PRAYER & CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 111:1-4 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
Praise My Soul The King of Heaven
Offering
GRACE & ASSURANCE — Psalm 111:7-10 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Many little kids have teddy bears for comfort. I had Bumpy. When I was about a year and a half old my mother made me a stuffed toy. She bought one of those pre-printed patterns made of light cotton from a do-it-yourself clothing pattern section of a store (Woolworth’s, possibly). It was stuffed with shredded foam rubber, I think. It wasn’t a bear. It was Humpty Dumpty. I couldn’t speak well and couldn’t get out “Humpty Dumpty.” My best effort was “Bumpy,” so that is what it was known as forever. He was mainly a big oblong body with long arms and legs that hung off at any angle they fell. According to Mom I used to drag him everywhere around the house by one of the arms or legs. Over a few years he had to be repaired and restuffed from the damage suffered by being owned by a very young boy. I do remember him, and although he is lost to time, I appreciate him more because I remember my mother making him and taking care of his well-being. The memory still brings me comfort.
Our daily lives can be a challenge. We might face stress from our jobs, our relationships, or even thoughts from within our own minds. Often people talk about comfort food, which is something that brings them a sense of calm and inner warmth—something familiar and consistent. Grilled cheese and cream of tomato soup, hot dogs, or Skyline Chili for me. Some people have places of comfort, where they feel a calming effect. I have a friend who sometimes says that she has to go to her “happy place” for a short while. Believers and followers of Christ are not exempt from challenges and stress. We should never forget that we have a better source of relief.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-6)
The Apostle Paul experienced challenges, suffering, pain, and imprisonment that that the vast majority of us will never experience. Despite all of that he kept his focus on Christ and others. God comforted him so that he in turn could comfort others. He wanted to share that yes, he indeed suffered a lot. He also wanted to share how God comforted him, so that we would learn that He will comfort us through whatever we face.
I was reminded of an annual event in a news story I read recently. The Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League have an annual Teddy Bear Toss at one of their games. The goal is to have both the team and fans bring teddy bears to the game. The bears are collected for donation to young children in hospitals, or through charities for those less fortunate. They still bring comfort to kids who may not have someone close by to physically grab and hold on to. Earlier this month, the 2024 Teddy Bear Toss garnered a record total of 74,599 bears and stuffed toys. Following is the video of the moment that they are presented (following a team goal at a particular point in the game):
PRAYER & CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
GRACE & ASSURANCE — 1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
This past Sunday through studying 1 John we were reminded of the necessity of being able to walk with God in purity through the blood of Jesus. We must recognize that we aren’t pure naturally and have sinned. The only way to be freed from the effect of our sin is to recognize it and ask forgiveness from God. Then we are in the position of being able to accept Christ, who makes us pure.
Pastor James particularly stressed that the blood of Jesus purifies us from ALL sin—meaning all in quantity, and in type. There is nothing that His blood does not cover. This principle came to mind this morning as I was reading in Genesis 38. This chapter chronicles probably the darkest chapter in the life of Judah, the son of Jacob. We learn that he met and married the daughter of a Canaanite man, and had three sons—Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah found a wife for Er, Tamar. We are not told what Er did, but it was wicked enough that the Lord put him to death. Judah then charged Onan to fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law, and provide and raise offspring for his deceased brother. He did not fulfill his duty properly and faithfully. God put him to death also.
This left Judah’s youngest son Shelah, who was too young at the time to be expected to fulfill the duty of raising offspring for Tamar. She was invited to live in Judah’s household until the time Shelah was old enough. However, when Shelah was old enough Tamar was still not given to him as his wife. After Judah’s wife died, he sinned by seeking the services of a prostitute. Tamar set a trap for him by dressing up as a prostitute and offering her services to him. After their episode she became pregnant. Upon finding out she was pregnant about three months later, “Judah said, ‘Bring her out and have her burned to death!’” (Genesis 38:24b)
She revealed her deception, which confirmed Judah as the father because she had his seal, cord, and staff. He seemed truly humbled, confessed his sin and determined a purer future:
“Judah recognized them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not sleep with her again.”
How many sins did Judah commit in this episode? At least two that I see—he didn’t fulfill his promise to Tamar in giving her to Shelah as his wife, as the Law made provision for a widow. Then he committed adultery with Tamar.
Does the blood of Jesus cover Judah’s confessed sin? Absolutely. Although he didn’t know Jesus, he recognized his sin and determined to act honorably. Jesus’ blood covers all sin for those God considers His.
How do we know what God thought of Judah and his confession? Let us take a longer look at the character of Judah. When he and his brothers had Joseph trapped down in the well, most of them wanted to kill him and leave him for dead. Judah was the one who convinced them of the idea of selling him instead. The greatest growth in Judah is seen when the brothers are meeting with Joseph, not knowing who he was. Joseph asked for them to leave Benjamin (knowing he was Jacob’s favorite) when they returned home. It was Judah, not Reuben the oldest, who asked that he be substituted for Benjamin. I believe this is a type of Jesus offering Himself in our stead.
When Jacob was near death and blessing his sons, it is clear Judah would have the greatest role of all the brothers in God’s plan. It stands as another example of God’s having the older serve the younger.
“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.” (Genesis 49:8)
More importantly:
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” (Genesis 49:10)
In Matthew 1 we see the lineage of King Jesus descending from Judah. It is especially interesting to note that the line follows through Perez, the first of the twins born to Tamar, rather than through any children that may have come from his son Shelah. Does that mean that God likes sin? No, He hates it. It does remind us that God will make even sinful events work to His purpose. Our sins are nothing that God cannot and has not overcome.
PRAYER & CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 29:1-2, 10-11 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
GRACE & ASSURANCE — Psalm 27:13-14 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
PRAYER & CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 139:1-6 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
GRACE & ASSURANCE — Psalm 139:7-10 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
GOD’S WORD — Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
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