Mon Oct 19

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the word Sabbath.

Reading

Isaiah 58—Call the Sabbath a Delight

Optional Reading

Luke 6:1-11

Keys for kids

Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.

The Israelites did the right outward things but neglected the weightier matters of the law.
God rebuked their hypocrisy.
He promised blessings for all who call the Sabbath a delight.

Questions

(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)

What were the Israelites guilty of?
What did God promise to the Israelites if they called the Sabbath a delight?
Do you call the Sabbath a delight? Why or why not?

Catechism

WSC 88

What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:46-47

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

God spoke against the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah because they were profaning the Sabbath. Of course, the Israelites didn’t realize that they were doing anything wrong, and we can tell as much from the passage. Outwardly, they were doing everything right. In fact, it seemed as though they were going to great lengths to show their piety! But God saw through it all. It was nothing but showmanship and formalism.

Under the surface of their rituals and rote performance were hard hearts. God rebukes the Israelites because they, much like the Pharisees who would come later, neglected the weightier matters of the law. They did not seek to “loose the bonds of wickedness,” “undo the straps of the yoke,” or “let the oppressed go free.” Instead, they sought their own pleasure and profaned the day.

So, call the Sabbath a delight. “Then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isa. 57:14)

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 92, 104a

Prayer

Ask God to help you delight in the Lord’s Day and keep it.
Pray for a specific application from yesterday’s sermons.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.