The Blog

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2008 Witherspoon School conference, an absolutely wonderful week of studying law and public policy from a Biblical worldview.  I am once again grateful for the work Vision Forum Ministries has done in advancing this great kingdom work, reclaiming law for the glory of God.  (Their original Witherspoon School audio recordings played in important role in my interest in the law and my decision to attend law school.)  You can read a full report on the 2008 Witherspoon School here.

We had a wonderful passover seder with our congregational family and friends, and we hope you did too!  Passover is one of the most dramatic object lessons about salvation, foreshadowing the redemption work of the Messiah - which, appropriately enough, occured during Passover itself!

The foods of Passover are prepared…thanks to Steve for your help!)

Tables are set…thanks to Teresa and Sarah for your help!  And to Joel, who carefully drew a diagram to make sure we could fit everyone at a table! (As you can tell, we had quite a few people involved in planning and doing the seder!)

And the people begin to arrive…

Our good friends, Stephen and Sarah, returned from St. Louis to spend Passover with us.

Yes, it was a little crowded.  But with great food, great music, and edifying conversations, we certainly didn’t mind!

The psalmist opens with a prayer for God to teach His own word (v. 33–36).  Who better to learn a book from, than from the author?  This is a persistent theme running through the whole psalm: God is the teacher, who teaches directly from His word, through His Holy Spirit (see John 16:13).  This is the truth recognized by the Reformation doctrine of the priesthood of the believer.  Messiah, who is “very God,” is the only mediator, and regenerate man has access to His throne of grace directly.  He speaks to us through the word, and hence man is fully fulfilled: the image-bearer of God, restored through the salvation of Messiah Jesus to communion with God and communication from Him through his word. 

It has become almost trite to say that godliness is no guarantee against hardship (v. 25, 28), but God is the source for overcoming.  This is true, but the psalm here is more specific.  It reminds us that God’s word provides what we need to be revived and strengthened: “quicken thou me according to thy word” (v. 25), “strengthen thou me according unto thy word” (v. 28).  In both cases, the psalmist uses the word “according;” “according” to God’s word, God will strengthen or “quicken.”  This is covenantal language; God honors His own covenant-word and will act according to it.

Today we are posting two more Purim songs.  You can read yesterday’s post for more of the explanation of Purim.  And enjoy the songs!  (The first one is not traditional; the second one is.  After reading them, you will probably notice that humor is a standard feature of Purim songs.)

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength (with Purim verses)
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

That Haman he was wicked and his plan so bad
To murder all the Jews, it would have been so sad
But through the hand of Esther and through Mordechai
God saved the Jews, ‘twas Haman who would die.

That wicked man named Haman fell in his own trap
He had the gallows built but he himself was zapped
And Mordechai was honored for he loved the Lord
The joy of the Lord was his reward.

Queen Esther and her maidens mourned and called a fast
They prayed for three whole days and then their sadness passed.
Our Lord had turned their mourning into joy that day.
On Purim we remember and we say,

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength.

A Wicked, Wicked Man 

(Download verse 1 with sheet music here: A Wicked, Wicked Man (Purim Song).  Verses 2-6 follow below )
2. And Esther was the lovely queen
 of King Ahasuerus.
When Haman said he’d kill us all
Oh my, how he did scare us…  Refrain

3. But Mordechai, her cousin bold
said, “What a dreadful chutzpa,”
If guns were but invented now
This Haman I would shoot, sir… Refrain

4. When Esther speaking to the king
of Haman’s plot made mention
“Ha, ha,” said he, “oh no he won’t!
“I’ll spoil his bad intention… Refrain
5. The guest of honor he shall be
this clever Mr. Smarty.
And high above us he shall swing
At a little hanging party… Refrain

6. Of all his cruel and unkind ways
this little joke did cure him.
And don’t forget we owe him thanks
For this jolly feast of Purim… Refrain