M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 27, 2018

Exodus 10: The Lords sends the eighth and ninth plagues of locusts and darkness. He hardens Pharaoh’s heart again so that Pharaoh does not let the people go (10:20; 27).

Job 28: Job speaks of the elusive and divine character of true wisdom. God is the source and object of true wisdom: “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (28:28).

Luke 13: In Luke 13:1-5, people tell Jesus about a massacre carried out by Pilate against the Galileans. Jesus does not respond by drawing a direct link between their sin and suffering, as if the Galileans were worse sinners than others. Rather, Jesus tells them to view providences like these as opportunities to repent in light of the coming judgment: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (13:3-4). Disciples of Jesus Christ are not called to speculate about God’s specific reasons for tragic providences. Instead, we ought to reckon with the reality of future judgment and the need for all sinners to repent since we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

1 Cor 14: Paul provides specific instruction relating to the corporate worship of the church. He addresses the dysfunctional character of worship in Corinth and reveals the true purpose of prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, namely the building up of the body of Christ. In this passage, Paul speaks of tongues as an eschatological judgment upon unbelievers in fulfillment of Isaiah 28:11. Thus, tongues- according to Paul- are part of that foundation laying work wrought by the holy Spirit in the life of the church and intended as a sign of judgment upon unbelieving Israel as the old covenant gave way to the New.

 

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 26, 2018

Exodus 9: The author recounts the fifth (death of livestock), sixth (boils) and seventh (hail) plagues. The Lord reveals his purpose for the hardening of Pharaoh: “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (9:16). Paul appeals to this text in Romans 9:17 to defend the sovereignty of God in salvation.

Job 27: Job continues to defend his integrity. He points out that while the wicked may prosper, their eventual doom is certain.

Luke 12: In Luke 12:13-21, a man asks Jesus to arbitrate between him and his brother in a financial dispute. Jesus uses this as an opportunity to warn against greed. Disciples of Jesus Christ lay up treasures for themselves in heaven.

1 Cor 13: Paul speaks of love as the greatest spiritual grace.

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 25, 2018

Exodus 8: The Lord plagues Egypt with a swarm of frogs. Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron to plead with the Lord to take away the frogs, promising to let the people go. However, Pharaoh hardens his heart after the frogs are taken away and refuses to let the people go. Pharaoh continues to harden his heart when the Lord sends the plagues of gnats upon the land. When the Lord sends the plague of flies, Pharaoh again promises to let the people go if the plague is taken away but hardens his heart once again.

Job 25-26: In chapter 25, Bildad responds to Job by pointing out that man cannot be in the right before God, an explicit rebuke to Job and his claims of innocence. In chapter 26, Job sarcastically taunts Bildad’s “counsel,” pointing out the useless character of his words.

Luke 11: In Luke 11, Jesus takes up the subject of prayer, teaching his disciples how to pray (11:1-4) and teaching them about the importance of persistence in prayer (11:5-12). The rock solid basis upon which our prayer life is build is the Fatherly goodness of God who gives the holy Spirit to those who ask him (11:13).

1 Cor 12: Paul addresses the subject of spiritual gifts. The emphasis in chapter 12 is upon the unity and diversity of the body of Christ. In baptism, we all are made to drink of one Spirit and are formed into one body. This body, however, has many members and each member functions differently for the common good.

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 24, 2018

Exodus 7- Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh. At the Lord’s command, Moses and Aaron turn the waters of the Nile into blood. This is the first plague which the Lord sends upon Egypt. Nevertheless, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened by the Lord and he refuses to let the people go.

Job 24- Job asks why the wicked prosper and are not judged by God. The poor, however, are oppressed and seem to be forsaken by God: “From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong” (24:12).

Luke 10- Jesus sends out the seventy-two. When they return, he rejoices in the holy Spirit and thanks the Father for concealing the truth from the wise and revealing it to little children. He emphasizes the unity of the Father and the Son, noting that all things have been handed over to him by the Father. This unity consists of an intimate, mutually indwelling knowledge shared by the Father and the Son. The unity of the Father and the Son is also reflected in the Son’s sovereign revelation of the Father to whomever he chooses.

1 Cor. 11- Paul addresses the subject of head coverings. The distinctions between men and women established by God at creation must be reflected in the corporate worship of the church. While head coverings seem to have been a particular cultural expression of the complementary distinctions between men and women, the principle remains the same, namely that “the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God” (11:3). Paul also addresses problems within the church in Corinth concerning the Lord’s Supper. Some within the church were abusing the Lord’s Supper, using it in selfish and divisive ways. Paul warns against the unworthy reception of the Supper and urges upon the church the kind of self-examination which discerns and recognizes the body of Christ, i.e. the entire church. He who fails to do so eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 23, 2018

Ex 6- The Lord promises to deliver Israel out of Egypt and commands Moses to assure the people of his promises. Part and parcel of the promise and at the very heart of the covenant of grace is what the Lord promises in verse 7: “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” This promise is rooted in the name of the Lord which he has revealed to Moses and his previous promises to Abraham. The Lord of the covenant is sovereign, immutable, and always faithful. Moses is commanded to appear again before Pharaoh to appeal for deliverance. Moses protests on the basis of his “uncircumcised speech.” In v. 14-30, the author provides a genealogy of Moses and Aaron.

Job 23- Job’s great desire is to appear before God so that he might lay his case before Him: “Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me” (23:3-5). He is confident that God would listen to and acquit him (23:6). Nevertheless, Job cannot sense God’s presence (23:8-9).

The people of God often labor under a sense of distance from God. Like Job, we cry out for God’s help but he seems so far away. However, Job does not stop praying because of how he feels (23:17). He continues to pray and trust in God (23:10). In Christ, the Lord is always near to his people no matter how they feel. When we feel forsaken by God, we ought always run to the throne of grace where Jesus Christ, who was forsaken on our behalf, ever receives and helps us in our time of need.

Luke 9- Luke 9 is the last chapter recounting the Galilean phase of Jesus’ ministry. It serves as a transition chapter which both concludes the Galilean portion of Jesus’ ministry and begins his journey towards Jerusalem. The opening of chapter 9 (v. 1-6) includes Jesus’ sending of the twelve disciples with power and authority to heal and preach the kingdom of God. Luke uses Herod’s perplexity to introduce one of the most important themes of this chapter, namely the identity of Jesus Christ. Herod’s perplexity finds expression in his exasperated question- “who is this about whom I hear such things?” (v. 9). In v. 11, the crowds begin to follow Jesus, listen to his teaching, and experience his miraculous power.

In v. 12-17, Luke recounts the feeding of the 5000 which identifies Jesus as the divinely sent prophet who feeds his people in the wilderness (Ex. 16; Deut. 18:15-19). After this, Jesus turns to the disciples and asks them- “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (v. 18). Although Jesus had preached to them, healed them, and fed them in the wilderness, the crowds refuse to recognize him as anything more than a human prophet equal to John, Elijah, or one the prophets of old (9:19). After Peter, unlike the crowds, rightly identifies Jesus Christ as “the Christ of God” , the stage is set for the introduction of another key Lukan theme inseparably related to the confession of Jesus as the Messiah, namely the sequence of suffering before glory (v. 22-27). This important suffering-glory theme is introduced in v. 22 (the archetypal suffering of Jesus), expanded upon in v. 23-27 (the ectypal, derivative suffering of the disciples), and then visually confirmed in v. 28-36 where the manifestation of Jesus’ glory on the mountain is inseparably tied to his imminent death-exodus in Jerusalem.

1 Cor 10- Paul warns the Corinthian believers against idolatry, appealing to the unbelief of Israel as a warning against unbelief among the latter day Israel of God upon whom the end of the ages has come.  It is possible for those within the visible church to indulge in idolatry. Therefore, we must flee from idolatry (10:14). When the people of God receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper, they participate in the body and blood of Jesus Christ (10:16). This has important implications for our sacramental theology: the Lord’s Supper is, at its very heart, a fellowship or communion with the whole Christ- body and blood. In a similar way, those who worship demons become actual participants with demons. Paul’s point is that believers “cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (10:21). This does not mean, however, that meat offered to idols and then sold in the markets is intrinsically evil (10:25). Nevertheless Paul teaches, as he did in chapter 8, that we ought not to seek our own good but the good of our neighbor. In all things, we ought to seek the glory of God and give no offense to fellow members of the church (10:31).

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 22, 2018

Exodus 5 -Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to allow Israel to hold a feast to the Lord in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and deprives Israel of straw to make bricks while forcing them to do the same amount of work. The foremen appeal to Pharaoh but he refuses to ease their burden.

Job 22- Eliphaz accuses Job of evil: “Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities” (verse 5). He accuses Job of a number of specific crimes (v. 7-9). He also boasts of his own righteousness (v. 18). He urges Job to agree with God’s judgment and repent so that good may come to him (v. 21-30).

Luke 8: Jesus speaks in parables to conceal the truth from those who are outside. His true family are those who “hear the word of God and do it” (8:21). Again, we are seeing in Luke Jesus challenging the prevailing Jewish view of membership in the covenant. As Carson observes, “Jesus showed no interest in a natural dynasty. Nor was his ultimate focus on his tribe, clan, or nuclear family. He came to call into permanent being the family of God—and they are characterized by the obedient hearing of God’s word” (D.A. Carson, For the Love of God, p. 53).

1 Cor 9- Paul demonstrates, in his own ministry, the kind of self-effacing love he enjoins upon the church in chapter 8. Although he has every right to make his living by preaching the gospel, he has given up this right so as not to become a stumbling block to the church.

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 21, 2018

Ex 4- When Moses fears that Israel will not listen to him, the Lord gives him a series of signs to perform. When Moses fears that his lack of eloquence will prevent him from leading the people, the Lord tells him that Aaron will speak for him. Moses and Aaron approach the people of Israel and they receive the word of the Lord. We see for the first time, in Exodus 4, a reference to Israel as the son of God (4:22-23). As Carson notes, “this first reference to Israel as the son of God develops into a pulsating typology that embraces the Davidic king as the son par excellence, and results in Jesus, the ultimate Son of God, the true Israel and the messianic King” (D.A. Carson, For the Love of God, p. 52).

Job 21- Job corrects Zophar’s false theology by pointing to the fact that the wicked often prosper in this life: “Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). This is a reality we find all throughout Scripture, especially in wisdom literature like Ecclesiastes.

Luke 7: Jesus marvels at the faith of a centurion. We’re seeing in Luke that Jesus’ mercy extends to those least expected to receive it. Faith, rather than biological descent, is the mark of those embraced within the covenant. Those whose recognize the heinous character of their sin and come to Jesus, like the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet in v. 26-50, are forgiven by Jesus. One of the significant realities we’re seeing in this section of Luke is that the faithless Jewish leaders are rejecting the claims and the ministry of Jesus while the “outsiders” respond in faith.

1 Cor 8- Paul addresses the issue of food offered up to idols. Believers are free to eat meat which had been used in pagan offerings to idols. However, Paul recognizes that the consciences of some Gentile converts might become defiled by doing so. In this case, the strong believer ought not to eat the meat and become a stumbling block to the weak. Our knowledge must always be accompanied by love (8:1).

Bulletin for Lord’s Day February 25, 2018 (The Lord’s Supper)

Here is the bulletin for this coming Lord’s day.  Hope to see you all there!

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings February 20, 2018

Exodus 3: The angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. Moses encounters God Himself in the burning bush who says to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (3:6). The Lord tells Moses that He has seen the affliction of Israel, has heard their cry, and is going to deliver them. He is going to use Moses to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt. When Moses asks what name he should use for the Lord when he approaches the people of Israel, God says to Moses: “‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (3:14). D.A. Carson provides a helpful explanation of the meaning of this designation: “The name of God (3:13-14) may be rendered “I AM WHO I AM,” as it is in the NIV, or “I will be what I will be.” In Hebrew, the abbreviated form “I am” is related in some fashion to YHWH, often spelled out as Yahweh (and commonly rendered “LORD,” in capital letters; the same Hebrew letters stand behind English Jehovah). The least that this name suggests is that God is self-existent, eternal, completely independent, and utterly sovereign: God is what he is, dependent on no one and nothing” (D.A. Carson, For the Love of God, p. 51).

Job 20: Zophar’s second speech is recounted in Job chapter 20. Job is wicked and godless. The wicked and godless will perish like their own dung and will be destroyed. God will punish them with ill health and pour out his anger upon them.

Luke 6: Jesus proclaims Himself Lord of the Sabbath after the Pharisees confront Him about the disciples eating from the grain fields. Jesus also heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He teaches that deeds of mercy are not in any way out of keeping with the purpose of the Sabbath ordinance.

1 Cor. 7: Paul sets forth principles for marriage and divorce. To the unmarried and widows, Paul writes that it is good for them to remain single, but if they cannot exercise control, they should marry (7:8-9). To married believers, Paul writes that the wife should not divorce her husband or the husband his wife. If this happens, they ought to remain unmarried or be reconciled. Paul also addresses those in mixed marriages. If a believing husband is married to an unbelieving wife (or a believing wife is married to an unbelieving husband), the believing spouse should not divorce the unbelieving spouse. If, however, the unbelieving spouse separates, the believing spouse “is not enslaved” (7:15). Paul calls all believers to live as they were called. To the betrothed, Paul writes that it is both permissible to marry or not to marry although, in view of the nature of the times, those who remain single will have less worldly troubles.

M’Cheyne’s Daily Readings for February 19, 2018

Exodus 2: Ex 2- Moses is born to Levite parents, his mother hides him among the reeds by the river, and he is found by Pharaoh’s daughter. When he is grown, he strikes down an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew. When this becomes known and Pharaoh seeks his life, he flees to Midian where he marries Zipporah, daughter of Reuel, the priest of Midian. Zipporah gives birth to Gershom.

Job 19: Job continues to describe his suffering but hopes in God: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another. My heart faints within me! (19:23-27).

Luke 5: Jesus calls his first disciples and calls Levi, a tax collector. He cleanses a leper, heals a paralytic, and is questioned about fasting.

1 Cor. 6: Paul instructions the Corinthian believers to settle complaints among one another. He warns that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, Paul tells them, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (6:11).