ICF Delft

Lord willing, this Sunday, we will start our journey from Mathew 27 and go through Psalm 22, to stand closer to the cross and hear the psalm our King and Savior cried by quoting "Eli Eli lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me". Some bystanders heard Him and thought he had called on Elijah and therefore missed the window Jesus opened to see that He is the promised King who was fulfilling Psalm 22. This Sunday we will stand closer to the cross and hear His full cry "Eli Eli lema sabachathani?" by going through the psalm to see the intensity of the pain He has gone through in his obedience, the imminent victory, and the hope He secured for us. I pray that we see and be transformed as God opens our eyes through the Holy Spirit to see the unspeakable price His Son (the King) paid on the cross and the ultimate revelation of His Glory. "

The Bible shows us another way to go in life. Not the common way. Not the easy way. Not the attractive way. But the way that God calls us to go. The way of listening to and of obedience to Gods' Word. We might know we should go this way. But how attractive is it? It feels as if you are almost alone, if you would go this way. As if you will end up unhappy, lonely and laughed at. Now listen at this song: Psalm 1. Hear how a choir sings that those who go this way, are blessed. Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 invite us to join a people and a King who go this way. The book of Psalms is a songs- and prayerbook to be heard and sung, making you aware that you are not at all alone when you go this way. You are very welcome to come to church upcoming Sunday (Psalm 1)

At the beginning of a new season we may feel some anxiety about all things upcoming. Is it possible to experience real rest through prayer? Sure and even more. In the Bible we find a perfect prayer, taught by Jesus, helping us to pray for our daily concerns.

Have you ever had the rather odd and uncanny sensation that what you are experiencing at the moment you have experienced before? The French expression, “déjà vu” is used to describe it. It literally means something like “already seen.” It is a sort of warped memory moment.

In our short series from the story of the family of Jacob we have seen the intense conflict between Joseph and the rest of his brothers, conflict that came to the point of wishing him dead.

Last week the we saw the life of Judah turned around under remarkable circumstances. But what about Joseph? He was a seventeen-year-old boy sold into slavery. His dreams of ruling, reigning and blessing are shattered. Could his fortunes get even worse? That is certainly what seems to happen in the next chapter. Others are getting the blessing but Joseph is going even further into trouble.

Can we even begin to think about what must have gone through Joseph’s mind? This was not just a few months or a couple of years. It would be about thirteen years before his fortunes would begin to change. How might we understand this suffering?

The seventeen-year-old boy of Genesis chapter 37 is a changed man. This week we will look further at how God was at work in Joseph’s life, not just for his sake, but for the sake of his fractured family and for all the families of the earth.

In our short summer series in the Old Testament we are focusing on God’s plan to fill all creation with His glory. He is accomplishing this goal through a chosen covenant family destined to be bearers of the divine image and to reflect, resemble, and represent their Heavenly Father to all the families on earth.

God had called out Abraham to go from his country, from his kindred, and from his father’s house, with the promise that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Now Abraham’s grandson Jacob and his scandalous fractured family seem to be making an unholy mess of it all.

Last Sunday we saw God’s plan complicated by jealousy and sibling rivalry that came within a hair’s breadth of murder – fratricide! This week we will see that plan further complicated by selfishness, lust and incest.

It seems like a turn for the worse – or is it? Is there a glimmer of grace? Is there a glimpse of the gospel here? Is this really a turn for the better, a watershed moment in salvation history?

Join us for worship this week as we unwrap the awkward story of Judah and Tamar and look there for the gospel gift of grace.

If the Lord is willing, this coming Sunday we will begin a short series of sermons from the last major section of Genesis, from chapter 37 to the end of the book, often called “The Joseph Story.” There will not be time to finish the entire story, but what we do cover we will look at in some depth.

This narrative is a masterpiece of writing. It is a fascinating, thrilling, surprising even shocking account of the chosen, premier, covenant family of God. As one commentator has written, members of this family are destined to be “divine image bearers of God, reflecting, resembling, and representing their Heavenly Father to His glory.” (DeRouchie)

But there is a major problem. Just look at this family! There is cheating, lying, jealousy, hatred, incest and even murder emanating from this pack of rogues.

Divine image bearers of God? Reflecting, resembling and representing God’s glory?

Come and listen to the first part of this narrative as the Lord begins to implement His magnificent plan. There is perhaps a surprise ending in store as well!