Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Attributed to Dallan Forgaill, 8th Century (Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride); translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne, in Eriú, Journal of the School of Irish Learning, 1905, and versed by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912, alt.

BE THOU MY VISION
Click here for tune.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Thought Provoker

Most parents desire that their children have a healthy desire to learn and experience the world around us. The inquisitive nature of children and their curiosity often brings delight to the adults who observe the child at “work.” But like all things good, curiosity can also be abused and misused. As you begin reading Deuteronomy 12, ask: “When does curiosity become sin?”

The first prohibition given is still one we need to heed. Curiosity becomes sin when we desire to know evil. This was in essence God’s prohibition to Adam and Eve. Just a passing glance at every form of media today reveals that our world is preoccupied with knowing the details of every evil.

God had a perfect plan to keep the Israelites from desiring to know evil, especially the “religious practices” of the heathen nations, which were to be removed from the land God promised them.

Dad’s Study

As Moses delivered to this new generation the three sermons contained in Deuteronomy, his purpose was the same: every area of life for the Jewish nation was to be subjected to the Lord and His will. Whatever would hinder this simple and pure devotion was to be completely destroyed and removed. Deuteronomy 12:1, 13, 19, 28, and 30 are summary statements, each repeating the command to “take heed to observe.”

12:1-4, 29-32. Moses warned the Israelites that their new land could become a snare if they disobeyed God. God demanded that they worship and serve Him alone. The first step of obedience was to tear down all objects of worship to foreign deities. This would eliminate any curiosity of evil worship. In addition they were to have a single sanctuary. “This promoted or emphasized three things: the unity of God (i.e. He is One, not many), the purity of the Israelites’ worship of the Lord, and the people’s political and spiritual unity.”

12:5-19. God promised blessing for obedience to the Israelites. This new land could be a place of rest (5-9, v. 9); a place of rejoicing (10-14, v. 12); and a place of safety (15-19, v. 15, ‘eating’ in the Old Testament implied protection by the host for the guest from potential enemies, cf. Psalm 23). These blessings would follow only if Israel followed and obeyed God. 12:20-28. With God’s blessing (“enlarge your borders”) comes a caution not to let the blessings themselves become more highly valued or important than God (thus making idols of God’s blessings), v. 26 ["only the holy things which you have shall you take with you.].

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Unfortunately, Israel did not completely follow God’s command in these matters. What was the result of the Israelites curiosity for evil religious practices? It ultimately “led to the destruction of their nation (2 Kings 17:6, 17). The same warning is repeated by Paul in Ephesians 5:12.”

Pastor Jim Covington – Bell Gardens, CA

Catechism

Question 7

Q. 7.What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory he has foreordained whatever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11,12).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not wander from Thy commandments (Psalm 119:9, 10).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Edward H. Plumptre, 1865. This hymn was written for the Peterborough Choral Festival in May of that year, and was first sung in the Peterborough Cathedral.

REJOICE, YE PURE IN HEART
Click here for tune.

Rejoice ye pure in heart;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

Refrain

Yes onward, onward still
With hymn, and chant and song,
Through gate, and porch and columned aisle,
The hallowed pathways throng.

Refrain

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain

Your clear hosannas raise;
And alleluias loud;
Whilst answering echoes upward float,
Like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

With voice as full and strong
As ocean’s surging praise,
Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain

Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array,
As warriors through the darkness toil,
Till dawns the golden day.

Refrain

At last the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their heavenly home,
Jerusalem the blessed.

Refrain

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Praise Him Who reigns on high,
The Lord Whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

What is “law?” Law is what tells us whether an action is right or wrong, and provides consequences for the protection of society. What makes the law itself valid? Is it when the majority of men decide that something is wrong? The answer is no. Men today think that if most of them agree that something is wrong, that is what makes it unlawful. Such is not the case, for the only basis upon which anything is really right or wrong is the holy standard of God Himself. When man does away with the Law of God, the results are very harmful to us all. Lawlessness is not being without law, but without the Law of God.

Dad’s Study

Moses is nearing the end of his life and ministry. He has now given a recounting of the Ten Commandments, the Law of God. For many chapters now Moses has explained the application of the Ten Commandments to God’s people. This is the last chapter of that explanation, and in it the essence of the Law is stressed. Read v. 1. Love for God is actually a command, and it is one that can be measured in obedience to what God requires of us. When my parents told me what they wanted me to do, I could have disobeyed, but it would have shown my lack of love for them. To love is not just to feel warm toward someone; it is proven by action. Loving God involves our hearts being faithful to Him (vs. 13-16) and obeying Him in all things (v.22). The Apostle John tells us that if we love God we will obey Him (I John 2:3-6). The Lord Jesus reminds us that those who keep His commandments are the ones that love Him (John 14:15, 21).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

The great concern of Moses (and the Lord) in this chapter is that we love God wholeheartedly and obey God’s commands, for only in so doing shall we be blest by God. We must be careful to recognize what pleases the Lord and to seek after those things. We are not under the Law’s ceremonial requirements, for the Lord Jesus fulfilled them, but we certainly have the Law as a tutor to bring us to Christ, to convict the sinner of sin, and to serve as a standard of righteousness.

Pastor Craig Chambers – Alberton, Montana

Catechism

Question 6

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble (Psalm 143:7- 11).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Edward H. Plumptre, 1865. This hymn was written for the Peterborough Choral Festival in May of that year, and was first sung in the Peterborough Cathedral.

REJOICE, YE PURE IN HEART
Click here for tune.

Rejoice ye pure in heart;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

Refrain

Yes onward, onward still
With hymn, and chant and song,
Through gate, and porch and columned aisle,
The hallowed pathways throng.

Refrain

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain

Your clear hosannas raise;
And alleluias loud;
Whilst answering echoes upward float,
Like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

With voice as full and strong
As ocean’s surging praise,
Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain

Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array,
As warriors through the darkness toil,
Till dawns the golden day.

Refrain

At last the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their heavenly home,
Jerusalem the blessed.

Refrain

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Praise Him Who reigns on high,
The Lord Whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

A question on the mind of many today is, “What is the Lord’s will for my life?” This is a good question and one about which all of us should be concerned. In watching people wrestle with this question it is amazing to watch the spiritual contortions they go through. Rather than going through such exertions it is best to go to the Word of God and learn His will for His people.

Dad’s Study

Another way of discovering the Lord’s will is by asking, “What does the Lord require of me?” The answer lies in verses 12 and 13:

1. To fear the Lord your God
2. To walk in all His ways
3. To love Him
4. To serve Him with all your heart and soul
5. To keep His commandments and His statutes

It seems pretty simple when we look at it this way, but each of these is definitely easier said than done. When we consider all that is involved in just one of these we can understand why we are totally dependent upon His grace. Discuss as a family what each of these means and what application can be made in your life.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

It is a blessing that God does not stop at just telling us what He requires, but also provides reasons and encouragement. We find the reason for these being God’s will for us in verse 14, Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Quite simply stated, God as the Creator owns everything and that is sufficient enough reason for Him to require these things of us. But the very thought that the Creator and Owner of all is concerned enough about me that He has specifically articulated His will for me is encouraging. This is further stated in verse 17, For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: Our God is not only God, but He is supreme above all else. There is no other god (small g) that is as mighty and awesome as our God. He is just and loving, in perfect balance, as best demonstrated in the manner in which He redeemed His people. His justice was served through the punishment of our sin, His love in that He substituted His own Son to bear that punishment. Therefore He, and He alone, is worthy of our worship because, He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible (awesome) things, which thine eyes have seen.

Catechism

Question 6

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

“[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Ps. 103:15-18)

Today’s Hymn

Words: Edward H. Plumptre, 1865. This hymn was written for the Peterborough Choral Festival in May of that year, and was first sung in the Peterborough Cathedral.

REJOICE, YE PURE IN HEART
Click here for tune.

Rejoice ye pure in heart;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

Refrain

Yes onward, onward still
With hymn, and chant and song,
Through gate, and porch and columned aisle,
The hallowed pathways throng.

Refrain

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain

Your clear hosannas raise;
And alleluias loud;
Whilst answering echoes upward float,
Like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

With voice as full and strong
As ocean’s surging praise,
Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain

Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array,
As warriors through the darkness toil,
Till dawns the golden day.

Refrain

At last the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their heavenly home,
Jerusalem the blessed.

Refrain

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Praise Him Who reigns on high,
The Lord Whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

On what basis does God do good things to/for His people? Is it because they deserve such blessing? Is it because they are righteous? Are there reasons for such blessing outside the people themselves that would prompt God to bless them? What would be God’s supreme motivation for blessing His people? Today, in Deuteronomy 9 Moses teaches on why God will bless His people.

Dad’s Study

The Israelites are assured of the ejection of the Canaanites and their taking possession of the land even though the enemies they will face are great and mighty. However, they are also given a stern warning not to let it go to their heads! Moses tells the people before it happens so they will know that it is the Lord who will win these great and mighty victories for them over powerful enemies. Yes, they have the responsibility to go in obedience and fearlessly engage in battle, but it is the Lord who will subdue the enemy before them and drive them out of the land. Knowing the prideful tendencies of the Israelites Moses warns them against becoming puffed up and thinking they accomplished this feat in their own might or that the Lord did this for them because they were so righteous. He tells them bluntly that they are not possessing the land because of any uprightness in them, but because of the faithfulness of God in honoring His covenant promises with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. No, the Canaanites were being driven out because of their wickedness and God’s faithfulness to His promises, not because of the Israelites righteousness or military prowess.

In order to punctuate this truth that God was not giving them the land as a result of their righteousness, Moses then goes through and describes their unrighteous rebellion against God to remind them that they have been a stubborn people. He recounts their sin of the golden calf, how they murmured against the Lord, rebelled against the Lord in unbelief and refused to go in and take the land, in all this inciting His wrath against them. Moses recounts how he had to continually intercede in prayer on their behalf to turn away God’s wrath from destroying them for their sin. Even in this intercession it was not on the grounds of whom the people were, but on the grounds of who God is, the faithful one who keeps His promises. Moses intercedes on the grounds of the covenant God has already made with them appealing to God’s faithfulness to His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He appeals on the grounds of God’s ultimate glory being displayed in his forbearing faithfulness to a sinful people.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Catechism

Question 6

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to you. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:1-3).

Today’s Hymn

Words: Edward H. Plumptre, 1865. This hymn was written for the Peterborough Choral Festival in May of that year, and was first sung in the Peterborough Cathedral.

REJOICE, YE PURE IN HEART
Click here for tune.

Rejoice ye pure in heart;
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exultant song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

Refrain

Yes onward, onward still
With hymn, and chant and song,
Through gate, and porch and columned aisle,
The hallowed pathways throng.

Refrain

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain

Your clear hosannas raise;
And alleluias loud;
Whilst answering echoes upward float,
Like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

With voice as full and strong
As ocean’s surging praise,
Send forth the hymns our fathers loved,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain

Still lift your standard high,
Still march in firm array,
As warriors through the darkness toil,
Till dawns the golden day.

Refrain

At last the march shall end;
The wearied ones shall rest;
The pilgrims find their heavenly home,
Jerusalem the blessed.

Refrain

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Praise Him Who reigns on high,
The Lord Whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forevermore.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

Codes of conduct and sacramental instructions are universal. All religions, even those that espouse what secular society would consider evil, have “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” What makes the Christian faith so special? Don’t all religions merely seek to bring out the best in human behavior? Well, indeed most do, but Christianity seeks to do something else besides just promote obedience to concepts that help society. Christianity seeks not to influence our behavior as much as to change our hearts. God is more concerned with “how’s and why’s.”

Dad’s Study

In Deuteronomy 8:1, God gives us 3 important parts to Christian obedience: We must be careful to observe God’s commandments. We Christians must be concerned with following Biblical instruction in all of our lives. We cannot say that we will handle our money in a Biblical way, but we will spend our leisure time without thought to what glorifies God. Everything we do must be done to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31).

1. We must follow all of God’s commandments.

We cannot pick and choose which commandments we wish to follow. Jesus, the one who freed us from the curse of the law, also said, If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Just a few verses later, If a man love me, he will keep my words…(John 14:23). Jesus did not make any of the commandments passé’ with the New Covenant, but he gave us the reason behind them (The Sermon on the Mount discourses) and to complete them (Matthew 5:17).

2. We must follow God’s commandments out of fear of God, not fear of man.

Why we seek to follow God’s commands in all of life and why we struggle to keep all his commands must be based upon our fear of God, not our wish to serve our own ego (self-image) or the perception that men have of us (Matthew 6:1-8).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

The 42nd question and response in the Westminster Shorter Catechism serve as a guide to us when we want to remember the how and why of our obedience to God’s commandments. “What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?”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 neighbor as ourselves.

Derived from the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:37.

Greg Bailey – Greenville, SC

Catechism

Question 6

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1 John 5:7; Mt. 28:19).

Popularity: 1% [?]