Week 2, Wednesday

Psalm 9

Psalm 9, from the Scottish Psalter.

Lord, thee I’ll praise with all my heart,
thy wonders all proclaim.
In thee most high, I’ll greatly joy,
and sing unto thy Name.
When back my foes were turn’d, they fell,
and perisht at thy sight.
For thou maintain’d my right and cause,
on throne sat’st, judging right.

The heathen thou rebuked hast,
the wicked over-thrown;
Thou hast put out their names, that they
may never more be known.
O enemy! now destructions have
an end perpetual:
Thou cities raz’d, perisht with them
is their memorial.

God shall endure for ay: he doth
for judgment set his throne:
In righteousness to judge the world,
justice to give each one.
God also will a refuge be
for those that are oppressed;
A refuge will he be in times
of trouble to distrest.

And they that know thy Name, in thee
their confidence will place:
For thou hast not forsaken them
that truly seek thy face.
O sing ye praises to the Lord,
that dwells in Sion hill:
And all the nations among,
his deeds record ye still.

When he enquireth after blood,
he then remembereth them:
The humble folk he not forgets
that call upon his Name.
Lord, pity me, behold the grief
which I from foes sustain,
Ev’n thou who from the gates of death
dost raise me up again;

That I, in Sions daughters gates,
may all thy praise advance:
And that I may rejoice always
in thy deliverance.
The heathen are sunk in the pit,
which they themselves prepar’d
And in the net which they have hid
their own feet fast are snar’d.

The Lord is by the judgment known
which he himself hath wrought:
The sinners hands do make the snares
wherewith themselves are caught.
They, who are wicked, into hell,
each one shall turned be,
And all the nations that forget
to seek the Lord most high.

For they that needy are, shall not
forgotten be alway:
The expectation of the poor
shall not be lost for ay.
Arise, Lord, let not man prevail,
judge heathens in thy sight.
That they may know themselves but men,
the nations, Lord, affright.

Ezra 10

Ezra, chapter 10.

¹ Whiles Ezra prayed thus, and confessed himself weeping, and falling down before the house of God, there assembled unto him of Israel a very great Congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept with a great lamentation.

² Then Shechaniah the son of Jehiel one of the sons of Elam answered, and said to Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this.

³ Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives (and such as are born of them) according to the counsel of the Lord, and of those that fear the commandments of our God, and let it be done according to the Law.

⁴ Arise: for the matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of comfort and do it.

⁵ Then arose Ezra, and caused the chief Priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.

⁶ And Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: he went even thither, but he did eat neither bread, nor drunk water: for he mourned, because of the transgression of them of the captivity.

⁷ And they caused a proclamation to go throughout Judah and Jerusalem, unto all them of the captivity, that they should assemble themselves unto Jerusalem.

⁸ And whosoever would not come within three days according to the counsel of the Princes and Elders, all his substance should be forfeit, and he should be separate from the Congregation of them of the captivity.

⁹ Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled themselves unto Jerusalem within three days, which was the twentieth day of the ninth month, and all the people sate in the street of the house of God, trembling for this matter, and for the rain.

¹⁰ And Ezra the Priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

¹¹ Now therefore give praise unto Yahweh God of your fathers, and do his will, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

¹² And all the Congregation answered, and said with a loud voice, So will we do according to thy words unto us.

¹³ But the people are many, and it is a rainy weather, and we are not able to stand without, neither is it the work of one day or two: for we are many that have offended in this thing.

¹⁴ Let our rulers stand therefore before all the Congregation, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities, come at the time appointed, and with them the Elders of every city and the Judges thereof, till the fierce wrath of our God for this matter turn away from us.

¹⁵ Then were appointed Jonathan the son of Asah-el, and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah over this matter, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites helped them.

¹⁶ And they of the captivity did so, and departed, even Ezra the Priest, and the men that were chief fathers to the family of their fathers by name, and sate down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

¹⁷ And until the first day of the first month they were finishing the business with all the men that had taken strange wives.

¹⁸ And of the sons of the Priests there were men found, that had taken strange wives, to wit, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and of his brethren, Maaseiah, Aeliezer, and Jarib and Gedaliah.

¹⁹ And they gave their hands, that they would put away their wives, and they that had trespassed, gave a ram for their trespass.

²⁰ And of the sons of Immer, Honani, and Zebadiah.

²¹ And of the sons of Harim, Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

²² And of the sons of Pashur, Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

²³ And of the Levites, Jozabad and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (which is Kelitah) Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.

²⁴ And of the singers, Eliashib. And of the porters, Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

²⁵ And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh, Ramiah, and Jesiah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

²⁶ And of the sons of Elam, Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.

²⁷ And of the son of Zattu, Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jerimoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

²⁸ And of the sons of Bebai, Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.

²⁹ And of the sons of Bani, Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeramoth.

³⁰ And of the sons of Pahath Moab, Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

³¹ And of the sons of Harim, Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

³² Benjamin, Malluch, Shamariah.

³³ Of the sons of Hashum, Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

³⁴ Of the sons of Bani, Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

³⁵ Banaiah, Bediah, Chelluh,

³⁶ Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

³⁷ Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasan,

³⁸ And Banni, and Bennui, Shimei,

³⁹ And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

⁴⁰ Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

⁴¹ Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

⁴² Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.

⁴³ Of the sons of Nebo, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.

⁴⁴ All these had taken strange wives: and among them were women that had children.

Acts 10

Acts, chapter 10.

¹ Furthermore there was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the band called the Italian band,

² A devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God continually.

³ He saw in a vision evidently (about the ninth hour of the day) an Angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

⁴ But when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? and he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up into remembrance before God.

⁵ Now therefore send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

⁶ He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

⁷ And when the Angel which spake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his servants, and a soldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,

⁸ And told them all things, and sent them to Joppa.

⁹ On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city, Peter went up upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

¹⁰ Then waxed he an hungred, and would have eaten: but while they made something ready, he fell into a trance.

¹¹ And he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and was let down of the earth.

¹² Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things, and fowls of the heaven.

¹³ And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eat.

¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord: for I have never eaten anything that is polluted, or unclean.

¹⁵ And the voice spake unto him again the second time, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

¹⁶ This was so done thrice: and the vessel was drawn up again into heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen, meant, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simons house, and stood at the gate,

¹⁸ And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

¹⁹ And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

²⁰ Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, and doubt nothing: For I have sent them.

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men, which were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

²² And they said, Cornelius the captain, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from heaven by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear thy words.

²³ Then called he them in, and lodged them, and the next day, Peter went forth with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

²⁴ And the day after, they entered into Cesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.

²⁵ And it came to pass as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

²⁶ But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: for even I myself am a man.

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.

²⁸ And he said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath showed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore came I unto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?

³⁰ Then Cornelius said, Four days ago, about this hour, I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in mine house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

³¹ And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

³² Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea side) who when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

³³ Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive, that God is no accepter of persons.

³⁵ But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

³⁶ Ye know the word which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord of all:

³⁷ Even the word which came through all Judea, beginning in Galile, after the baptism which John preached.

³⁸ To wit, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Hierusalem, whom they slew, hanging him on a tree.

⁴⁰ Him God raised up the third day, and caused that he was showed openly:

⁴¹ Not to all the people, but unto the witnesses chosen before of God, even to us which did eat and drink with him, after he arose from the dead.

⁴² And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify, that it is he that is ordained of God a judge of quick and dead.

⁴³ To him also give all the Prophets witness, that through his Name all that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins.

⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁵ So they of the circumcision which believed, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghost, as well as we?

⁴⁸ So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The Heidelberg Catechism

The Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 2.

Question 3. How do you know your misery?

Out of the Law of God.

Question 4. What does the Law of God require of us?

This Christ teaches us in sum, Matt. 22: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and great commandment; and the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.—On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Question 5. Can you keep all this perfectly?

No; for I am by nature prone to hate God and my neighbor.

A Christian Directory

From Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, 1673.

You cannot sincerely dedicate yourselves to God, but you must dedicate to him all that is yours, and in your power: and therefore your Children as far as they are in your power: And as Nature hath taught you your Power and your duty to enter them in their infancy into any Covenant with man, which is certainly for their good (and if they refuse the conditions when they come to age they forfeit the benefit) so nature teacheth you much more to oblige them to God for their far greater good, in case he will admit them into Covenant with him: And that he will admit them into his Covenant, (and that you ought to enter them into it) is past doubt, in the evidence which the Scripture giveth us, that from Abrahams time till Christ it was so with all the Children of his people: Nay no man can prove that before Abrahams Time or since God had ever a Church on Earth, of which the Infants of his servants (if they had any) were not members dedicated in Covenant to God, till of late times that a few began to scruple the lawfulness of this. As it is a comfort to you, if the King would bestow upon your Infant-Children, (who were tainted by their Fathers treason) not only a full discharge from the blot of that offense, but also the titles and estates of Lords, though they understand none of this till they come to age; so is it much more matter of comfort to you, on their behalf, that God in Christ will pardon their Original sin, and take them as his Children, and give them title to everlasting life; which are the mercies of his Covenant.

As soon as they are capable, teach them what a Covenant they are in, and what are the benefits and what the conditions, that their souls may gladly consent to it when they understand it; and you may bring them seriously to renew their Covenant with God in their own persons. But the whole order of Teaching both Children and Servants, I shall give you after by itself; and therefore shall here pass by all that, except that which is to be done more by your familiar converse, than by more solemn teaching.

Let us pray.

Let us pray. A prayer of John Calvin.

Grant, Almighty God, that inasmuch as we are so disposed and inclined to all kinds of errors, to so many and so various forms of superstitions, and as Satan also ceases not to lay in wait for us, and spreads before us his many snares,—O grant, that we may be so preserved in obedience to thee by the teaching of thy word, that we may never turn here and there, either to the right hand or to the left, but continue in that pure worship which thou hast prescribed, so that we may plainly testify that thou art indeed our Father by continuing under the protection of thy only-begotten Son, whom thou hast given to be our pastor and ruler to the end. Amen.

Tonight at your table

Tonight at your table, read Genesis 11 and Matthew 10 with your household.

This week’s question for your table. How do you know your misery?