our Christian faith. The story is told about a mission church in one of the Caribbean islands who wanted to reach the local population that was steeped in Voodoo. Their Voodoo practices included the sacrifice of chickens. In order to get the locals to attend church the priest decided to put a voodoo altar just outside the front door of the church. The idea was that the unregenerate neighbors would come and kill their chickens on the altar and then come into the church and hear the Christian gospel. In other words, it was OK to mix a little paganism with Christian truth. However, the real loser was the church as the purity of the Gospel changed as salvation became the sacrifice of Christ plus the sacrifices of chickens. Today, we learn a very practical lesson about the dangers of “syncretism,” i.e. the attempt at reaching out to other religious beliefs by incorporating some of their beliefs with the truth of God’s Word.

Dad’s Study

One of the ways Satan attacks the work of God is by offering to join in and help. His temptation is to put aside our differences and join our efforts in the areas we agree. In today’s chapter the children of the captivity began a good work of rebuilding the house of the Lord (vs. 1-3). No sooner did they start when the enemy raised up his head. The Samaritans, a mixed people with a “mongrel religion,” made an offer to help. What a temptation! On the surface it sounded like a good idea. Everyone can use a helping hand. Lead by Godly wisdom the people of God rejected their offer. Zerubbabel rightly concluded that there is no “communion between light and darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

It is easy to spot the enemy’s temptation of syncretism on the pages of Scripture but it’s another thing to recognize it when it’s staring you right in the face. See if you and your family can make a list of current examples where the church is being tempted to mix its purity with the profane. What has been the church’s response? What are the consequences for yielding to these temptations?

Catechism

Question 82

Q. What is meant by the words, until he come, which are used by the apostle Paul in reference to the Lord’s Supper?

A. They plainly teach us that our Lord Jesus Christ will come a second time; which is the joy and hope of all believers (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16).

Popularity: 1% [?]