Prayer
Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Today’s Hymn
Words: John Newton, 1774; appeared in Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779).
DAY OF JUDGMENT! DAY OF WONDERS!
Click here for tune.
Day of judgment! Day of wonders!
Hark! the trumpets awful sound,
Louder than a thousand thunders,
Shakes the vast creation round!
How the summons wilt the sinners heart confound!
See the Judge, our nature wearing,
Clothed in majesty divine!
You who long for His appearing
Then shall say, This God is mine!
Gracious Savior, own me in that day for Thine!
At His call the dead awaken,
Rise to life from earth and sea;
All the powers of nature shaken
By His look, prepares to flee.
Careless sinner, what will then become of thee?
Horrors, past imagination,
Will surprise your trembling heart,
When you hear your condemnation,
Hence, accursed wretch, depart!
Thou, with Satan and his angels, have thy part!
Satan, who now tries to please you,
Lest you timely warning take,
When that word is past, will seize you,
Plunge you in the burning lake:
Think, poor sinner, thy eternal alls at stake.
But to those who have confessèd,
Loved and served the Lord below,
He will say, Come near, ye blessèd,
See the kingdom I bestow;
You forever shall My love and glory know.
Under sorrows and reproaches,
May this thought your courage raise!
Swiftly Gods great day approaches,
Sighs shall then be changed to praise.
We shall triumph when the world is in a blaze.
Thought Provoker
Before Christ gave that once-for-all atoning sacrifice for sin, how were people saved? Did atonement come through the sacrifices of bulls and goats? Was this sufficient and efficacious in bringing salvation to sinful men? We know this can not be true. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins (Heb. 10:4).
Dad’s Study
God is immutable and unchanging in all His ways. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17). Therefore we know that He did not bring salvation to men one way at one time and another way at another time. Salvation is always by grace through faith, even in the Old Testament. And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). The feasts and sacrifices of the Old Testament were a type and picture of the perfect sacrifice to come. In the Day of Atonement there are three truths concerning salvation:
1. When we approach the Lord for forgiveness of sins we must do so humbly and broken in spirit. — and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD (Lev. 23:27). Just as the Jew was to humbly approach God with His sacrifice so we too must humbly approach God when we seek to have the atoning sacrifice of Christ applied to us. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10).
2. We are to do no work on our own behalf for our atonement. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God (Lev. 23:28). The work of atonement is all Christs; He does all the work of salvation. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5);
3. We are to completely rest in the atonement provided by Christ. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath (Lev. 23:32). Christ calls us to enter in His rest. We are to rest in total assurance that the atoning sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to cover all our sins and we are to cease from our works of self-righteousness. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
Let us follow the call of Christ, humbling ourselves as we approach His throne of Grace, resting totally in Him for our salvation, and taking upon ourselves His yoke of service to the Almighty King.
Catechism
Question 79
Q. What is the duty of such as are rightly baptized?
A. It is the duty of such as are rightly baptized, to give up themselves to some particular and orderly Church of Jesus Christ (Ac. 2:47; Ac. 9:26; 1 Pe. 2:5) that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Lu. 1:6).
