31st March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 29:1–30:19 focus 29:1-16)


Message (Alan Burke) 


In December I saw a man that was wearing a Tump Christmas jumper and I thought to myself you’d never see someone mad enough to wear a Keir Starmer Christmas Jumper. Like the only reason why he is Prime Minister is because the Tories did such a horrendous job and the thing is most of the nation didn’t want Labour and if you want to tell me that I’m wrong Labour only got 33.7% of the electorate to vote for them and yet came out with 63% of the seats, like that is utter madness. I’ll give you some perspective, even Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour got more votes in 2017 than Starmer. The thing is no matter what I think of Trump or Starmer the Lord has put them there. You might lament at that but as we come to the word of the Lord that comes to Ezekiel here in chapter 29 as the he prophecies against Pharaoh the King of Egypt there is an incredibly comforting truth for us in this. 

Let’s look at what we are told. It begins as the Lord figuratively describes Pharaoh as the monster is over the Nile the artery of Egypt, but the Lord would not let it continue, he would put hooks in its jaws. The imagery here evokes what happens when a crocodile being caught, as a hook is secured in both its jaws so that it is unable to snap, in effect it has been made helpless. That is figuratively what the Lord would do and did do to Pharaoh. What is more the fish of its streams would stick to its scales, it would be pulled from the Nile that it had dominion over and left in the desert, along with the fish of its streams. Left then for the birds of the air and scavengers on the land to come and pick it clean. This is a picture of divine judgement and it is against not only Pharaoh but all who live in Egypt, the fish of the Nile are the inhabitants of Egypt. As a result all who live in Egypt would know that the Lord is God. 


The imagery then moves in 6b from the sea monster or rather nile monster to that of a staff. The Lord is speaking of how Egypt had been a staff or reed for the house of Israel. What this is referring to is how Egypt encouraged Israel to rise up against its oppressors and then how time and again promised aid to Israel. Israel had also sought the aid of Egypt breaking the oath they had made to Babylon (Ez 17:18). The thing Israel looked for aid but in nearly every instance Israel was left to their own fait and faced the consequences alone. In the judgment that comes v12 Egypt will become a desolate wasteland, how v13 it will be for forty years, its inhabitants will be scattered among the nations and at the end of the forty years v14 they would be gathered and brought back. When this happens their power and strength would have gone, the Lord had brought the mighty down, he had humbled them.


What do we learn from this? Well there is an incredibly comforting truth that we are reminded off here, for the Lord himself is Lord of history he is providentially and sovereignly in control of all that is unfolding. Yes that even means Keir Starmer being the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Mediocre Britain and Northern Ireland. All that is unfolding is according to his plans and purposes, nations will rise and fall according to his will. Egypt who was once a major player was helpless in before the Lord and is no longer a world superpower. In what we see play out on the world stage today we should know it is the Lord unseen directing all that is going on for his purposes. Rulers and Nations rise and fall by his will and in his timing. 


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Sing


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Q45 Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

29th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v13)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If you know me then you will know that I have never been a thin man. From cradle to the present day I have always been a bit of a lump. Admittedly I’m less of a lump than I used to be but I remain lumpish in stature. That might not seem to have anything to do with the sixth commandment but bear with me for a moment.


The WLC tells us what is forbidden by the sixth stating “The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defence; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words; oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.”


I am often guilty of “immoderate use of meat” or to put it another way I am often a glutton. I’m not sure if my mum invented this but back in the 1980s when Mikhail Gorbachev was leading the USSR, whenever I would empty the fridge in a late night binge my mother would often label me “Gorb-achev” To be a “gorb” is to be someone who can’t say no to the food on the plate. I lament the fact that food has ruled over me throughout most of my life. 


I hope I am pro-life in that I am against abortion, assisted suicide and all ill-thought out unnecessary wars. But if this is my stance then I must also be mindful that I do great harm to my own life when I eat all five doughnuts in a packet, drink alcohol to excess and rob my mind of clarity by smoking marijuana.


The sixth commandment pulls us back from all activity which damages life. Even our “recreations” are not exempt from the gaze of the Lord. What is meant by this? The man who races at the North West must do business with the fact that he is endangering his life. Furthermore, you might think you’re doing no harm by pushing 100mph on the road to Portrush but you are putting yourself at risk and many others.


I’ve heard our American cousins speaking about something they call the “theology of the body”. It doesn’t get much playtime on these shores but I believe there is wisdom in the idea. What the Americans mean is that we should consider how we honour Christ in our bodies. For a long time I laughed at my extreme size but my obesity and gluttony brought no glory to Jesus. I struggle with this every single day in the same manner that the alcoholic puts all drink from his home.


“Thou shall not kill” is a commandment with both public and personal implications and it has tremendous relevance in a land such as ours. In the past twelve months I have had the privilege of preaching down at Kingsmills Presbyterian. My first journey there was on a dark autumn morning when I left Ballynahinch extra early so as not the get lost.


As I was nearing the church a memorial appeared out of nowhere on my right hand side. It stood in memory of John Bryans, Robert Chambers, Reginald Chapman, Walter Chapman, Robert Freeburn, Joseph Lemmon, John McConville, James McWhirter, Robert Walker and Kenneth Worton. These men were killed by the IRA for their “crime” of being Protestants. The ten men had an average age of just 36 years old and all of them died for nothing.


May this island never see days as dark as the 5th January 1976 again and in response to the Lord’s sixth commandment may we publicly and privately declare “thou shall not kill.”  


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Q44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? 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.
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28th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 28 focus v20-26)


Message (Alan Burke)


The bible is clear on many things, many things that are clear that you and I no doubt have seen those who claim to be his ignore. One such thing is for God’s people to marry those who are among God’s people, a believer to marry a believer. If you’re wondering where that comes from you can start in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 7:3-4. In the New Testament 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. As the Lord now turns his attention to Sidon. Sidon was a trading partner of Tyre, around twenty-five miles south on the Mediterranean coast. Note that there is no charge that is levelled against Sidon rather it is simply announced that the Lord is against it. If you go back in the history of the people of God it was a woman that reintroduced the worship of Baal to the people of God, king Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-34) married Jezebel daughter of the king of Sidon. This may not have seemed significant after all these days the attitude is love is love, but the Lord warned his people not to intermarry (Deut 7:3), for his people they should not be unevenly yoked believer with unbeliever (2 Corin 6:14-18). 


Anyone who ignores God’s will on this is saying that no matter what the person they have chosen to marry is more important to them that God, they are worth more to them than the blood shed for us. The problem is that Jezebel came and promoted the worship of Baal led the people to turn from the Lord and help add to the moral and spiritual decay of the people that brought the judgment of the Lord. Ahab I’m sure never thought that his marriage would lead to such consequences. 


The Lord was bringing his judgement upon Sidon an idolatrous people and if you look at the imagery it is reminiscent of what took place in Egypt as the Lord brought his people out of slavery. Just like there, the Lord was bringing his judgment upon Sidon for his own glory. In all that takes place God is working all things together for his glory, he was in Egypt, with the judgement of Sidon and in this world today. In everything he does he does for his own glory. His glory is the reason why the Lord made all that is, why he created the heavens and the earth and it is the reason why he saved the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, why he brought judgment upon Tyre and Sidon and it is the reason why he saves us from sin, it is for his glory.


Also in judgement of sin the Lord is given glory, for there is a day coming when all will see his glory as he executes his ringtones judgement. There will be no injustice (Rom 3:19) everything will then be set right and the wicked will get what they deserve. Yet for all who have called upon the name of the Lord they will know his grace and life eternally. As this chapter comes to an end the Lord tells his people how they will no longer have malicious neighbours, and anticipates a future day when Israel will be gathered in and restored. 


The Lord through Ezekiel is not telling his people of a restored Israel, a nation but instead of what he would do in the future for the people of Israel. What we need to understand is that the church is the heir of this promise for we are the true Israel of God. For the Lord is not speaking here of the nation of Israel or ethnic Israel but the church, of the church is the true Israel of God (Gal 6:16) for all those in Christ’s are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Ga 3:29). For all those who have put their trust in the Lord’s Christ, past present and future, for those in the days of Ezekiel, those today and those not yet born who repent and believe they will dwell securely in the promised land. Until then we are to live for Christ in all aspects of our lives, in our relationships, in our choices, in every regard. If you have failed to do that know that there is forgiveness in Christ, repent and seek his forgiveness looking to the hope that there is in Christ Jesus. 


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Q43 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.
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27th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v13)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The sixth commandment states that we should not kill and as always the demands of God’s Word go beyond our imperfect obedience. I have never taken a life but I have no reason to boast before the Lord. The Larger Catechism outlines fully what is required by the sixth commandment.


“The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defence thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreation; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild, and courteous speeches and behavior: forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.”


What jumped out at you as you read the previous paragraph? Allow me to ask you for a moment to consider someone  who you regard as an enemy. Praise God if you don’t have one but for many of us there are people in our lives that we hate to see coming. They have wounded us, talked harshly about us and it seems that they would rather be anywhere than in our company. Consider that person in light of God’s command.


I doubt you would ever consider lifting your hand in violence against your “enemy” but you might allow your mouth to speak harshly about him. How do we obey the Lord in the sixth commandment? By bearing with the faults of our enemy, by seeking reconciliation with him, by meeting hostility with patience and answering their evil with good. Here is where the rubber meets the road because long before you turn to life-taking violence you allow yourself to wallow in sinful rage against someone made in God’s image. You have taken their life countless times.


To you and I the Lord says you should not kill. You should not be in the business of destruction. You should not live with violence in your hands and upon your lips. Brothers and sisters, we should not kill by word, deed or thought. This is what the sixth commandment requires and I fall far short. God have mercy on me a sinner and turn my violence to dust!


“When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2v23)


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Q42 What is the sum of the ten commandments? 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.
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26th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 28 focus v6-19)


Message (Alan Burke)


There are people whose head is so big that it takes the sun a year to shine on every part of it, there are people with heads so big that you wonder how they manage to get through doors and honestly I’m not writing this thinking of anyone in particular. The king of Tyre was one of those people who had an inflated view of himself, his head was so big, he even thought he was god. Well the Lord had charged him because of his pride and now comes the judgment against him in v6-10. 


What we learn is that because of his arrogance, his own self importance that the Lord was going to bring the nations against him. It isn’t mentioned who but we know that it was the Babylonians that would come initially at least. They were those who were ruthless, drawing their swords and bring him down to the pit, in the heart of the sea. The ruler of Tyre would come to his end just like Tyre. He sat on the throne of a god, in the heart of the seas but the seas to which he thought he had control but they would swallow him up, for the creator of the seas the one true God was against him. The ruler of Tyre was shown to be a man and not a god, he had no power to prevent his own end. He would die the death of the uncircumcised as someone who was an idolator outside the covenant people of God, treated with disrespect and left unburied at the hands of foreigners. The ruler of Tyre was nothing more than a fool whose death would show it, he believed himself to be a god but he was a moral man. 


The Lord then uses figurative exaggerated images to portray to us the fall of the King of Tyre. The king of Tyre, a model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty. These verses portray how the Lord God had favoured him, as he is portrayed like that of Adam, the epitome of creation, living in Eden the garden of God with the abundance, the riches of his possession, along with many different precious stones that adorned him then imagery of the holy mount of God, he remind there until wickedness was found in him (15). 


He was once strong, believing himself to be a god, the Lord would drive him in disgrace from the mount of God, expelled from his place, thrown to the Earth, spectacle for all to see, indeed the fall of Tyre and its king would lead the coastlands to tremble as the Lord has already said (Ezk 26:15). The king of Tyre would face the divine wrath of the Lord, the fire that came out of him consumed him is a picture of the Lord’s wrath against sinners (Amos 1:4,7, 10 etc), he would come to a horrible end and would be no more. 


The king of Tyre was living a life devoid of meaning, pride had come before the fall. This was the King of Tyre who thought he was a god, this was his death notice, or like a tribute at his funeral. Let me ask you, what will your death notice say, the tribute at your funeral. What will it say? I don’t need to know the answer but I met a man some years ago who when he was dying only realised the folly of his way, he had wasted his life for things that had no eternal value, things that many would have been envious off but he wasted his life. Thankfully he trusted in Christ and when he died he went to glory. The king of Tyre through had done nothing of eternal value, trusted in himself and went down into the pit (v8) what will it be for you?


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Q41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
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25th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v13)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If there is a commandment more famous than the others it is perhaps the sixth which simply states that we should not kill. Several years ago I wrote a letter to the editor of the Down Recorder in response to an article which called for the introduction of assisted suicide. The debate has since moved on and sadly our nation continues it’s march to godlessness but I remain utterly convinced that it is not within our remit to take life - in the womb, in the midst of granda’s suffering or by our own carelessness. You may disagree and I suspect some will passionately believe me to be wrong but I continue to hold my position and I believe our land would do well to listen again to the voice of God who says “do not kill”. Here is my article… 


“The first funeral I conducted was on the 1st July 2005 and since then there have been a further 147. I have stood in hospital rooms as families watched their loved one slip away. I have entered homes to see people crippled by disease weep like children. I have talked to others in mental torment because death is near and they have wasted so much time. I have seen death, I have smelt death and I am utterly sick of death.


For a man who is often expected to ‘say a few words’ I have frequently known my limits in the face of death. I haven’t been able to comprehensively answer the age old question ‘Why me?’ I have stood at the graveside of children and felt indescribably incompetent in the midst of such tragedy. I have sat and listened to prolonged anguished weeping and responded like an inadequate little boy. What can be done?


It intrigues me that in society there is a tolerable death and one that we increasingly cannot allow. The man who drops dead in his field at a good old age or the ninety year old woman who goes to bed and doesn’t wake up, these are seen as good deaths. If we could choose, we’d all like to go like that. The death that we can’t accept is slow, anguished and full of pain as illness ravages the body. These are awful deaths and we wouldn’t wish them upon our worst enemy. My heart breaks for anyone who has faced such a trial and in light of the experience of so many it is no wonder that a movement exists to introduce ‘assisted dying’ into the public conscience.


What could be more loving and compassionate than to assist someone’s death and to cut short months or even years of agony? I understand such calls. I have heard people beg for death and I have called upon the Lord to bring their suffering to an end. However I cannot accept a movement that now wishes to dictate the ‘when’ and the ‘how’ of death. I am not a perfect man but I am a Christian man and as I consider the clamour for assisted dying I call to mind what my Lord says. He tells us that death is the enemy, that it stings, that all will die but, categorically, we are not to take life.


Assisted suicide might seem like an act of compassion but in the eyes of almighty God it is murder. We may prematurely end someone’s earthly pain but at what cost eternally? I contend that the day for our death is in God’s hands and should remain there. I accept that changes in law can come at a breathless pace, yet the law of God does not change. God’s voice continues to declare as an everlasting binding standard ‘Thou shalt not kill’ and in an age where life is cheap, may the priceless word of God be heard above the voices that call for a new orthodoxy.


You may believe me foolish but nevertheless I am convinced that if we want to hear God speak all we need to do is open the Bible and read. The Bible’s testimony is that sin entered the world through Adam and death along with sin. Therefore because Adam was the first of mankind, humanity has followed him into sin and like Adam we too will die because death is the wages of sin. The human condition seems utterly hopeless and yet there is one who has comprehensively defeated death. His name is Jesus and for the Christian he is our Saviour from sin and hope in the face of death. Jesus was perfect in every way, tempted and tried but without sin. He was God in the flesh and he knew the heartbreak of death as he wept at his friend’s tomb. He is not distant and far off but he is able to sympathise with us in our weakness. When Christ’s life was taken from him at the cross, he willingly endured unspeakable anguish and death as a substitute for his people. Yet today his tomb stands empty, for on the third day he was raised to life. Jesus has paid the price for sin and freed us from wrath, death and hell. Jesus Christ is the death of death.


The Christian answer to the dark clouds of terminal illness is not for humanity to become the arbiters of life and death but instead for all people everywhere to repent of sin and trust in Christ. I fully understand that what I have written may seem like an idle tale and to others perhaps offensive, but I wanted to offer another path in response to growing calls for assisted dying. It is not for us to decide the ‘when’ of someone’s death regardless of the agony of their last days or the inconvenience of their life. Instead as Christians we confess that life is short, death is sure, sin the cause and Christ the cure.”
      
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Q40 What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
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24th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 28 focus v1-5)


Message (Alan Burke) 


I know some people who well to say the least have an over inflated view of their own importance. A wee test to see if you’re one of them although I suspect you’re not if you’re reading this devotion but if you’re brave you could ask someone you know to answer these questions on your behalf. Do you see if any of these character traits are in you, exaggeration, entitlement, no empathy, jealous, envious, inability to take criticism, the need for validation? Ok those maybe sound like the sister in law or your next door neighbour but what about do they seem themselves as a god? Maybe their world revolves around them but the real world doesn’t. 


As we come to this prophetic judgment against the king of Tyre he had put himself in the place of the Lord God himself and the Lord would have no more of it. The Lord God in response to the ways of the king of Tyre would bring his downfall. The king of tyre or the price as he is spoke of at this stage in the prophecy is not mentioned by name and it doesn’t really matter who he is, after all he is long gone now and just a name in the history books. What does matter is what the Lord says about him in this prophecy and the judgement that came because of his sin. Looking at what were are told here the arrogance of this man is clear, he thought he was a god on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas (v2). 


But the Lord confronts him with how he was a man, not a god no matter what he thought, nor was not wiser than Daniel. Daniel is a man who in every way contrasted the ruler of Tyre, he was anything but a presumptuous arrogant man. Daniel didn’t put him in the place of the Lord God as the ruler of Tyre instead he submitted to his rule even though he risked his very life in doing this, he may have been a fool by the worlds standards but he was wise before God.


What we learn of the ruler of Tyre in these opening verses is that he is proud, arrogant, greedy, views himself as a god and wiser than God. He’s the kind of person that if you ever met you’d wonder how they could get in and out through the door because his head was so big. The ruler of Tyre had an inflated estimation of himself brought about by his position and his wealth, wealth that is because of his skill in trading, he was a shred businessman but it is a wealth that had made his heart grow proud, he was a man who needed no one or nothing from anyone this was the sin of Tyre’s king. 


Paul wrote to Timothy 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Ti 6:17–18). We are rich beyond measure, do we do good, are we rich in good deeds, are we generous willing to share? Christ calls us if we know him, have known his great love towards us to use what we have for the benefit and the sake of the kingdom of God. Is this something that we are doing, it is something you are doing? The ruler of Tyre had amassed great wealth, it was his confidence but he couldn’t take it with him, even if he had been placed in a gold coffin it would be no use, he had foolishly put his hope in his wealth and his own power that would come to naught. What about us, where is our hope, in things that cannot save us or in Christ? If it is in Christ do we show it with how we live and how we give. 


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Q39 What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
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22nd March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v12)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The politician Lord John Dalberg-Acton once famously said that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We’ll never have absolute power but sometimes we will be required to act as superiors at home, church and society. How should we act when a position of authority comes our way? Simply refuse the temptation to become a tyrant.


There is something very seductive about having power over another person and there are countless examples of people using and abusing their authority. This should never be an option for the Christian who is required by the Lord to act graciously to those who He has placed in our care.


What is required of us when we are in a position of authority? We are to love, pray for and bless those who are below us in standing. We should instruct them with all wisdom, counsel them with all grace and challenge them when necessary. When our inferiors do well they should receive our praise and when they act poorly we shouldn’t be afraid to offer a rebuke. It is a violation of the fifth commandment to put our inferiors in danger, instead we should strive to protect them and provide for their needs. Indeed, if the Lord has placed us in a superior position we are to act and behave honourably, setting an example for those in our care and seeking the glory of God in how we lead, live and act.


The Lord does not require us to move to an island removing ourselves from the world. We long for heaven but while we wait we will take on various roles in human society. At times authority will be given to us, at other times we will be under the authority of superiors and quite often we will be on a level footing with those around us. The Lord is clear, irregardless of your position in life you are to live with gratitude to God. What does such a life look like? Honour your father and your mother.


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Q38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

21st March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 27 focus v25-36)


Message (Alan Burke)


It isn’t that long ago that The British Empire was the foremost global power, in 1920 it covered 24 per cent of the earths total land area and peaked in 1921. That is absolutely massive because it is now just over 100 years later and well the British Empire is no more. Many of you will remember the day that it figuratively came to an end in 1997 with the handover ceremony of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. No one would have expected in 1921 that it would come to an end so quickly. The Lord was and is sovereign over all the nations and their reach, it is as true today as it was for the city of Tyre which in this chapter is portrayed as a majestic ship that sailed on the waters, commodities from many nations, it was key in the supply chain and the ships of Tarshish, which was Phoenician port in southern Spain, brought goods to trade. As they do we learn of the Lord’s sovereignty over the fall of the nations for as the ships from Tarshish come Tyre is so filled with heavy cargo, that when they were taken out to the high sea, the east wind broke it into pieces and it sunk into the hear too the sea. With all its glory, all its goods, the wealth accumulated was lost. 


As a result the shorelines quaked, the seamen cried out, they would stand on the shore and mourn at the loss of Tyre, the sinking of this glorious ship, they knew if Tyre would fall then there was no security for themselves, unlike Tyre who had celebrated at the destruction of Jerusalem those who saw and knew of the sinking of Tyre were filled with grief for if it could fall then they had no security. Such was the effect that this had the nations lamented. Raised their voices, cried bitterly, sprinkled dust on their heads rolled in ashes, shaved their heads put on sackcloth, they wept, wailed, mourned. They took up a lament, who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea they exclaimed v32, they knew that it was because of Tyre that many nations had been enriched and they are appalled at their downfall, that they hissed at amazement and dismay at what had happened to Tyre for they knew that its downfall would hurt them as nations, it would be no more. 


The lament comes to an end, nothing has been said of the Lord’s involvement in what has taken place or so it seems, but the Lord just like in the book of Esther where he was sovereignly directing all that was unfolding, providentially at work he was likewise sovereignly at work in the midst of what would befall and has befallen on Tyre. For her downfall was and the hand of the Lord. Look back to verse 26 where we are told; “Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces in the heart of the sea. 


It was the east wind that broke Tyre into pieces. What we may miss is that when the east wind comes in scripture it speaks of the Lord’s direct involvement. In scripture the east wind represents God’s power to judge, how he is sovereign over all that he has made, as well as history itself (Gen 41:23, Ex 14:21 etc).


Ezekiel confronts us how earthly kingdom, empires, republics, nations, will rise and fall at the Lord’s command, but the Lords’ kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, his dominion endures throughout all generations. Ps 145:13. Let us look to the one who has come the Lord Jesus Christ who at the beginning of his earthly ministry declared “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mk 1:15. And that great an glorious day when the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (ESV) This is the announcement, on the day when the world’s kingdom has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. That’s why we pray that your kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. The British Empire is no more, nations will rise and fall but the kingdom of God will last forever. 


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Q37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A. The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection.
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20th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v12)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There are very few people in this world who can genuinely say they are answerable to no one. We might act like Kings and Queens but that attitude quickly dissipates when Monday morning arrives. To help us understand our duties under the fifth commandment, the Larger Catechism speaks of superiors, inferiors and equals. What is to be understood by these terms? 


Consider the imaginary “Ballynahinch Spaceship Company”. Tony is the manager and he has an office all to himself which has a lovely view of B&M. Sam is Tony’s deputy and it is his responsibility to manage the nuts and bolts of office life. The ten other staff members all have various responsibilities and work together to help the company succeed. Tony is not a perfect person but everyone in the company is answerable to him. Sam is Tony’s inferior but equally is in a superior position to the majority of the staff. Finally the rest of team are on equal footing but have both Tony and Sam over them in positions of authority. 


All of us will recognise such a scenario and could perhaps speak to our own experience as superiors, inferiors and equals, but let’s consider how we are to act as inferiors. Let me stress that I don’t mean that you are a lesser person, just that sometimes you are not the King of the world. How can we honour our superiors? By treating them with the respect they are due in how we think and speak about them and how we act towards them. We are to pray for those who the Lord who placed in authority over us and we are imitate the best of their actions and behaviours.


When our superior commands us to do something lawful we are to happily obey - understand he has no right to demand we break God’s law or the law of the land. Furthermore, when our superior corrects us we are to receive their guidance gladly and when our superior makes a mistake we are to bear with them and love them all the more.


There is something very human about stamping our feet when someone exercises their authority over us. We see it in workplaces, family homes and in the very beginning we saw it in the garden. Yet as we seek to rightly respond to the Gospel we are to always honour our superiors. We must put aside all arrogance, self righteousness and pride and out of love for Christ we are to gladly take the role of the inferior when required. May the Lord give us the humility to obey. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q36 What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.