13 February
Call to Worship: Psalm 100:1-5
Opening Hymn: 215 “Give to Our God Immortal Praise”
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: 1 John 1:6-9
Hymn of Preparation: 172 “Speak, O Lord”
Old Covenant Reading: Nehemiah 8:9-18
New Covenant Reading: Titus 3:3-7
Sermon: The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength
Hymn of Response: Psalm 18B “I Love You, Lord, My Strength” (Stanzas 1-4)
Confession of Faith: Apostles Creed (p. 851)
Doxology (Hymn 568)
Closing Hymn: Psalm 18B “I Love You, Lord, My Strength” (Stanzas 5-8)
Evening Service
Hymns: 244, 544, Psalm 23A
OT: Haggai 2:1-9
NT: Ephesians 6:10-20
Be Courageous!
Suggested Preparation
Monday (2/7) read and discuss Nehemiah 8:9-18
Nehemiah 8:9–18 (ESV)
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Derek Kidner commenting on verses 9-12 writes:
Three times in this short paragraph it is pointed out that holiness and gloom go ill together. What makes it rather striking, to our ears, is the calm assumption that this should go without saying. True, the Day of Atonement, with its call to ‘afflict’ oneself, was holy (Lev. 23:27), but it existed to clear the air for happier occasions. To be ‘altogether joyful’ was the prospect held before the guests of God (Deut. 16:15), and the words that went most naturally with ‘holiness’ were not only ‘justice and righteousness’ but ‘glory’, ‘beauty’, ‘strength’ and ‘joy’.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.
Tuesday (2/8) read and discuss Nehemiah 8:1-8
Nehemiah 8:1–8 (ESV)
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Andrew Steinmann writes:
The Word of God contains both Law and Gospel. The Law in the text that was read and explained moved the people to sadness over this sins, which, however, was not the purpose of this day (Neh 8:9-11). Instead Nehemiah advised the people to eat the festive food prepared for the day and to share with those who had nothing, so that all could receive the blessings of God. Nehemiah’s solution to the peoples grief was the Gospel: “the joy of Yahweh is your strength” (Neh 8:10). While the reading of Moses’ Teaching contained Law, which always accuses the hearers of their sins and brings them sorrow and contrition, the Pentateuch also contains magnificent Gospel promises of forgiveness and the Messiah, which bring joy to the penitent sinner. It is joy in the Gospel that is the believer’s ultimate strength. Nehemiah’s encouragement, reinforced by the Levites (Neh 8:11), pointed the people to the comforting Gospel, so that the joy of Yahweh overcame their sorrow, and they celebrated the day (Neh 8:12).
MEMORY WORK
Q. 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Wednesday (2/9) read and discuss Titus 3:3-7
Titus 3:3–7 (ESV)
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
John Calvin commenting on verse 5 writes:
Not by works. Let us remember that here Paul addresses his discourse to believers, and describes the manner in which they entered into the kingdom of God. He affirms that by their works they did not at all deserve that they should become partakers of salvation, or that they should be reconciled to God through faith; but he says that they obtained this blessing solely through the mercy of God. We therefore conclude from his words, that we bring nothing to God, but that he goes before us by his pure grace, without any regard to works. For when he says,—“Not by works which we have done,” he means, that we can do nothing but sin till we have been renewed by God. This negative statement depends on the former affirmation, by which he said that they were foolish and disobedient, and led away by various desires, till they were created anew in Christ; and indeed, what good work could proceed from so corrupt a mass?
MEMORY WORK
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. 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.
Thursday (2/10) read and discuss Haggai 2:1-9
Haggai 2:1–9 (ESV)
1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
Matthew Henry writes:
Observe… The discouragements which those laboured under who were employed in this work. That which was such a damp upon them, and an alloy to their joy, when the foundation of the temple was laid, was still a clog upon them—that they could not build such a temple now as Solomon built, not so large, so stately, so sumptuous, a one as that was. This fetched tears from the eyes of many, when the dimensions of it were first laid (Ezra 3:12), and still it made the work go on heavily—that the glory of this house, in comparison with that of the former, was as nothing, v. 3. It was now about seventy years since Solomon’s temple was destroyed (for that was in the nineteenth year of the captivity, and this about the nineteenth after the captivity), so that there might be some yet alive who could remember to have seen it, and still they would be upbraiding themselves and their brethren with the great disparity between this house and that. One could remember the gold with which it was overlaid, another the precious stones with which it was garnished; one could describe the magnificence of the porch, another of the pillars—and where are these now? This weakened the hands of the builders; for, though our gracious God is pleased with us if we do in sincerity as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased with ourselves unless we do as well as others whose abilities far exceed ours. And it is sometimes the fault of old people to discourage the services of the present age by crying up too much the performances and attainments of the former age, with which others should be provoked to emulation, but not exposed to contempt. Say not thou that the former days were better than these (Eccl. 7:10), but thank God that there is any good in these, bad as they are.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Friday (2/11) read and discuss Ephesians 6:10-20
Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
R. C. Sproul writes:
Paul is now concluding his letter. He urges his readers: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. The strength we are to manifest as Christians is the strength that is found in and through Christ. Why Christians need strength is explained here in one of the most magnificent treatments in the entire Bible of the Christian life in terms of warfare. Paul takes common elements of battle garb from the Roman soldier and gives a spiritual application to each one.
He begins: Put on the full armour of God. The term for ‘full armour’ in the Greek is the word from which we get the English word ‘panoply’, the complete battle-gear of the warrior. Paul is obviously using an analogy drawn from his own experience of Roman soldiers. Sometimes we think of armour as what a medieval knight would wear to protect himself against attack. But the panoply of a Roman soldier included both his defensive gear and his offensive weaponry. To be involved in this cosmic struggle where we are wrestling against powers and principalities, against demonic forces, we must be fully prepared and fully dressed for the battle.
The reason, he says, is this: so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (verses 11, 12). He is talking about cosmic warfare. Each Christian is a target of Satan and his angels, and this struggle goes on throughout one’s lifetime. If we are to stand firm we have to be properly equipped for that battle. Therefore, he repeats, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (verse 13).
MEMORY WORK
Q. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us that because God is the Lord, and our God, and redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Saturday (2/12) read and discuss Nehemiah 8:9-18
Nehemiah 8:9–18 (ESV)
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. 13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Derek Thomas writes:
Amid the sound of weeping, Nehemiah intervened to insist that it was not a day for weeping but a day for rejoicing (Neh. 8:10). It was a time to celebrate with good food and sweet wine (v. 12). The Levites further ordered the people to be calm and “quiet” (v. 11). It looked as though the people had burst into something of a collective hysteria at the sound of one another’s weeping. Such hysteria was inappropriate, for it spoke more of uncertainty than of the assurance of God’s forgiveness.
Nehemiah was not suggesting that there is no place for weeping in true expressions of biblical faith, but simply that today is to be a day filled with joy. “Joy,” wrote C. S. Lewis, “is the serious business of heaven.” Paul rounds off his monumental epistle to the Romans by insisting that the kingdom of God is principally about “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17) Joyless religion fosters and demonstrates unbelief—something that Nehemiah, Paul, and Lewis knew well.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.