January 26, 2020

Worship

Before We Worship

It is incredibly easy to judge the Israelites. And they deserve it, too! It is almost as if they were afraid of missing out on opportunities to act stupidly. If they could act badly, they did. Exodus 17 is a case in point. In the previous chapter, Israel grumbled against Moses about food: “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill the whole assembly with hunger.” Oh the good old days when we were beat mercilessly and groaned under back-breaking labor! We had it so nice when we had to bake bricks without straws and all the Egyptians treated us like the scum of the earth! At least then we had our fill of meat and bread!

It is quite clear not everything was right in their heads. What makes them look back fondly to the days of misery, only because their tummies were full? This is certainly an indication of their spiritual poverty, but not the good kind that Jesus teaches us to have in the Beatitudes. Israel is here seen to be the kind of people who have no other aspirations than food and drink. To them, even God served to meet their fleshly desires, and if he doesn’t, well, of what use is he? God, however, rained down bread from heaven for them, and fed them with manna.

Exodus 17 follows this event. And, once again, Israel is grumbling. This time they are complaining about water. Yes, water is a basic necessity of life. But their complaint follows on the heels of God providing miraculous bread for them. God had proven himself to be their faithful provider. That is what makes Israel’s grumbling about water so pernicious. They should have trusted in God’s faithfulness, and should have asked for the LORD’s instruction how to acquire water, rather than grumble against him. “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Life was so much better when we didn’t have to live by faith and depend on God moment by moment. In Egypt we had food and water to spare and we never had to think about God!

But God showed them mercy. “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock on Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” The NIV says “I will stand there before you by the rock.” But translations that reflect the Hebrew faithfully say “I will stand before you there on the rock.” That is, the LORD stood on the rock and received the blow that saves Israel’s life. This was a foreshadowing of Christ receiving the blows that we deserve, for “by his wounds we are healed.”

But what does it say about us that ancient Israel and we need the same Savior? We both needed someone else to receive the blows we deserve. That means that Israel’s stupidity is our stupidity, that we are just as hopeless as ancient Israel, and that when we judge Israel’s failures, we judge our failures also. So what will you do? Complain and grumble? Or trust and listen? What has filled your heart with bitterness and unbelief this week? Will you not come to the Lord, trust, and believe?

Call to Worship

‡ Exodus 17:1–7 (p. 59)

‡ Trinity Hymnal #499 “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me”

‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

Matthew 5:17–20 (p. 810)

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Romans 1:16–17)

Trinity Hymnal #507 “Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat”

Confession of Faith — The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

1 Peter 2:18–25 (p. 1015)

Follow In His Steps

Rev. Ken Han

The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

We participate in the Lord’s Supper weekly. We welcome to the Lord’s Table all baptized believers who have sincere faith in Jesus Christ, and regularly worship in a Reformed or evangelical church.

The Lord’s Supper is a sign and a seal of the new covenant blessings. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper with faith, it strengthens our bond with our covenant Lord, Jesus Christ. Thus we participate properly when we come to our Savior with faith and repentance as we renew our resolve to forsake sin and live for his glory.

The Lord’s Supper also renews our bonds with God’s covenant community, the body of believers in the local church. As we receive the Lord’s Supper, we renew our pledge to give ourselves away in loving service.

During the distribution of the bread we will sing Trinity Hymnal #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–6 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #377 “Jesus, Where’er Your People Meet”

Benediction

+++

Growth Resources

Basics of the Christian Life

A wonderful 12-part video / audio lecture series by Sinclair Ferguson is available for free. Please take advantage of this free resource.

Family Devotion for the Week

The January 19, 2020 sermon, 1 Peter 2:13–17. "When God Asks the Impossible" is available on our church website. You can also catch up on older sermons from our Sermon page and subscribe to sermon podcast here.

Upcoming Events and Notices

Join us for “12 for 20” as we read 12 great books in the year 2020. In January we will read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis.

January 26 (Lord’s Day): Children’s catechism lesson will meet after the service.

January 26 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we discuss C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

February 8 (Saturday 10:30 AM): All men are invited to Men’s Brunch at the Ligtenberg home. Please come join us for a time of fellowship, food, and prayer.

Nursery Volunteers

January 26: Yoori Han

February 2: TBA