Cross-shaped reality?

Some Biblical scholars love to spot (or maybe invent!) a chiasm.

That is, they love to find a structure like:

A
B
A'

Or something more complicated like:

A
B
C
D
C'
B'
A'

Or variations on that theme.

I am relatively sympathetic to this endeavour.

I wonder if reality might be thought of as chiastic. It seems to go:

Creation
Christ
New Creation

And it can be a commonplace to say that birth and childhood can correspond to death and old age.

It is perhaps too much to think of the chiasm as showing us that reality is cross shaped, cross centred.

Since God is an infinite author, it seems relatively likely to me that the text of the Bible is rich and textured.

Holy Communion & Coronavirus Blogs

I tried to say something on the Church Society blog about The Lord's Supper with an eye to the Corona virus situation:

The Necessity of Word and Sacrament


Marc Lloyd considers the distinctions between the necessity of the word and the necessity of the sacraments, especially in the light of Coronavirus restrictions. Marc argues that both the word and the sacrament are necessary but in different ways or senses. Hoping it will become clear that for the Reformed, we can, if we must, live without the Supper for a while, but the Word of God is far more essential to our life and health. 

Other posts by Marc Lloyd in this series: Visible and Edible Word, Communion at Home?, Coronavirus and Communion.

Midweek meeting 22/4/20 - Psalm 18

Updated 23/4/20:

Churches Midweek Meeting

22/4/20

Psalm 18

This is quite a long Psalm. I suspect we won’t manage to look at everything in detail. But some things in this Psalm are probably already pretty familiar to us / common in the Psalms.

The headings are (seemingly) original to the Psalms. This one is unusually long and specific.

This Psalm (with a few minor variations) is also found in 2 Samuel 22, with a similar historical introduction.

Kidner thinks the Psalm is most suitable to an early point in David’s reign when his power was at its greatest (2 Samuel 8:14).

How does the Psalmist describe God?

What does it mean to call God my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold? (vv1-2)

What does David consider himself saved from?

If David wrote this Psalm, what is the problem with v6?

What might David mean by God’s temple?

What would the associations of the temple be?

How is God described in vv7-15?

How do you feel about that?

Does God have nostrils? (v8)

What event does v15 recall?

What sort of person does God save?

(Again, what is the basis of the Psalmist’s prayer and appeal to God?)

Cf. vv9-11 and v28

What do you make of v26?

Cf. As innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents

What does God enable the Psalmist to do?

Do you find v41 troubling?

What do we learn (or relearn) about God from this Psalm?

And how to relate to him?

What in this Psalm would you say is (at least somewhat) familiar from the other Psalms we have looked at?

What in this Psalm would you say is (at least somewhat) distinctive compared the other Psalms we have looked at?

Can you identify things in the Psalm you find helpful and encouraging?

Are there things in the Psalm you find weird or difficult?

Any other comments or questions about the Psalm?

How would you relate this Psalm to Jesus?

Calvin says much of this Psalm “agrees better with Christ” than with David, that is, it would be more fittingly spoken by Jesus than by King David. Do you agree?

How does Paul use v49 in Romans 15:9?

How does v50 point towards Jesus?

Sum up: What true and useful things does the Psalm teach and how should we respond to them?

Do you feel able to attempt a theme (and aim) sentence, however imperfectly, even if it doesn’t perfectly capture everything?

Turn the Psalm into praise and prayer.

* * *

OUTLINES:

Motyer:

What a Great God!

A1. Devotion to the saving God (vv1-2)

B1: Divine intervention (1): Yahweh in power (vv3-19)

Prayer (vv3-6)

Power (vv7-15)

Rescue (vv16-19)

B2: Yahweh in righteousness (vv20-29)

Reward: Yahweh and me (vv20-24)

Equity: you and me (vv25-29)

B3: Yahweh in enabling (vv30-45)

Perfect: Yahweh and me (vv30-34)

Victorious: you and me (vv35-45)

A2: Devotion to the saving God (vv46-50)

* * *

Kidner:

A Warrior King Looks Back

Vv1-3: Refuge

Vv4-19: Rescue

Vv20-30: “His Perfect Way”

Vv31-45: Victory and Rout

Vv46-50: Doxology

* * *

Wilcock:

I love you, O LORD (vv1-3)

In my distress (vv4-6)

Consuming fire, dark clouds (vv7-15)

Into a spacious place (vv16-19)

He has rewarded me (vv20-24)

You save the humble (vv25-29)

He is the Rock (vv30-34)

You have made me the head of nations (vv35-45)

Unfailing kindness to his anointed (vv46-50)

* * *

Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

Royal Thanksgiving

Chiastic structure with E – God’s faithfulness to the faithful at the centre (see p201)

Yahweh, the Rock of Israel (vv1-3)

Affliction (vv4-6)

The Lord’s Coming to help (vv7-15)

The Lord’s Deliverance (vv16-19)

God’s faithfulness to the faithful (vv20-29)

(a) Our faithfulness to God (vv20-24)

(b) God’s faithfulness to us (vv25-29)

The Lord’s Goodness (vv30-45)

(a) The Divine Perfections (vv30-36)

(b) The King’s Victory over the Enemies (vv37-42)

(c) Glorious deliverance (vv43-45)

* * *

NOTES ON THE PSALM:

V1 – very direct and personal – not very British! – Kidner says the word for love is unusual, impulsive and emotional

Vv1&2 – a remarkable piling up of terms, great emphasis

V2 – Kidner relates cliff / rock to 1 Sam 23:25-28; stronghold to the cave of Adullam – 1 Sam 22, 24; 2 Sam 5, 23 – rocks – 1 Sam 24:2

Vv7ff – fire, cloud and water recall the Exodus / Mount Sinai wrapped in smoke and fire

V7ff – according to 1 Samuel nothing like this obviously happened! God worked quietly and secretly for the most part but here’s a behind the scenes description of it. God’s unseen providence can actually work powerful deliverances for us which may not be obvious. The supposedly natural causes of 1 Samuel 23 and 24 can be seen as God’s work.

V8 – Judgement of God’s enemies is salvation for God’s people

V8 – nostrils – the organ of anger!

Both cosmic and personal – this God reached down and took hold of me (v16)!

V16 – he draws me up – only otherwise used of Moses – David and Jesus are like New Moseses!

Vv20-30 – the main concern is actually to praise God as the protector of those who trust in him (Kidner)

V25 – Hasid, loyalty, connected to hesed, covenant steadfast love

V26 – perverse – tortuous! – crooked – twisting – wrestling

Vv27-30 repeatedly “as for you…” / “it is you who…” – emphasis on God and praise to him

V27 – God loves to save the humble / poor / weak / defenceless

Cf. the song of Moses in Dt 32

V50 – Jesus the supreme offspring of David – cf. Gal 3:16 – the seed of Abraham

Order of Service for Sunday 19th April

God willing, our service will be live at 9:30am on https://www.facebook.com/malloyd and thereafter on our churches Facebook pages, on Warbleton Parish Church You Tube Channel and sermon auido via Warbleton Parish Church website. And it might go something like this:

Sunday 19^th April 2020

The Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Psalm 16 (p549)

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 (p1093)

John 20:19-end (p1089)

PRE-SERVICE NOTES / ORDER OF SERVICE / READINGS / MUSIC:

Before the service we will play I Will Sing The Wondrous Story:

Words: https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Will_Sing_the_Wondrous_Story/

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDPCFbAysBc

Welcome, notices and introduction

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

In your resurrection, O Christ,
let heaven and earth rejoice. Alleluia.

We have come together [as best we can online] in the name of Christ

to offer our praise and thanksgiving,

to hear and receive God's holy word,

to pray for the needs of the world,

and to seek the forgiveness of our sins,

that by the power of the Holy Spirit

we may give ourselves to the service of God.

Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
	So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ,
	confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Lord God,
we have sinned against you;
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us
and restore us to the joy of your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessed is the Lord,
for he has heard the voice of our prayer;
therefore shall our hearts dance for joy
and in our song will we praise our God.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As once you ransomed your people from Egypt
and led them to freedom in the promised land,
so now you have delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.
May we, the first fruits of your new creation,
rejoice in this new day you have made,
and praise you for your mighty acts.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

1Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us: ♦
so let us celebrate the feast,

2not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness: ♦
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5.7b, 8

3Christ once raised from the dead dies no more: ♦
death has no more dominion over him.

4In dying he died to sin once for all: ♦
in living he lives to God.

5See yourselves therefore as dead to sin: ♦
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6.9-11

6Christ has been raised from the dead: ♦
the first fruits of those who sleep.

7For as by man came death: ♦
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;

8for as in Adam all die: ♦
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15.20-22

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.

During the service we will play: In Christ Alone

Words: https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/in-christ-alone/

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWiFYJMGas0

The Word of God

Psalm 16 (p549)

This is the Word of Lord

Thanks be to God!

Acts 2:14a, 22-32 (p1093)

This is the Word of Lord

Thanks be to God!

John 20:19-end (p1089)

This is the Word of Lord

Thanks be to God!

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Prayers

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness
that we may always serve you
in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

After the service we will play: Meekness and Majesty

Words: https://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/meekness-and-majesty-graham-kendrick/

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXggFYQQTJ0

Please feel free to like and share and hang around in the comments.

You might like to supplement the service with any Easter hymns of your choice. Google will give you plenty of ideas. Maybe Christ Triumphant Ever Reigning. Or Crown Him With Many Crowns.

Annihilationism / Conditional Immortality Essay

Annihlationism / Conditional Immortality Essay:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_MMc-ABKxdypPD_GEAoaI6YntnUVkAuQ

Beatific Vision / Hearing?

In an interesting footnote, Hans Boersma notes that on Allen G. Jorgenson's view, Luther replaced the beatific vision with beatific hearing ('Martin Luther on Preaching Christ Present', IJST 16 (2014): 46).

However, Boersma says that many Calvinists including John Donne, Jonathan Edwards and Abraham Kuyper have "followed Augustine in treating vision as the noblest of the senses".

Seeing God, p27, fn24

Psalm 17 Study Questions & Outlines

For our midweek meeting via Zoom at 7:30pm tonight (Wed 15th). Email me if you would like an invite.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

Can you recall the three ways of reading the Psalms / levels of meaning which I suggested?

(When we have finished looking at the Psalm, we should think about it in these three ways)

What situation does David seem to be facing? V7

What does David ask for?

What is David’s ultimate hope in v15?

What does that mean?

On what basis does David ask for these things? What arguments does he use to support his plea?

Look at v1. Was David righteous? Explain!

(In what ways might we say he is righteous and he isn’t righteous?)

Would this prayer make sense on the lips of Jesus?

Could you pray this Psalm? How? In what sense?

(Are you like David? Are you facing a situation like his?)

Can you spot any similarities between this Psalm and the others we have been studying?

What connections does it have to Psalm 16?

What is the unique contribution of this Psalm?

Any other questions or comments about this Psalm?

Our usual summary / conclusion questions?

Theme sentence (sum up the main teaching point of the Psalm):

Aim sentence (why did God write this Psalm? What is it meant to do for us?)?

How should we think / believe / speak / act in the light of this Psalm?

How could you use this Psalms for praise or prayer?

OUTLINES:

Motyer

Upward I Look: A Threefold Appeal

A1. The first appeal, based on righteousness (vv1-6a)

A2. The second appeal: against ruthless enemies (vv6b-12)

A3. The third appeal: for direct, divine action (vv13-15)

* * *

Kidner

A Plea for Justice

The appeal to truth (vv1-5)

The appeal to love (vv6-9)

The lust to kill (vv10-12)

The rewards of lust (vv13-14)

The reward of love (v15)

* * *

Expositor’s Bible

A Prayer for God’s Justice

(1) A - Prayer of a righteous person (vv1-5)

(2) B - Prayer for protection (vv6-9)

(3) C - The wicked (vv10-12)

(4) B’ - Prayer for deliverance (v13)

(5) C’ - The wicked (v14)

(6) A’ - Hope in righteousness (v15)

A. Prayer for Vindication (v2a)

B. Prayer for Investigation (v2b)

B’ Investigation (vv3-5)

A’ Vindication (vv6-15)

A general prayer for righteousness (vv1-2)

A declaration of innocence (vv3-5)

A prayer that hopes in God’s covenant loyalty (vv6-14)

The Psalmist entrusts his case to God who is sovereign and faithful looking forward to God’s goodness in this life and in the world to come (v15)

* * *

Wilson:

(1) Plea and claim of innocence (vv1-5)

My vindication

Examine me

As for the deeds of men

By the word of your lips

(2) The enemy attack (vv6-12)

The wonder of your great love

Deliverer of those who seek refuge

Keep me as the apple of your eye

A lion hungry for prey

(3) Final plea (vv13-15)

Rise up

Confront

Bring them down

Rescue

From such men

An integrated life

Grounded in the word

Out of this world

The Old is Better

Of course I am in training to be grumpy old man.

But it is true that the old is better, in general.

That is sometimes because the old was better. Education or writing or music or culture or... just might have been better in some times and places than they are now. Sometimes the old was better.

But very often a process of natural selection has taken place over history. A lot of the dross and ephemera has simply been forgotten.

Smith may have been a pretty average poem in general. Say he wrote 3000 poems and 100 of them were published and we remember three. We remember them for a reason or reasons (maybe good or bad) but they have somehow for some reason fought their way through the noise and the years to the present. That is often because they have something about them to commend themselves.

So it is with mushrooms and bacon. It is a classic and enduring combination because it works. Mushrooms and pineapple has no doubt been attempted from time to time but it has not generally established itself as a go to combo for a very good reason.

Time is a great filter. Give it 100 years and some of the stuff that is served up to us today might be worth enjoying still. Much will mercifully be forgotten.

(See also C S Lewis on The Reading of Old Books: https://reasonabletheology.org/cs-lewis-on-reading-old-books/ - his introduction to Athanasius’ On the Incarnation)

Kuyper, Seeing and Hearing God, The Fall and the Sacraments

Hans Boersma (Seeing God, p4) gives a fascinating (if not to my mind completely convincing) summary of Abraham Kuyper's reflection on sight and hearing in the sacraments (A Myrtle for a Brier = Hetgeen onze oogen gezien hebben, 1891).

Kuyper thought God had made the eye more beautiful and more prominently placed than the ear.

The eye had a pre-fall priority whereas after the Fall the ear became more prominent. It is by hearing we must be saved but in the world to come we will again see God.

Kuyper thought God does not speak to us in the sacraments but they give us a symbolic vision of God: "the ear moves into the background, and the spoken word merely provides assistance. Meanwhile, the eye - and through the eye also the soul itself - is active, and you discern something of a holier touch of the divine life than you can ever experience through the Word." (Kuyper, p17)

(This perhaps neglects the importance of touch and taste in the sacraments and downplays the hearing of the Word)

Church Going

As we cannot go to the church building, it is interesting to hear this poem read.

https://soundcloud.com/user-115260978/73-church-going-by-philip-larkin

Mr Larkin is not necessarily all that one might hope for in a church goer. He is of course wrong to be sure there is nothing going on but I think he is on to several things:

An unignorable silence

An admission of ignorance

Stopping often but at a loss and wondering what to look for

Power of some sort or other

A special shell

A serious house on serious earth where our all our compulsions meet and are robed as destinies

Something which will never grow obsolete

A surprised hunger in ourselves by which we may gravitate to this ground which we once heard is a place proper to grow wise where so many dead lie around

Easter Sunday Order of Service / Notes / Readings / Music etc.

Easter Sunday 2020

PRE-SERVICE NOTES:

God willing the service will be live at 9:30am on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

All welcome!

After that it will also be available on our church Facebook pages, on Warbleton Parish Church’s You Tube Channel and the sermon audio on the church website.

Before the service we will play: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Words: https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/jesus_christ_is_risen_today_with_barnard_descant

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZ2aes2WfE

ORDER OF SERVICE

Welcome, notices and introduction

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.

Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

Like Mary at the empty tomb,

we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Like the disciples behind locked doors,

we are afraid to be seen as your followers.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Like Thomas in the upper room,

we are slow to believe.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Absolution

May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray that we may walk the risen life of Christ in glory.

Silence is kept.

Lord of all life and power,

who through the mighty resurrection of your Son

overcame the old order of sin and death

to make all things new in him:

grant that we, being dead to sin

and alive to you in Jesus Christ,

may reign with him in glory;

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

be praise and honour, glory and might,

now and in all eternity.

Amen.

During the service we will play: See What A Morning!

Words: https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/resurrection-hymn/

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LgE_E7yaz4

Liturgy of the Word

We use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 of the Bible.

You can find the latest NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/

Acts 10:34-43

After each reading, the response is:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Colossians 3:1-4

Matthew 28:1-10

Sermon

The Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Intercessions

The response is:

We pray to the Father.

Hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Blessing

The God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great shepherd of the sheep,

through the blood of the eternal covenant,

make you perfect in every good work to do his will,

working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight;

and the blessing …

After the service we will play: Low In The Grave He Lay

Words: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/123

Video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtxSWcfH9hk

Please feel free to stick around and comment, like and share etc.

You might enjoy this version of the Halleluiah Chorus filmed by the Royal Choral Society in isolation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PQYVbd1Gwg&fbclid=IwAR2PjDmAfk4cHf9-VVMEAdwmeawMLF0MRVoDiwCXhHuz-T4x7XRVe7aL7IM

All your favourite Easter Sunday hymn words, tunes and videos with lyrics are probably only a Google away.

You might try:

Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning

All Heaven Declares

Finished The Strife

Jesus Lives! They Terrors Now