On the eve of giving Himself to be our atonement, Jesus powerfully communicated Himself to be our nourishment.

When we have been spiritually lazy, we need the Spirit to give us resolve and action to seek Christ by the means of His grace, not to give up until we find Him, to keep clinging to Him for ourselves, and to help others cling to Him too.

On the eve of giving Himself to be our atonement, Jesus powerfully communicated Himself to be our nourishment.

What must Christians always seek and cling to? Song of Songs 3:1–5 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christians must be continually active in seeking and clinging to Christ and the experiential knowledge of His love. This passage portrays the soul's journey from spiritual dormancy to active pursuit and intimate restoration with Christ, using the bride's night-time search as a metaphor for the believer's experience of divine absence. The imagery of night and the solitary bed signifies a season of spiritual lethargy, where passive longing fails to yield connection; only when the soul resolves to rise and actively engage the means of grace—through the church, its watchmen, and the Word—is seeking effective. Though initial efforts may not bring immediate relief, the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Word to confront and awaken the heart, leading to recovering personal experience of Christ's love. The believer is then called, not only to cling to Christ, but to bring others into that restored fellowship, warning against anything that might disrupt the intimacy of divine communion. Ultimately, the passage calls for continual spiritual vigilance, active faith, and a heart committed to pursuing the nearness of God through faithful practice and repentant humility.

Main idea: the Lord sets authorities over us, so that their wrath will help us pursue that wisdom which is so superior to folly. The sermon emphasizes that the certainty of a king's wrath—like a lion's roar—serves as a divine safeguard, deterring sin and reinforcing moral order, not merely through fear, but as a foretaste of God's ultimate justice. Wisdom is shown to be superior to folly in three key ways: through peacemaking, which halts destructive quarrels; through diligence, which avoids the ruin of laziness; and through self-knowledge, where the Word of God draws out the hidden counsel of the heart. The righteous man, walking in integrity and faithfulness, becomes a blessing to his family and society, reflecting God's character and multiplying godly generations. Ultimately, the sermon points to Christ as the perfect King and Wisdom, Whose holy wrath against sin compels believers to pursue holiness, humility, and love, conforming them to His image for the good of all.

Main idea: the Lord sets authorities over us, so that their wrath will help us pursue that wisdom which is so superior to folly. The sermon emphasizes that the certainty of a king's wrath—like a lion's roar—serves as a divine safeguard, deterring sin and reinforcing moral order, not merely through fear, but as a foretaste of God's ultimate justice. Wisdom is shown to be superior to folly in three key ways: through peacemaking, which halts destructive quarrels; through diligence, which avoids the ruin of laziness; and through self-knowledge, where the Word of God draws out the hidden counsel of the heart. The righteous man, walking in integrity and faithfulness, becomes a blessing to his family and society, reflecting God's character and multiplying godly generations. Ultimately, the sermon points to Christ as the perfect King and Wisdom, Whose holy wrath against sin compels believers to pursue holiness, humility, and love, conforming them to His image for the good of all.

What abilities should we be developing and using? Ecclesiastes 9:13–18 prepares us for the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that all of our abilities are a stewardship from God, but the most important of these is wisdom. The devotional presents the supremacy of wisdom over strength, highlighting how divine wisdom—though often overlooked or forgotten—holds greater value than military might or worldly power. It illustrates this through the story of a poor, wise man who saves a city yet is ignored afterward, underscoring humanity's tendency to despise quiet, humble wisdom while elevating the loud and foolish. Pastor emphasizes that true wisdom, rooted in the fear of the Lord and drawn from Scripture, is the highest of all God-given gifts and must be sought diligently in personal and corporate worship. It warns that even the most carefully built good can be undone by a single act of sin or folly, urging believers to value wise, gentle speech over boastful noise, and to live with humility, accountability, and reverence for God's sovereign providence.

What is at the heart of the tenth commandment? Deuteronomy 24:17–26:15 looks forward to the hearing of God's Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these forty verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the heart is the heart of the tenth commandment. The devotional presents a comprehensive exposition of the Tenth Commandment's call to contentment, gratitude, and justice, rooted in Israel's identity as redeemed slaves and sustained by God's covenant faithfulness. Central to this teaching is the recurring call to care for the vulnerable—strangers, widows, and fatherless—while maintaining integrity in justice, honesty, and personal conduct, all reflecting a heart that esteems others as made in God's image. The law's applications—from refusing to exploit laborers and maintaining honest weights to preserving dignity in punishment and honoring marital duty—reveal that true generosity flows from a transformed heart that trusts God's provision and rejects covetousness. Gratitude and generosity are not mere duties but expressions of identity and worship, pointing forward to Christ's self-emptying love. Ultimately, the law reveals that holiness is not fragmented but holistic, demanding a life of thankfulness that mirrors God's character.

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 32—especially explaining how Satan deceived the woman, tempting both her and the man. Q32. Who tempted them to this sin? The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam. The lesson emphasizes that, while the serpent deceived Eve, Adam was not deceived and thus bore greater culpability due to his passive failure to lead and protect his wife spiritually. It highlights the importance of male responsibility in spiritual instruction, drawing from Genesis 2–3 and 1 Timothy 2 to argue that Adam's failure to actively guard his wife from deception—despite being present—constitutes a grave dereliction of duty. The passages underscore the divine order of creation and leadership, where Adam was given the covenant, and thus bears primary responsibility for teaching and guarding the household. Ultimately, the Fall is a cautionary example to affirm the necessity of male leadership in the church and family, rooted in divine design and order.