September 26

September 26

Prayer

Pray that we may submit ourselves to those whom God has appointed over us.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(1 Peter 5:5-6)

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Question 12

Question 12 - What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

Reformational Reading

The Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 100

Question 100 - What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?

We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to enforce them.

Private Reading

Ezekiel 29

1.  In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2.  Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:
3.  Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
4.  But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.
5.  And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
6.  And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7.  When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.
8.  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.
9.  And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.
10.  Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.
11.  No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.
12.  And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
13.  Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:
14.  And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
15.  It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
16.  And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
17.  And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
18.  Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:
19.  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
20.  I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.
21.  In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Commentary: Ezekiel 29

Vs. 1-16

Worldly, carnal minds pride themselves in their property, forgetting that whatever we have, we received it from God, and should use it for God. Why, then, do we boast? Self is the great idol which all the world worships, in contempt of God and his sovereignty. God can force men out of that in which they are most secure and easy. Such a one, and all that cleave to him, shall perish together. Thus end men's pride, presumption, and carnal security. The Lord is against those who do harm to his people, and still more against those who lead them into sin. Egypt shall be a kingdom again, but it shall be the basest of the kingdoms; it shall have little wealth and power. History shows the complete fulfillment of this prophecy. God, not only in justice, but in wisdom and goodness to us, breaks the creature-stays on which we lean, that they may be no more our confidence.

Vs. 17-21

The besiegers of Tyre obtained little plunder. But when God employs ambitious or covetous men, he will recompense them according to the desires of their hearts; for every man shall have his reward. God had mercy in store for the house of Israel soon after. The history of nations best explains ancient prophecies. All events fulfill the Scriptures. Thus, in the deepest scenes of adversity, the Lord sows the seed of our future prosperity. Happy are those who desire his favor, grace, and image; they will delight in his service, and not covet any earthly recompense; and the blessings they have chosen shall be sure to them for ever.

Psalm 78:1-39

1.  Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2.  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3.  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4.  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5.  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6.  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7.  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8.  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9.  The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10.  They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11.  And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12.  Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13.  He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14.  In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15.  He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16.  He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17.  And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18.  And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19.  Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20.  Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21.  Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22.  Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23.  Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24.  And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25.  Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26.  He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27.  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28.  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29.  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30.  They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31.  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32.  For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33.  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34.  When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35.  And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36.  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37.  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38.  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39.  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Commentary: Psalm 78:1-39

Vs. 1-8

These are called dark and deep sayings, because they are carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that the church may abide for ever. Also, that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostasy; those that do not set their hearts right, will not be steadfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, must not obey sinful orders, or copy sinful examples.

Vs. 9-39

Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not trust his providence in the way to it. To all that by faith and prayer, ask, seek, and knock, these doors of heaven shall at any time be opened; and our distrust of God is a great aggravation of our sins. He expressed his resentment of their provocation; not in denying what they sinfully lusted after, but in granting it to them. Lust is contented with nothing. Those that indulge their lust, will never be estranged from it. Those hearts are hard indeed, that will neither be melted by the mercies of the Lord, nor broken by his judgments. Those that sin still, must expect to be in trouble still. And the reason why we live with so little comfort, and to so little purpose, is, because we do not live by faith. Under these rebukes they professed repentance, but they were not sincere, for they were not constant. In Israel's history we have a picture of our own hearts and lives. God's patience, and warnings, and mercies, embolden them to harden their hearts against his word. And the history of kingdoms is much the same. Judgments and mercies have been little attended to, until the measure of their sins has been full. And higher advantages have not kept churches from declining from the commandments of God. Even true believers recollect, that for many a year they abused the kindness of Providence. When they come to heaven, how will they admire the Lord's patience and mercy in bringing them to his kingdom!

Family Reading

2 Samuel 22

1.  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2.  And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3.  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4.  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
5.  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6.  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
7.  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
8.  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
9.  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
10.  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
11.  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12.  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
13.  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
14.  The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
15.  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16.  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17.  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
18.  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
19.  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
20.  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21.  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23.  For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24.  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
25.  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
26.  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27.  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
28.  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
29.  For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
30.  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
31.  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
32.  For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
33.  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
34.  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
35.  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
36.  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
37.  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
38.  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
39.  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40.  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41.  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42.  They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
43.  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
44.  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
45.  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
46.  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
47.  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48.  It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49.  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
50.  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
51.  He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

Commentary: 2 Samuel 22

Vs. 1-51

This chapter is a psalm of praise; we find it afterwards nearly as Psalms ch 18. They that trust God in the way of duty, shall find him a present help in their greatest dangers: David did so. Remarkable preservations should be particularly mentioned in our praises. We shall never be delivered from all enemies till we get to heaven. God will preserve all his people, 2 Timothy 4:18. Those who receive signal mercies from God, ought to give him the glory. In the day that God delivered David, he sang this song. While the mercy is fresh, and we are most affected with it, let the thank-offering be brought, to be kindled with the fire of that affection. All his joys and hopes close, as all our hopes should do, in the great Redeemer.

Galatians 2

1.  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2.  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3.  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4.  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5.  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6.  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
7.  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8.  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9.  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10.  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11.  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12.  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13.  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14.  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15.  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16.  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17.  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18.  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19.  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20.  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21.  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Commentary: Galatians 2

Vs. 1-10

Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from all mixture of Judaism. This doctrine would be ungrateful to many, yet he was not afraid to own it. His care was, lest the success of his past labors should be lessened, or his future usefulness be hindered. While we simply depend upon God for success to our labors, we should use every proper caution to remove mistakes, and against opposers. There are things which may lawfully be complied with, yet, when they cannot be done without betraying the truth, they ought to be refused. We must not give place to any conduct, whereby the truth of the gospel would be reflected upon. Though Paul conversed with the other apostles, yet he did not receive any addition to his knowledge, or authority, from them. Perceiving the grace given to him, they gave unto him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, whereby they acknowledged that he was designed to the honor and office of an apostle as well as themselves. They agreed that these two should go to the heathen, while they continued to preach to the Jews; judging it agreeable to the mind of Christ, so to divide their work. Here we learn that the gospel is not ours, but God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are to praise God. The apostle showed his charitable disposition, and how ready he was to own the Jewish converts as brethren, though many would scarcely allow the like favor to the converted Gentiles; but mere difference of opinion was no reason to him why he should not help them. Herein is a pattern of Christian charity, which we should extend to all the disciples of Christ.

Vs. 11-14

Notwithstanding Peter's character, yet, when Paul saw him acting so as to hurt the truth of the gospel and the peace of the church, he was not afraid to reprove him. When he saw that Peter and the others did not live up to that principle which the gospel taught, and which they professed, namely, That by the death of Christ the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was taken down, and the observance of the law of Moses was no longer in force; as Peter's offense was public, he publicly reproved him. There is a very great difference between the prudence of St. Paul, who bore with, and used for a time, the ceremonies of the law as not sinful, and the timid conduct of St. Peter, who, by withdrawing from the Gentiles, led others to think that these ceremonies were necessary.

Vs. 15-19

Paul, having thus shown he was not inferior to any apostle, not to Peter himself, speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the gospel. For what did we believe in Christ? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? If so, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies? The occasion of this declaration doubtless arose from the ceremonial law; but the argument is quite as strong against all dependence upon the works of the moral law, as respects justification. To give the greater weight to this, it is added, But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ the minister of sin? This would be very dishonorable to Christ, and also very hurtful to them. By considering the law itself, he saw that justification was not to be expected by the works of it, and that there was now no further need of the sacrifices and cleansings of it, since they were done away in Christ, by his offering up himself a sacrifice for us. He did not hope or fear any thing from it; any more than a dead man from enemies. But the effect was not a careless, lawless life. It was necessary, that he might live to God, and be devoted to him through the motives and grace of the gospel. It is no new prejudice, though a most unjust one, that the doctrine of justification by faith alone, tends to encourage people in sin. Not so, for to take occasion from free grace, or the doctrine of it, to live in sin, is to try to make Christ the minister of sin, at any thought of which all Christian hearts would shudder.

Vs. 20, 21

Here, in his own person, the apostle describes the spiritual or hidden life of a believer. The old man is crucified, Romans 6:6, but the new man is living; sin is mortified, and grace is quickened. He has the comforts and the triumphs of grace; yet that grace is not from himself, but from another. Believers see themselves living in a state of dependence on Christ. Hence it is, that though he lives in the flesh, yet he does not live after the flesh. Those who have true faith, live by that faith; and faith fastens upon Christ's giving himself for us. He loved me, and gave himself for me. As if the apostle said, The Lord saw me fleeing from him more and more. Such wickedness, error, and ignorance were in my will and understanding, that it was not possible for me to be ransomed by any other means than by such a price. Consider well this price. Here notice the false faith of many. And their profession is accordingly; they have the form of godliness without the power of it. They think they believe the articles of faith aright, but they are deceived. For to believe in Christ crucified, is not only to believe that he was crucified, but also to believe that I am crucified with him. And this is to know Christ crucified. Hence we learn what is the nature of grace. God's grace cannot stand with man's merit. Grace is no grace unless it is freely given every way. The more simply the believer relies on Christ for every thing, the more devotedly does he walk before Him in all his ordinances and commandments. Christ lives and reigns in him, and he lives here on earth by faith in the Son of God, which works by love, causes obedience, and changes into his holy image. Thus he neither abuses the grace of God, nor makes it in vain.

Prayer

Lord's Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Apostle's Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.