Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah (Psalm 3:7-8).

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

How are you to respond when you have been wronged? Throughout your life there will be those who wrong you. Perhaps it will be a sibling who strikes out in anger or a friend who calls you names out of frustration. As you get older there will be those who defraud you through lies or damage your personal property. How are you to respond when you are wronged? During times of anger perhaps you are quick to remember today’s verse, Breach for a breach an eye for eye, tooth for tooth — (Lev. 24:20). However, before you strike back you suddenly remember our Lord’s directive to turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:38-39). How are you to respond – strike back in retribution or turn the other cheek?

Dad’s Study

When the Bible calls for a loss of a tooth to be returned with the loss of a tooth (Lev. 24:20) it is making a clear distinction between personal retaliation and judicial restitution. It Leviticus 24 God is describing the punishment that the government should impose on those who bread the law. Whatever he had done to hurt another, the government shall inflict upon him. However, in our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount our Lord is not talking about how the government should impose punishment rather how we are to personally respond to the person who wrongs us. In other words, we are not to personally retaliate when we have been wronged. We are not to take justice into our own hands. When we have been struck God wants Christians to turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39). Don’t return evil for evil. How then should you personally treat your enemies? Jesus calls you to love your enemies, bless them and do good for them (Matt. 5:44). J.C. Ryle rightly comments, We ought to put away all malice: we ought to return good for evil, and blessing for cursing. Moreover we are not to love in word only, but in deed; we are to deny ourselves, and take trouble, in order to be kind and courteous: if any man “compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” We are to put up with much and bear much, rather then hurt another, or give offence. In all things we are to be unselfish. Our thought must never be, “How do others behave to me?” but “What would Christ have me to do?” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, J.C. Ryle). What a practical lesson for today. I am confident that God will give each of us an opportunity this week to put into practice Christ’s law of love.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Discuss together as a family:

• How you should respond to a sibling who lashes out at you in anger. How would a right response make a big difference in family harmony?
• According to Leviticus 24:20 is it OK for the government to sentence a guilty murderer to death?
• Are there those that you would identify as your enemies? How would God want you to respond to them?

Pray together that God might bless you with the grace to love, do good, and pray for your enemy.

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).

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).

Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Ps. 1:1-3)

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

Have you ever heard the acronym ‘RHIP’? Do you know what it stands for? It stands for ‘Rank Has Its Privileges. Is this true? This is the attitude of the world toward rank and authority, that it is used to serve self interests. Not so the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 20:20-28 where Jesus teaches ‘RHIR’ or Rank Has Its Responsibilities’. What are the responsibilities of leadership? In one word, SERVICE. Today the law is given to Moses regarding priests and the responsibilities of their service unto the Lord.

Dad’s Study

Special instructions are here given to the priests regarding their own state of purity. The Lord God whom they serve is a pure and holy God and He will only have those who are pure serving Him. All that is connected to Jehovah, the sanctuary, the offerings and the services of the temple were to be holy as the Lord Jehovah who resided there was holy. The priests, by virtue of their office, were given special privileges. Their provision came from the offerings brought by the people to the Lord. It was of these that the priests had their sustenance. In case some may have thought that their office somehow relieved them of God’s standards of holiness this command of the Lord makes it apparent that they were obligated to an even greater standard. Because the offering was consecrated to the Lord the priest could not serve in the temple while unclean, nor could he eat of his portion of the offering. To do so would be to profane the Name of God, to whom the offering was made. The ‘Name of God’ is just another way of saying God Himself; for priest to attempt to minister or to partake of his portion of the sacrifice while in any state of uncleanness would be to bring the pollution of sin into the presence of God.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

1 Peter 2:5, 9 tell us that every born again Christian is part of a priesthood of believers. In 1 Peter 1:15, 16 Peter also calls each of us to holiness, saying we are to be holy as our Father in Heaven is holy. As children purchased by the blood of the Lamb of God we have been set aside and consecrated to God. We have been set aside to His service; we have been purchased by the sacred offering given to provide atonement for our sin. We must not now defile that which has been purchased with the atoning sacrifice, for to do so would be to profane the Name of God. What is that which has been purchased? It is our very selves, our souls, our lives, our bodies, our hearts and our minds. We are to be pure and wholly consecrated to God in this life. When we yoke ourselves to sin, we in effect, bring the pollution of sin into the presence of God. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1Cor. 6:15-17) We are to flee immorality (1 Cor. 6:18), mortify the sin that remains in our members (Col. 3:5), and pursue righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22).

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).

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple (Psalm 65:4).

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

Has your church in recent years had to go through the process of seeking the Lord for a new Pastor? It’s a precious thing when there is 100% unanimity about calling a particular man. However, the procedure can sometimes be painful. It doesn’t seem to matter who the Lord sends to preach, there’s usually something that someone doesn’t like about each preacher (and sadly it’s sometimes something trivial, like a mannerism, or appearance, or an accent). One wonders with some congregations whether even if Spurgeon were to preach “with a view, they would still turn him down! We need to face facts: There is no such thing as a perfect Pastor! Ask the family what they think is the most important qualification?

Dad’s Study

One godly Scottish Pastor said that his congregation’s greatest need was for his holiness. Spurgeon said: “The gifts which I feel I should crave beyond every other boon is holiness, pure and immaculate holiness. In the chapter before us, Moses sets before the people the very high standards of moral and ceremonial holiness required to be a priest under the Old Covenant.

These men may have been as free as possible of all outward blemishes, but the Lord looks on the heart. Of course they all fell short of the perfect glory of God. For the Israelite with faith, this put a longing in their hearts for God to provide not only a perfect sacrifice, but also a perfect priest:

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself (Heb. 7:26-27). Note:

a) The priest could not touch a dead body, except a close relative without being defiled (v.1-5). Our Lord Jesus Christ took a dead little girl by the hand, and told her to get up. (Mark 5:41) Why do you think he wasn’t defiled by this?

b) The priest kept a certain distance from people e.g. when dealing with death, the priest must not display the usual signs of sadness, like tearing his clothes (v.10). Our Lord Jesus Christ wept over Lazarus. What does that tell us about Him?

c) The priests were to be considered holy, because the Lord, who is holy, made them holy. (v. 8, 15, 23). Under the new covenant, because we are made holy by the blood of Christ, all believers are “priests unto God”. Are there any general principles in this list of rules for priests that apply to us? E.g. our speech (v.6); who we marry (v.7, 13-15); how we approach God (v.16-24)

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

When the members of your family realize afresh today how much they have failed, remind them that they have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because He was tempted in all points like us, yet was without sin. They should approach the throne of grace with holy confidence.

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).

The first video report can be accessed by clicking here.