Guide for the Preparation for Worship 12 September 2021

September 5, 2021
Silas Schreyack
Worship Guide

12 September 2021

Call to Worship: Psalm 100:1-5

Opening Hymn: Hymn 214 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”

Confession of Sin

Almighty God, Who are rich in mercy to all those who call upon You; Hear us as we humbly come to You confessing our sins; And imploring Your mercy and forgiveness. We have broken Your holy laws by our deeds and by our words; And by the sinful affections of our hearts. We confess before You our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and willfulness; And all our failures and shortcomings toward You and toward fellow men. Have mercy upon us, Most merciful Father; And of Your great goodness grant that we may hereafter serve and please You in newness of life; Through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hebrews 10:16-18

Psalm of Preparation: Psalm 16B “Preserve Me, O God”

Old Covenant Reading: Ezra 2:1-70

New Covenant Reading: Ephesians 4:1-8

Sermon: Return from Captivity

Hymn of Response: Hymn 238 “Lord with Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee”

Confession of Faith: Nicene Creed (p. 852)

Doxology (Hymn 568)

Closing Hymn: Hymn 266 “Thou Art the Way”

Evening Worship

Hymns: 429,112, 446

OT: Psalm 119:1-8

NT: 1 Timothy 3:8-13

The Deacon

Suggested Preparation

Monday (9/6) read and discuss Ezra 2:1-70

“Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172. The sons of Shephatiah, 372. The sons of Arah, 775. The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. The sons of Elam, 1,254. The sons of Zattu, 945. The sons of Zaccai, 760. The sons of Bani, 642. The sons of Bebai, 623. The sons of Azgad, 1,222. The sons of Adonikam, 666. The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. The sons of Adin, 454. The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. The sons of Bezai, 323. The sons of Jorah, 112. The sons of Hashum, 223. The sons of Gibbar, 95. The sons of Bethlehem, 123. The men of Netophah, 56. The men of Anathoth, 128. The sons of Azmaveth, 42. The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. The men of Michmas, 122. The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. The sons of Nebo, 52. The sons of Magbish, 156. The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. The sons of Harim, 320. The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. The sons of Jericho, 345. The sons of Senaah, 3,630. The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052. The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. The sons of Harim, 1,017. The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139. The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha. The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami. All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720. Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.” (ESV)

Derek Thomas writes:

Judah remained a part of Persia and had no independent authority of her own. For the returning exiles, therefore, a greater motivation impelled them to return than the assertion of their national identity. They were the people of God to whom promises had been given, promises that appeared impossible of fulfillment in Babylon. Exile signaled judgment and abandonment. Their return, and the orderly way in which it took place, signaled in some way the promise that God had given to Abraham—that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the night sky and the sand on the seashore (Gen 22:17)—had not been forgotten.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 21. Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?

A. The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Tuesday (9/7) read and discuss Ezra 1:1-11

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” 5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem. (ESV).

Derek Thomas writes:

The initiative of men and the sovereignty of God are concurrent or confluent events. Without violating the way things happen—the meaningfulness of cause and effect, or the freely given agency of individuals—God ensures that his will, his sovereign decree, occurs. How he does this is a mystery to us, but it is the consistent teaching of Scripture…. The cause of Israel’s downfall was no accident. The prophet Amos made this clear to the northern kingdom facing the threatening might of Assyria: “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it” (Amos 3:6). The exile itself was the result of Israel’s rebellion. God came in judgment as he had threatened (Jer. 13:15-27). God’s sovereign involvement at every point does not negate Israel’s responsibility for her failure…. Human beings act according to their own will and ability, but at the same time, God acts to accomplish his sovereign will and purpose. And that is a most reassuring thought. God’s will is done. The future that God has willed is certain.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Wednesday (9/8) read and discuss Ephesians 4:1-8

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (ESV)

R. C. Sproul writes:

Notice, there are several things that Paul expounds here as points that unify the Christian community.

There is one body of Christ. There may be many denominations, but there is a distinction in theology between the visible church and the invisible church. The visible church may be distressingly and sorely fractured and fragmented into all different kinds of denominations and groups, but the invisible church is the true body of Christ. Everyone who is in Christ, and in whom Christ dwells, is a member of this one universal church.

There is one Spirit who links us to Christ, who dwells within us and who joins us together as a body. It is in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that the unity of the body of Christ is guaranteed.

There is the same ultimate goal: the consummation of the kingdom of God. We may argue over the specifics of that consummation and when it is going to come, whether it will be pre, post or a-millennial. But ultimately there is only one hope: the triumph of Jesus, as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

There is only one Lord of the church. We don’t have a church that is ruled by a heavenly committee. Jesus Christ is Lord.

There is only one Christian faith. There may be many manifestations of that faith, many debates about the content of that faith, but ultimately there is only one apostolic faith which has been delivered once and for all.

There is only one baptism, one initiatory rite into the visible church of Jesus Christ. Even though the church of Christ is divided into different denominations, nearly every Christian community embraces some form of baptism as a sign of one’s membership in the visible body of Christ.

The ultimate unity is found in the character of God himself: one God and Father of all. We speak abstractly, perhaps loosely, about God as the Supreme Being. But if ever those words meant anything, they certainly capture what is stated in verse 6: one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. This is absolute supremacy. God is over everything. He permeates all things. He is in all things.

All of these characteristics spell out for us the basis of unity in the body of Christ.

The church in the first century was threatened by a division between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. Paul demonstrates that God is bringing people from different backgrounds, nations and languages and is moulding them into one body, the universal church of Jesus Christ.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?

A. Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Thursday (9/9) read and discuss Psalm 119:1-8

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! (ESV)

From the Scottish Psalter of 1595. A prayer based on Psalm 119:

Most merciful God, Author of all good things, who hast given thy holy commandments unto us, whereby we should direct our life, imprint them in our hearts by thy Holy Spirit; and grant that we may so renounce all our fleshly desires, and all the vanities of this world, that our whole pleasure and delight may be in thy law; that we, being always governed by thy holy Word, may in the end attain to that eternal salvation which thou hast promised, through Christ Jesus, thy Son. Amen.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Friday (9/10) read and discuss 1 Tim 3:8-13

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

John Calvin writes:

Holding the mystery of faith. As if he had said, “Holding the pure doctrine of religion, and that from the heart, with a sincere fear of God;” or, “Being well instructed in the faith, so as not to be ignorant of anything which it is necessary for Christians to know.” He gives to the sum of Christian doctrine the honourable appellation of a mystery; as indeed God, through the gospel, reveals to men on earth a wisdom which angels in heaven behold with admiration; and, therefore, we need not wonder if it exceed human capacity.

Let us therefore remember that it ought to be embraced with the deepest reverence; and because we could never, by our own strength, ascend to such a height, let us humbly entreat God to impart it to us by the Spirit of revelation. On the other hand, when we see wicked men either ridicule those doctrines or have no relish for them, let us acknowledge that it is owing to the grace of God that those things which have been hidden from others are in our hearts, and before our eyes, as Moses says, (Deut. 30:11.)

Thus he wishes that deacons should be well instructed in “the mystery of faith;” because, although they do not hold the office of teaching, yet it would be exceedingly absurd to hold a public office in the Church, while they were ill-informed in the Christian faith, more especially since they must frequently be laid under the necessity of administering advice and consolation, if they do not choose to neglect their duties. It is added, in a pure conscience, which extends to the whole life, but chiefly that they may know how to obey God.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.

Saturday (9/11) read and discuss Ezra 2:1-70

Derek Kidner writes:

This chapter, however uninviting it may seem, is a monument to God’s care and to Israel’s vitality. The thousands of home comers are no lumped together, but (in characteristic biblical fashion) related to those local and family circles which humanize a society and orientate an individual. Such is God’s way, who ‘setteth the solitary in families’ (Ps. 68:6). And for the people’s part, their tenacious memory of places and relationships, still strong after two generations in exile, showed a fin refusal to be robbed of either their past or their future.

So these were living portions of Israel, roots and all, for replanting. But the fundament motive for this careful grouping was not social but religious. This is the holy nation, given a new chance to live up to its calling. There can be nothing casual in its preparations. Not only must every priest have his credentials but every member too, whether as a true-born Israelite or as belonging to a constituent household or again as a convert.

MEMORY WORK

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.