Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing (Psalm 100:1-2). Father, we lift our cheerful voices unto Thee. Lord, truly You are good and Your mercies endure forever!

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153 (Salve caput cruentatum); translated from Latin to German by Paul Ger­hardt, 1656 (O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden), and from Latin to English James W. Alexander, 1830.

O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED
Click here for tune.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Thought Provoker

There are many today who believe that each man doing what is right according to his own heart is the way to go. They do not acknowledge a sovereign creator God who must be worshipped and obeyed, and therefore deny that He has a right to judge the disobedient. As a result they also deny that there will be a judgment, punishment, and destruction of the wicked. The Scriptures tell us otherwise. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions (punishments), and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not (Isaiah 66:3b, 4).

Dad’s Study

In 2 Thessalonians 1 Paul speaks of the future judgment. He provides five truths concerning the future judgment: its source, its executor, its cause, its consequences, and its nature:

1. God judges righteously (verses 5 and 6). Unlike man, when God judges the wicked His judgment will be perfect, just, and deserved by those whom receive it.

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom 2:5).

2. Jesus will execute divine judgment upon His enemies (verse 7).

Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (Romans 12:19b).

A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool (Psalm 110:1). The one chosen to execute that divine judgment upon unrepentant sinners is Jesus Christ.

3. Men will be judged for disobeying the Gospel (verse 8).

To disobey the Gospel is the same as to not know God. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:29 – 31).

4. There will be eternal destruction (verse 9). The judgment of God will be eternal destruction that destroys both the soul and the body in an eternal hell.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).

5. Judgment will bring eternal separation from the presence of the Lord (verse 9).

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Catechism

Question 26

Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7) made under the law (Galatians 4:4), undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3), the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46), and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8); in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).

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Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, we ask that you would please help us to receive direction from Your Word today. We are hungry and thirsty for Your righteousness, and every word that proceeds from out of Your mouth. Forgive us afresh of our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for Jesus sake.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153 (Salve caput cruentatum); translated from Latin to German by Paul Ger­hardt, 1656 (O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden), and from Latin to English James W. Alexander, 1830.

O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED
Click here for tune.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Thought Provoker

It is well known that when we travel outside of our home, especially with children, we need to think about where we are going, and what we need to take with us to be prepared. This past weekend I received a call from my mom telling me that my father had had a heart attack, and we decided after the ministries of the Lord’s Day to travel to Indiana so we could be with him and the family. We had to think before we got on the road what we needed by way of clothes, toiletries, bottles, toys, baby swing and porta-bed, etc. We had to consciously think “where are we going and what are we going for?” in order to be properly prepared.

The same is true as we weekly go to a very special place, the house of God. In our study from Ecclesiastes, we will see some direction regarding how we need to approach the Lord in our “visit” to His house.

Dad’s Study

Our focus today will be Ecclesiastes 5:1 which says, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.”

First, let us consider this special name that is use: the house of God. This may strike us as odd, as the Scripture tells us that God is omnipresent, so that He is not contained or limited to any one place. As Augustine muses, He fills all and yet is not contained. While this is true, there are special places where God manifests His glory in a more intensified way. In the Old Covenant, the primary place was the tabernacle, and then later the temple. Under the New Covenant, there is not a geographical limitation, but it is where two are three are gathered together for the purpose of worship, and this especially on the first day of the week or the Lord’s Day. We are told in 1Timothy 3:15 that the house of God is also known as the church of the living God. So it is very appropriate, as we consider this verse, to find direction as to how we should prepare to go to church as His people.

The next thing we find is the general direction, and that is to “walk prudently” when we go. The verb is the Hebrew word “shamar”, and it means to keep, watch, or observe. This is combined with the Hebrew word for foot, so that it is an idiom which literally means “watch your feet.” The meaning of this phrase is that as you go, don’t go carelessly or thoughtlessly. It is the image of a person walking and not paying attention. So then, it is a call not to go to church carelessly or merely out of habit. “Well, it’s Sunday, and time to go to church kids.” Rather, it is a call to careful self examination and thoughtful preparation.

Solomon next writes a more specific direction on what he means. He writes that as one draws near to the house of God, that the primary objective is “to hear.” This is not surprising when we consider what the Scripture tells us about the meeting of God’s people. When done under the directions of Scripture, with a God-appointed ministry, we are told that through the ministry of the Word God is speaking to His church. There is more taking place in the house of God than merely men teaching Bible lessons, but God is in a living ministry teaching and directing His people. For this reason, we ought to have our hearts prepared to receive the seed of God’s Word into the soil of our hearts.

The last thing I want us to notice is the opposite of this disposition of readiness to hear, and that is to “give the sacrifice of fools.” A sacrifice is an act of worship, what one brings into God’s house. In this case it is a sacrifice of a fool. Just what does this mean? Well, at least a couple of things, and these we learn from Proverbs. First, a fool is not really teachable. Proverbs 18:2 tells us that that a fool is more concerned with telling others of what he thinks he knows than of truly learning. Also, since a fool already thinks he knows and practices what he believes, he is not open to rebuke Proverbs 17:10.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Our application is very simple. First, we should be sure not to go hastily to worship the Lord in church, but to think about our ways, to examine ourselves, and to seek with good consciences to come to Him. Second, we should understand why we are going: to hear. We should pray and seek to remove all things that will hinder our hearing God’s Word rightly. Third, we should be more interested in hearing what others, especially God’s ministers, have to say than to spout of our own ideas. Not that we shouldn’t be interactive and engaging, but as James writes that we be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (James 1:19). Last, we should be open to rebuke and correction. We need to be ready to be told that there are areas in which our thinking and our living need readjustment.

may the Lord help us to do just that, that His Holy Spirit would not be grieved away from us, that the gathering of God’s people would be in truth the House of God.

Pastor Stephen Gambill, Reformed Baptist Church of Nashville

Catechism

Question 26

Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7) made under the law (Galatians 4:4), undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3), the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46), and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8); in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).

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Prayer

Benign Lord, I praise thee continually for permission to approach thy throne of grace, and to spread my wants and desires before thee. I am not worthy of thy blessings and mercies for I am far gone from original righteousness—. While I confess my guilt, help me to feel it deeply, with self-abhorrence and self-despair, yet to remember there is hope in thee, and to see the Lamb that takes away sin—. Preserve my understanding from error, my affections from love of idols, my lips from speaking guile, my conduct from stain of vice, my character from appearance of evil, that I may be harmless, blameless, rebukeless, exemplary, useful, light-giving, prudent, zealous for thy glory and the good of my fellow-men. Amen. (The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153 (Salve caput cruentatum); translated from Latin to German by Paul Ger­hardt, 1656 (O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden), and from Latin to English James W. Alexander, 1830.

O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED
Click here for tune.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Thought Provoker

Discuss with your children how they approach God in worship. Being raised in a Christian home they are familiar with worship both at home and in public, however this familiarity can breed a lax attitude toward worship. Because it is something we do all the time, it can become mundane if we do not contemplate whom it is that we approach and His great glory. To approach God in worship unprepared, without forethought, or lightly is to make our worship the sacrifice of fools.

Dad’s Study

In Ecclesiastes Solomon gives a dissertation on the vanities of this life. Have you ever asked yourself why? Why would Solomon want us to discern the vain things of the world? There could be many practical reasons for the Christian to discern these vanities, but the chief reason is to drive us to God to worship Him. But Solomon also gives clear warning that our worship of God is to be conducted carefully. If not, if we approach God hastily and without forethought our worship of Him can be as vain as our pursuit of the things of this world. Matthew Henry gave these warnings regarding our approach to God:

“Address thyself to the worship of God, and take time to compose thyself for it. Keep thy thoughts from roving and wandering: keep thy affections from running out toward wrong objects. We should avoid vain repetitions; copious prayers are not here condemned, but those that are unmeaning. How often our wandering thoughts render attendance on Divine ordinances little better than the sacrifice of fools! Many words and hasty ones, used in prayer, show folly in the heart, low thoughts of God, and careless thoughts of our own souls.”

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

The 1689 London Baptist Confession gives us guidance on how we are to approach God in prayer in worship so that we do not offer up the sacrifice of fools and fall into sin in our religious duties. Chapter 22, paragraph 3 says that we are to offer up our prayers with:

Understanding Psalm 47:7
Reverence Hebrews 12:28
Humility Genesis 18:27
Fervency James 5:16
Faith James 1:6-7
Love Matthew 6:12, 14-15
Perseverance Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18

Catechism

Question 26

Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7) made under the law (Galatians 4:4), undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3), the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46), and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8); in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).

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Prayer

Lord, along with what You taught David and Peter, would You teach us to love life and see good days? Would You aid us in refraining our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit? Would You direct us away from evil and toward doing good? Would You let us seek peace and pursue it? Would You remind us that Your eyes are on the righteous with Your ears open to our prayers? And, would You convince us that Your face is against those who do evil? Amen.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153 (Salve caput cruentatum); translated from Latin to German by Paul Ger­hardt, 1656 (O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden), and from Latin to English James W. Alexander, 1830.

O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED
Click here for tune.

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Thought Provoker

Use the following questions as a discussion starter and introduction to Ecclesiastes 2. An answer will be offered in the “Truth in Action” section.

Why bother? Why bother working hard, since we are going to die anyway? Why bother aspiring for good grades since they are worthless? Why bother acting responsibly since others won’t notice? Why bother enjoying pleasures since they don’t satisfy? Why bother?

These are the types of questions Solomon asked, and initially he did not have an adequate answer. Do you?

Dad’s Study

Turning from the pursuit of knowledge to the pathway of pleasure, the king had given himself up to mirth, seeking the false stimulus of wine. In this also he had been disappointed, finding that mirth was madness, and all pleasure incompetent to satisfy. He next turned to his great possessions, attempting to make such use of them as to bring satisfaction not found elsewhere. He surrounded himself with every kind of luxury, gathered large possessions, gave himself over to music and to women, allowing full reign to all his desires. All this also he had found to be vanity, nothing but a striving after wind, and again he had been driven to the conclusion that there was no profit under the sun.

Once again he tried a new pathway. He turned himself from the things that were almost exclusively physical to those of the mind. These were better and he found that “wisdom excelleth folly.” Yet he also perceived that “one event happeneth to all,” both the fool and the wise pass on to death, so that this also ended in disappointment as keen as the others. He then summarized the results of his own experience of life “under the sun” in the terrible words “I hated life. I hated all my labour under the sun.” The very exercise of wisdom resulted in gathering results into which the toiler did not enter, but which he left to another. Everything was vanity. The ultimate conclusion of his own experience was that there was nothing better than to eat and drink. The mental attitude to God which is not the result of direct spiritual fellowship is clearly revealed in these conclusions of the preacher. He does not deny God’s existence, but recognizes Him as an intelligent Force operating purely for His own pleasure without any reference to the satisfaction of men. Everything is vanity. To live under the sun is to decide at last that the natural thing to do is to take what comes. Materialism necessarily becomes fatalism (G. Campbell Morgan).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Why bother?

Paul had an answer: I Corinthians 15:58, our “work” (life) is not lived in vain (an interesting choice of words, in light of Solomon’s repeated phrase “vanity of vanities”).

John had an answer: I John 2:17, is it possible that the result of our “life” remains long after we have left the earth?

Jim Covington – Bell Gardens Baptist Church, CA

Catechism

Question 26

Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7) made under the law (Galatians 4:4), undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3), the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46), and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8); in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).

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Prayer

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline Thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedly. Amen (Psalm 102:1-2).

Today’s Hymn

Words: The Psalter, 1912. Music: Redhead, Richard Redhead, Church Hymn Tunes, Ancient and Modern (London: 1853).

GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME
Click here for tune.

God, be merciful to me,
On Thy grace I rest my plea;
Plenteous in compassion Thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within,
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
Speechless, I Thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice;
From my sins O hide Thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

Thought Provoker

We come to a book that is the most quoted by atheists, scoffers of eternal life, along with hedonists who look for their pleasure in sinful self-indulgence. Why do the ungodly embrace the book of Ecclesiastes? Because it articulates man’s view of life without God. It is a book that is written from man’s viewpoint. Its purpose is not to advocate these lifestyles, rather to expose the utter futility of living by human reasoning alone without God. The author of this book is introduced in verse 1 as, “..the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” This son can be no other than King Solomon himself. Discuss together what Solomon means when he sums up the theme of this book, “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” may your family be blessed as the Prince of Preachers, C.H. Spurgeon, brings us words of wisdom about this word, “vanity”.

Dad’s Study

“Behold, all is vanity.”—Ecclesiastes 1:14

Nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self. Saints have tried to anchor in other roadsteads, but they have been driven out of such fatal refuges. Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all, and to do for us what we must not dare to do for ourselves. Here is his testimony in his own words: “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What! The whole of it vanity? O favoured monarch, is there nothing in all thy wealth? Nothing in that wide dominion reaching from the river even to the sea? Nothing in Palmyra’s glorious palaces? Nothing in the house of the forest of Lebanon? In all thy music and dancing, and wine and luxury, is there nothing? “Nothing,” he says, “but weariness of spirit.” This was his verdict when he had trodden the whole round of pleasure. To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in His love, and be fully assured of union with Him—this is all in all. Dear reader, you need not try other forms of life in order to see whether they are better than the Christian’s: if you roam the world around, you will see no sights like a sight of the Saviour’s face; if you could have all the comforts of life, if you lost your Saviour, you would be wretched; but if you win Christ, then should you rot in a dungeon, you would find it a paradise; should you live in obscurity, or die with famine, you will yet be satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord (Morning and Evening).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

“All without God is vanity.” Make a list as a family of those areas of your lives that are vain (empty) without God. What things do young people as well as adults pursue without God? When life is done why were these things vain? Why is only a life lived to the glory of God full of meaning and blessing?

Catechism

Question 25

Q. How does Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself (Psalm 110:3), in ruling and defending us (Matthew 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:25) and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

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