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.” Psalm 143:7, 8.
Today’s Hymn
Words: Traditional French carol (Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes); translated from French to English by James Chadwick in Crown of Jesus, 1862. Music: Gloria (Barnes), French carol melody; arranged by Edwin S. Barnes.
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Click here for tune.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
Thought Provoker
My oldest boy at home is bright and witty, always seeing humor in life’s circumstances. All would be glad to hear him read the Scripture on Sunday mornings or offer prayer. And yet, he is very shy about being “in front of people.” He avoids anything that would make him be noticed, and is perfectly content to have others do the talking. Now that is amazing to us, since he is very good at talking, if you know what I mean! He is articulate, logical, and incessant: but not in larger groups! Our next son, on the other hand, keeps quiet, listens much, and yet if called upon to read or say something publicly he doesn’t hesitate to stand up and do his best. Moses argued with the Lord about his speaking abilities because he was afraid of speaking in front of the king and God’s people. God knew Moses’ personality, preparing Aaron beforehand for the task. The Lord is not surprised by our personalities or weaknesses, and He equips us to fulfill the tasks He calls us each to do.
Dad’s Study
Read vs. 1-17. This chapter finishes God’s conversation with Moses as He told him what He wanted him to do in Egypt. Moses ran out of arguments, and came to the point where he was willing to obey the Lord. He had lived with his father-in- law, and had two boys with Zipporah, his wife. Moses then asks permission to return to Egypt with his wife and family. Why ask permission of Jethro (v. 18)? Moses was obligated to this man who had taken him in and had become part of his family. From his question, we might understand that there was concern on Moses’ part that Jethro not know the real reason for his departure. There was tension in the family, which seems to stem from their conflict in the worship of God. Moses and his wife compromised by circumcising one boy, but not the other, as they should have done. When God called him to do His work, this compromise was highlighted. Look at verses 24-26.
There are things we know that are not said here. Zipporah, for example, went back after this to her father, taking the boys with her, and Moses went on alone. She was angry that she had been forced to circumcise her other son. She had somehow been made aware of the threat of death to Moses from God. Moses was a “bridegroom of blood,” meaning his religion came with requirements that she was not pleased with, and it was at this point that she understood the severity of God – there could be no compromises when married to a man of God.
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
As we grow older, we are faced with difficult choices. Often we decide to compromise, to just do things to get along and not create problems for ourselves. This can happen in our family, so that we end up doing what we should not have started in the first place. Discuss how your family may have wrongly compromised so that things would be easier. If you have, what can you do about it now? It is always hard to develop convictions, but once done God gives the grace and encouragement to live by them.
Catechism
Question 67
Q. What does every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come (Eph. 5:6; Ps. 11:6).
