19th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 27 focus v10-24)


Message (Alan Burke)


I don’t know how much you know about supply chains, maybe you have an intimate knowledge or you may know nothing. Think to the breakfast you had this morning, I’m still raging at the nanny state interfering that means I can’t have Kellogg’s Multi-Grain Start for breakfast anymore because it had too much sugar but that is for another time, anyway your breakfast. I’ll assume you had some porridge because it’s a simple one, it started of with the farmer growing the oat crop, which was harvested, then transported to a mill, like The White’s Mill in Tandragree, then it gets milled, packaged and distributed to shops all over the land and you buy it, add your water or milk and add some tasty tasty salt and cook on the hob or stick in the microwave and you have your breakfast. The supply chain has resulted in you getting breakfast, now if you’re enjoying a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal the supply chain is a wee bit more complicated I don’t know where yellow 5, blue 1, red 40 or yellow 6 come from and I’m not going to try to figure that out. The supply chain is essential. 


Tyre was key in the supply chain in most of the goods that went through the mediterranean at the time, some of the things they exchanged were silver, iron, tin, lead, but also converted raw materials into finished products selling their wears and were a key in the supply chain in the region with slaves, horses, mules, ivory, ebony, purple fabric, fine linen among the many other things they traded in. Tyre was also manned from those from many different places, mercenaries those who were more interested in making money than the ethics of what they did. The city had no morals or ethics, what was important was the accumulation of the great with that they had, living in the world doing what ever they could do to get ahead. Their actions were no different than the nations around them but their wrong was not hidden from the Lord, nor their iniquity concealed from him (Jer 16:17). 


After being told who guarded the ship, bringing their beauty to perfection in their own eyes we are given a list of nations who had trading relationships with Tyre as well as others who have indirect trade. The reach and impact of the city at the time like an octopus with tentacles that reached out because of their trade. Such was the their importance the range of commodities coming through the port. 


Some of the nations that are mentioned in their trade with Tyre still exist, other are reconciled to the pages of history but what we are meant to understand is the sheer reach and importance of this city metaphorically described as a ship, many of those places mentioned were reliant on Tyre for their own economic success, they were key in the supply chain. Remember this is a lament concerning Tyre and that matters because even with all these things their end was in sight. The Lord was sovereign over the strength of Tyre as he was in all those who were listed and all of those today. The strength of this nation is given by the Lord God, he is the one who is sovereign over the strength of the nations as well as their reach, then as he is now. No matter their greatness, their position in the world Tyre would face judgement, it was coming to an end and the Lord was making sure his people knew that he was in control of it all and so they were to live their lives in response to that. The Lord is sovereign over the place of the nations. 


The Lord is sovereign over it all, he rules and he is providentially in control. While Tyre were once great and their influence and reach were vast it would come to an end. The Lord is sovereign and by his providence is at work. That does not only include good and pleasant things but things that are far from good and pleasant, in his holy, wise and powerful way, he governs all. This is one of the hardest concepts to understand, much less accept, is the absolute sovereignty of God. He is not only King of all kings. He is Ruler over every molecule, every quantum of energy, every event, and every outcome. He governs all the nations of the earth whether they recognise His rule over them or not, to direct and guide them for His purposes for history in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:9-10; Psa. 67:4; Prov. 16:9)!


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
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18th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v12)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If the first four commandments speak to our duty to God then the final six outline our duty to our neighbour. What is our duty to our neighbour? To love him as we love ourselves and to do to him what we want done to us. The commandments are so practical and if we are to respond to God with gratitude in our everyday lives then we would do well to consider commandments five through to ten.


The fifth commandment is, “Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” At first glance the fifth commandment is straightforward - honour your parents, but the scope of the commandment is much greater than we might suspect. As we think about our parents we are also to consider everyone who has authority over us in society. These individuals might be members of our family, church officers or the policeman who pulls us over - we are required to honour God as we honour them.


I fully understand that for many this is a difficult prospect. Some of you reading these words have no regard for your father who walked out on your mum thirty years ago, others have an incredibly strained relationship with a mother who always treated you with coldness and still others think that all politicians are useless fools who should be sacked. These are all real attitudes and honouring those over us is no easy task.


Even so, we are declared guilty by our sin, set free by the Gospel and respond to the Lord with gratitude in our lives. Therefore we are to seek to honour those who are our superiors by way of their age, talents or position. Practically speaking this means that we are to seek to honour our parents even if they have failed us, if we stand before a judge then we are to speak honestly and respectfully and if our boss seems promoted above his ability he still deserves our respect.


The Gospel impacts every aspect of our lives and not least our relationships. Do you love the Lord? Then for the sake of Christ honour those who have authority over you.


Pray (acTS)


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Q34 What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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17th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 27 focus v1-9)


Message (Alan Burke) 


If you look at a map of the island of Ireland you’ll see how connected we are. You might be more familiar with how we are connected by the device you’re reading this devotion on but the island of Ireland like most places in the world is covered with roads that connect us. If I had the time I could if I left now go get my lunch in Sligo and take a wee juke around the shops and make it back for my dinner. Before I was married I did stuff like that, sure why not, it’s better than sitting in the house with nothing to do and on a beautiful spring day it’s a lovely drive. Roads are like arteries and veins that spread all over the island. Not so long ago if I wanted to go to Sligo it would have bene a right oul trek and the easiest way to do it would have been by boat even though it is on the other side of the island. There was a time that the waters that surround us were the arteries that goods and people were transported. As we come to  Ezekiel 27 the allegorical imager is that that pictures Tyre as a majestic ship on the seas, a place that was like the heart of the region that pumped allowing goods and people to be moved round the region. Tyre was a city that unlike anything else, one that was so influential that when the Lord broke it into pieces in the hear too the sea the shore lands grieved. 


Well here Ezekiel is to take up a lament, it is unlikely that this lament that Ezekiel was to take up would have ever be heard by the people of Tyre. But through it he is teaching his people that he is sovereignly in control of all that is unfolding. This mattered because even though the fall of Tyre would not happen until their future they then would be able to take great comfort because they would know that in all that was unfolding the Lord was sovereignly in control, that even though the Lord brought his judgment upon them as his people he was also bring his judgement upon the nations. 


Here though the Lord doesn’t charge Tyre about their wrong doing, in a sense it doesn’t matter instead he gives this word picture, this allegorical prophecy to his people. Tyre is portrayed as rulers of the seas as such, situated at the gateway to the sea, one who is able to watch over all that goes on, that which comes in and goes out. It is tyre who is in a place of authority over all that goes on, it is not that she is the political powerhouse of the region with its strength and strategic importance in the Mediterranean this city was like an octopus of which the tentacles reached far and wide across the region.


As the prophecy begins it does by with a quotation, of how Tyre itself says, “I am perfect in beauty.”. Tyre had confidence in themselves, in their own strength, their place in the world, they were filled with pride and conceit, the people of Tyre thought of their own perfection but they were morally and spiritually bankrupt before the Lord.  Tyre is compared to a glorious ship, a majestic ship that rides the waves, one of status above all the others, like a royal yacht. Allegorical language used to describe this ship, speaking of her construction 4b-6, her decoration so exquisite in v7, as well as those who man her v8-11. The ship is one that has benefitted from her position in the world, this is an exquisite ship, one of prominence, made from the finest of resources, decorated with the finest of materials, even the sail of the vessel is decorated.


The Lord had given her this place over the nations, sovereignly allowing her to be there, they had such confidence in their own strength but her days were numbered. The truth is no matter what we have, the confidence we place in our selves the truth is that all flesh is like the grass, we flourish like the flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, its place is remembered no more (Ps 103:15-16). The day will come that our confidence in our self will have gone and we will come before the Lord Jesus, he will judge the nations and each one for what they have done. Tyre was judged, we will all be judged and the only confidence we can have on that day of judgment the only confidence we can have is through Christ before God (2 Cor 3:4).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q33. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
​

15th March 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v8-11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If there is a commandment which our legalistic souls love it is the fourth commandment. We see a brother in Christ using the Lord's day in a manner we do not like and we inwardly condemn him. My friends the Sabbath is not for self-righteousness but the Gospel. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? "The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations."


As we respond to the Gospel with gratitude it is good to do business with our own soul. What does the Lord require? That I won't be lazy on the Lord's day but instead do my duty. It is careless, negligent and unprofitable for me to be absent from worship. It is a sin for my heart to grow tired of the things of God. The Lord once rebuked the priests who had grown bored with the worship of  God (Malachi 1v13) and often we are no different. We yawn our way through worship, we attend once in a blue moon and when we do show up our hearts are hard.


How often do we do needless works on the Lord's day! We are excellent at barely considering Jesus but Liverpool's big match on Sky gets our full attention! Brothers and sisters, if our fellowship lacks passion, if our Christian walk is a chore and if we simply can't be bothered then we must repent.


I will not come to your home to lock up your swing on Sunday morning and I'd urge you not to give attention to what I do or don't do on the Lord's day. Instead, may each of us consider the state of our own soul in relation to the fourth commandment. May the Lord sanctify us and swap our sloth for zeal, our weariness for wonder and our negligence with diligence. The Lord has given us a day to consider the greatness of the Gospel. May we never swap it for something less.


Pray (acTS)


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Q32 What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them.
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14th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 26 focus v19-21)


Message (Alan Burke)


These last verses of this Judgement against Tyre portray something akin to a post apocalyptic scene. The city has been laid waste with its inhabitants gone. It was the Lord’s judgement that would make these words become a reality. The sea would cast up it’s waves, and when wave after wave of the nations had stoped, when Tyre had fallen, when the city was desolate, uninhabited, it would be covered by the ocean, the imagery that is used here speaks of a burial. Tyre was coming to an end, she will go down to the pit as those who have already died, it will be as if she dwells in hell never to be found. The judgment that the Lord would bring and brought on Tyre would mean that she would never recover, such is the judgment of the Lord upon the people. 


Of course it is true that Tyre still exists today but the name does not mean that this prophecy of judgement failed for Tyre was destroyed, the ancient city is gone, the people slaughtered. Tyre fell, the impregnable city was gone, the people were no more. The Lord’s judgement is complete, it would have eternal consequences for the people of Tyre for while they faced the Lord’s pre-wrath wrath, his pre-judgement justice they would face his eternal wrath and perfect justice. Tyre were a people who sent help to build the temple, servants, skilled tradesmen, they were responsible for some of the finery in the temple, working of metal and stone, along with that Tyre sent cedars for the building and around 4 tons of gold (1 Kings 9:14). Tyre were not the enemies of God’s people and the Lord blessed them and now years have gone by and what do they do, they celebrate, they curse the people of God. 


The Lord God was bringing his judgement upon them and his judgement was one that acted as a warning to the coastlands. The coastlands that would tremble at the sound of their fall. The Lord judges nations and the people in them, he holds them to account, nations will fall and rise by the hand of the Lord, but his promises to Abraham are being fulfilled in the midst of it all, for all the people of the earth have been blessed through him, through his offsprings as we are told in Genesis 22:18, ” And “In your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18). 


The fulfilment of these promises, the blessing that goes out to all the people of the earth is fulfilled in Christ. The gospel was announced in advance to Abraham, throughout history God has been working out his purposes to bring salvation through Jesus Christ. For those who oppose the people of God and his church, they will know his judgement for their enmity is against God himself. For all those who do not repent who have a hard heart, who have heard and know that Jesus is the son of God the only one through whom there is salvation and have rejected him then they will face greater punishment on the day of their judgment than Tyre did. The punishment is more severe in Hell for those who have heard and rejected the gospel. To the people of Tyre the judgment of the Lord God against them wouldn’t have given them any sleepless nights, they would have dismissed it as a nonsense but the Lord was bringing his judgment upon them and he will bring his judgment on all. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

13th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v8-11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There was a period in the history of Northern Ireland that it wasn't uncommon for the swings in town parks to be locked on the Lord's Day. Those days are long gone and it seems that locks are no longer placed on anything when Sunday comes. But what is required by the fourth commandment? "The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath, and in the New Testament called The Lord’s Day."


The Lord requires us to put one day aside to attend to matters of the soul. Life is increasingly busy, phones buzz incessantly and many of us are just pure done out. What is to be done? Set aside the Lord's day, worship the Lord and consider His majesty. The Larger Catechism argues that the Lord's day is a day to rest from our usual work and hobbies. I think it is a real tragedy that so many are now called to work seven days a week. I'm certain that many of our personal troubles come from the fact that the world doesn't seem to stop. The Lord in His wisdom calls us to set aside our work, our sport, our usual activity and to rest in Him.


Is the Lord's day for either sitting in the house or church? By no means. We should delight in the worship of God on the Lord's day but we shouldn't be afraid to do works of necessity and mercy. In other words if your cows need to be milked then you should milk them and if granny falls out of bed you shouldn't leave her until Monday morning. But ordinarily and ideally the Lord's day is for the Lord and for our soul.


There is a saying that those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail and so it is a wise person who prepares for the Lord's day. We are to ready our affairs and our hearts so that we can make the most of the day the Lord has given us. Do you remember when we said that Covid would teach us to value what is really important? As I reflect on these past five years I don't think Covid changed anything. We are as busy as ever, life moves at one hundred miles per hour and increasingly we are exhausted all the time.


Brothers and sisters, stop running so hard. The Lord knows your frame and He understands our frailty. Equally He knows that the things which charm us have no eternal significance. When the Lord's day comes again, receive it with great joy. The Lord has established it so that you can worship Him and rest from all your labours. It isn't optional but it is for your good - call the Lord's day a joy.


Pray (acTS)


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Q30 How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
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12th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 26 focus v7-18)


Message (Alan Burke)


The power of the sea is not something to be trifled with. There were many days I’ve seen the furious waves so violent that when they hit the promenade in Portstewart those really wise people trying to take photos in the midst of the storm were knocked over. I have a in my study large photo taken my grandad who was from Portstewart taken from the Harbour hill with the waves crashing below because he knew better than to get to close. The power of the sea is not something to be trifled with and here the imagery of the seas power is uses figuratively to speak of the Lord’s judgement that was coming upon Tyre who is described as a ship in the seas, with wave after wave that would crash against it. The waves would be the might of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar would come and lay siege to the city, thirteen years it lasted but the coming of the Babylonians was only one wave to crash, there would be others. 


The language helps us to see that this is more than just the Babylonians as it moves from they to I and then they again and then v13 the Lord say I will, this isn’t that Nebuchadnezzar himself would do this but it would be the Lord. The final wave that crashed that the Lord brought in Judgement was the wave that saw Alexander the Great come and fulfil what the Lord had promised. The waves would come crashing on Tyre, while it was safe as a rock on the rock would see the settlements ravaged with sword, the waves continued to come as siege works would be built, it would face blow after blow, wave after wave, not all at once but that would continue until the walls were broken through (8-10). The people would be played, the strong pillars would fall. 


It was the coming of Alexander the Great that spelt the end of Tyre, because he levelled the city on the shore used the demolished buildings, every stone and rock that and filled the half a mile stretch, the water around it to this day has the submerged remnants of the ruins that was used to build this causeway across to the fortress, a causeway built from the conquered city which has since become a permanent land connection. While the wave of the Lord in the Babylonians lasted 13 years the wave of the Lord in Alexander the Great lasted but seven months before it was reduced to rubble. 


Tyre would fall, and with its fall the city states of the Phoenicians that extended throughout the Mediterranean on the coastland would tremble. Tyre which was the jewel in the crown as such, the strongest of the all having fallen would send a clear message that their power strength and might would not save them. While the people of Tyre had delighted in the downfall of the people of God of Jerusalem and of the Temple the coastlands would not delight or be filled with joy. While Tyre celebrated the coastlands would be and were filled with shock and fight hearing of the fall of Tyre. 


They were in mourning because of what had happened, shocked, saddened (16). Those who oppose the Lord he will oppose and they will come to know the consequences of what they have done. Tyre had rejoiced in the fall of Jerusalem but it too would fall, they had been fools not to see the warning that the fall of Jerusalem portrayed, the just judgment of the Lord and because of this they would experience his pre-wrath wrath, his pre-judgement justice, the cities of the coastland around who hear of the fall of Tyre were not fools, they knew what it meant for them where they were, they knew that this was the Sovereign Lord at work.


Sin has its consequences, sometimes those consequences are far reaching not only for us but for those around us and those that we love. The sin of Tyre had far reaching consequences. We might never think that sin will do so much damage but it does, it impacts us, those whom we love and even those who are far off. Do not treat it lightly, do not dismiss it, do not toy with it, feed it, play with it, feed it but most of all repent of it and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.


Pray (acTS)


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Q29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
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11th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v8-11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Have you ever wondered why we meet to worship on Sunday and not Saturday? The fourth commandment requires us to set aside “the Sabbath day” (v8) and keep it holy. The church in the Old Testament would have followed this command by setting aside the last day of the week which for Jews was Saturday. The Lord God rested from His work on the seventh day and from Eden to the Resurrection God’s people were to put aside the seventh day which was Saturday.


Even so, we would do well to always remember that the impact of the Cross was monumental. Jesus came in the flesh to fulfil the demands of the Covenant of Works. He was the first man to have ever earned His rest and He found Himself in the tomb on the seventh day. Seven in Scripture denotes perfection and as Christ lay in the tomb His work was finished and it was perfect.


The Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week which is Sunday, it was on the first day of the week that He appeared to His disciples, Paul urged the Corinthians to set gifts aside on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16v1-2) and the church gathered on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20v7).


The Church which long ago met on Saturday looked forward to the finished perfect work of Christ. The Church which now meets on Sunday looks back to the finished perfect work of Christ and patiently waits for His return.


The people of God have always been blessed with a day to put aside trivial nonsense, to rest from our work and to spend time contemplating the greatness of our God. Each Lord’s Day is a blessing not a chore and it is to be received gladly by God’s Church. Brothers and sisters, if you are worn out then the Lord has given you a day. Come to Him, run to Him and rest in the presence of your risen Lord.


Pray (acTS)


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Q28 Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
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10th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ezekiel 26 focus v1-6)


Message (Alan Burke) 


In the summer I was made to go to Wales on an extended family holiday and yes made. Anyway the reason I bring this up is that we went to a place called Tenby not a particularly exciting place and it was inundated with tourists just like me and what made it worse is that I was forbidden to enter Dales Music Store incase I came out with an armful of vinyl that I didn’t need. Honestly this devotion is not just a cheep version of therapy for me so I’ll get to the point. When in Tenby we went to the castle and from there I spotted an absolutely idillic place to live, somewhere you wouldn’t have to worry about the neighbours, you could walk around in your birthday suit all day and at the right time of the day it is only a short walk to go get some groceries in. If you have ever been to Tenby you’ll likely know I’m talking about St Cathrines Island Fort. It’s not actually habitable at present but if someone wants rid of me enough to finance me to make it a wonderful home I’d have to give it some consideration. That’s never going to happen but if you do a search for the island and see an aerial photo of it you’ll see how it’s only connected with Tenby by Tenby beach, as the tide comes in it is cut off and it’s about 0.12 miles long and 0.037 miles wide so it ain't very big. 


The city of Tyre, Tyre meaning rock referred to the fortress that was located on an offshore island that was about a mile long, half a mile wide and stood there ominously on the coast on a key shipping lane. It didn’t have a beach connecting it to the mainland, instead you could sail right the way round. There was Tyre on the rock and there was Tyre on the shore, both though were seen as one. The fortress on the rock being the strength of Tyre the city and became of its strength and strategic importance in the Mediterranean this city was like an octopus of which the tentacles reached far and wide across the region. Historic Tyre makes St Cathrines Island Fort look like a Childs play house. 


Here the imager that used of the many nations coming against Tyre, like the sea casting up its waves, the Lord grounds would come in an image that was familiar to them with  Tyre, the fortress on the rock and the city on the shore with the waves not lapping against it but crashing against it, while they had seen it all before the waves would come again and again and pound the city into submission. Tyre in its location was like a ship on the sea, while it was a fortified city it would not withstand the constant barrage of wave after wave against it. The result would be that the walls of Tyre would be destroyed, the towers fallen, left as if it had never been there, back to bare rock.


The Lord had spoken, Tyre became plunder for the nations even though it had sought to benefit from the plunder of Jerusalem and it was ravaged by the sword. The picture here of the coming judgment was complete, it would be desolation. They had taken delight in the downfall of Jerusalem, they rejoiced at the Lord's justice, the island fortress of Tyre, all the strength of men was no defence against the Sovereign Lord, they would know that he is Lord. Their Power, Strength, Might, could not prevent his judgment, they would know that he is the Lord as the waves finally ceased crashing against them and they were left a desolate rock all so that they would ‘Know that the Lord is God’, not by his grace, his compassion, his love but in his wrath that he would pour out upon them in his justice. 


For each and everyone of us as well as everyone who has ever lived we will know that the Lord is God, either by his grace, compassion, his love that is shown to us in the Lord Jesus Christ who experienced the wrath of God for us. Or we will know that the Lord is God not by his grace, his compassion, his love but in his wrath that he would pour out upon them in his justice. For all who call upon the name of the Lord they will be saved, for all who refuse, no power, strength or might will save them, preventing the Lord’s judgment, from experiencing the waves of his judgment for all eternity. 


Pray (acTS)


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Q27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
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8th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Larger Catechism asks "What is forbidden in the third commandment?" with the answer "The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious, or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarrelling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God’s decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it, to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or any thing contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful and offensive walking, or backsliding from it."


If we take this seriously then we realise that the third commandment is about much more than  blaspheming in the car when we realise that the police have caught us speeding. That scenario is certainly an abuse of the third commandment but did you ever realise that breaking the promises you made to the Lord is also forbidden? The church member who promises to work for unity breaks the third commandment when he gossips consistently in the carpark. The parent who takes baptismal vows with no intention of keeping them is a law breaker and a blasphemer. The person who believes that Christ was not sinless maintains a false doctrine and therefore takes the Lord's name in vain. Indeed even to be ashamed of our faith breaks the third commandment and causes us to fall far short once again of what the Lord requires.


The American Presbyterian Ligon Duncan puts it this way "If we dishonour the name of the Lord in how we live, whether it be through our lips, whether it be through unfaithfulness in our vocation, whether it be through unloving behaviour which bears poor witness to the world, then we are breaking the third commandment."


Brothers and sisters, in this series we have made it clear that it is not within our ability to keep God's law. We therefore thank God for Jesus and His active and passive obedience - there's no hope without it. Even so, I often pray a prayer of Robert Murray M'Cheyne who called out "Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be." I think this is a useful petition to make when we realise our great inability. I often break my promises, my words fail the Lord and I treat His name with contempt in a multitude of ways. May He forgive me and may He take this unprofitable servant and make me holy. May my many faults be covered by His abundant grace and may the Lord use my imperfect witness to lead many to Jesus. Soli Deo Gloria. Amen.


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Q26 How doth Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.