Providence Community Church

Now that Jacob has finally died, nothing stands between Joseph and his revenge, or so his brother feared. Of all the riveting events In the life of Joseph, from his sensational prophetic dreams, to the betrayal of his brother, to his rise to international prominence from the unjust confines of an Egyptian prison, to his world-rescuing famine pollcies ... this turn of events upon the death of Jacob...

The vantage point of the mountains in proximity to Jerusalem serve as a stage for the proclamations (Mt. Sinai, Mt. Carmel) and purposes of God (Mt. Moriah, Calvary) throughout covenant history. We can easily imagine our author inspired to write this song on his way to worship in Jerusalem. Perhaps traveling there at great cost. He traverses hill and valley until finally his elevated position on t...

What was to be the basis for the same mind and judgment that would establish the unifying principle among believers in Corinth? Paul had received reports of schism within the church.  Factions were developing around various burgeoning ministries in the early days of Christianity.  This tendency likely mirrored worldly trends at the time.  Greco/Roman sophisticates would often devote themselves to...

Much of Jacob’s life bore testimony to the grace of God in spite of his own frailties and failures.  By his own accounting before Pharaoh he declared (47:9) “…Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” Jacob was greatly overshadowed by his son Joseph in faithful exploits an...

Jacob's dying song prophesies that the sons of Rachel will be incorporated in the legacy and blessings of all future national Israel. Ephraim's name, as the prominent son of Joseph, will become synonymous with the ten northern tribes, and Benjamin will join Judah as a southern tribe as covenant history unfolds. Given this context, the blessings pronounced over these sons would not be limited to th...

A song of ascent written by King David. Ps 124 is a worship song and a national anthem. It was written by Israel's godly king and it stands as a universal call to worship. In this installment, the songs of ascent shift to the 2nd person perspective directing the attention and commanding the confession of all the people to affirm their source of help and hope. Just as we confess aloud together our...

Anticipating much of what he will expand later by way of correction and instruction, Paul introduces church essentials here in the spirit of affirmation. A quote from one commentary (JFB) notes: “Chrysostom remarks that the name of Christ is oftener mentioned in this than in any other epistle, the apostle designing thereby to draw them away from their party admiration of particular teachers to Chr...

Our sermon title proclaims the message of history. With each year that passes, the consummation of the kingdom of God looms ever closer. In accordance with the reality of God’s sovereign plan unfolding in time according to His eternal decree, so the light of revelational clarity intensifies for those with eyes of faith trained to behold its shinning!  This is what we realize when our spirits rise...

Following the theme from last week's sermon: “Shepherd’s Lament” from Ps 123 and returning to our text in Genesis 49, we trace the yearning for salvation language back further still to the patriarchal era of covenant history.  (Review) Lament: “When the longing of our souls joins the groaning of all creation in anguish and faith that upon the coming Day of the Lord redemption will be complete. (Ro...

There are advent connections to Psalm 123 to bracket our message today. Throughout the prophets and in particular Jeremiah's “Lamentations”, the reader encounters a striking tone of sadness coloring so much of this Old Testament literature. While hopeful, our song today is another example of sorrow expressed in the Biblical record. Why are sad songs in the Bible? What is the purpose of lament? Ans...

Peter describes the believer as a Holy Priesthood. If we are born again, we will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a Holy Priesthood. But what does that look like? How are we to conduct ourselves, and how are we to walk in the Spirit? In this morning's text, we will see learn what we are called to do, to not do, and what our role is as a Holy Priesthood.

Paul introduces his letter to the Corinthian church by setting forth the ideal. His affirmation and description of the church is inspiring and fundamental, drawing the attention of his readers to the glory of God revealed through the body He establishes and upholds. Everything that follows in the letter by way of exhortation, rebuke, and encouragement is with reference to this description as the s...

In Jacob's dying song we revisit a great theme of the book of Genesis: 'The Significant Son'. Remember the hope of Genesis 3:15? The woman's son would crush the serpents head. Perhaps Adam and Eve where hopeful that their first born Cain would be their savior. As the narrative continues, the birth of Seth following the murder of Able and the banishment of Cain may have renewed their hopes of salva...

A subtitle for today's message could be: “Patriarchal Prophecy”. Consider the significant context of these events recorded in Genesis chapters 48 & 49. Jacob has called a family reunion for the purpose of prophetic declaration. Assembling his sons, he takes the occasion of his looming death to communicate to the next generation their covenantal identity. This family-nation is not to be swallow...

What event might have marked the singing of the very first song of ascent in its historical context? Who might be its author and singer? I submit a compelling case can be made for King David and the events of II Sam 6. Here, upon the king's direction, the ark of the covenant makes its own ascent up the hill of the Lord to be placed in the city of Jerusalem, the future site of temple worship. The p...

This message is our 13th sermon from the short, yet powerful epistle of Jude. Once a month, for more than a year, we have considered in detail the implications an applications of Jude's instructions to the church. Today we will seek to place these themes in context considering the book as a whole. I have taken as my outline for Jude's letter, the four-fold attribution closing the doxology and fina...

In the flesh, we are utterly hopeless in our sin. It is not until God intervenes and sets us free from that sin, that we can truly live. But following Christ has a cost. Through obedience in faith we are truly blessed and can live according to the Spirit.

Genesis 33:19-20 records a modest land purchase secured by Jacob no doubt representing a down payment or planted flag heralding a return to the land in future generations. This is just one example of an easily forgotten detail in the text that finds its significance in light of passages like ours today. In this message we consider a patriarchal blessing given by Jacob in his last hours. Passages d...

Jacob's eyes are dim with age as he approaches death's door at 147 years. However, the eyes of his faith clearly see far beyond the grave, growing sharper with age. Jacob leaves his family and the reader with this noble testimony in these latter chapters of Genesis. However sad the patriarch's death may seem, he has learned that it will certainly not nullify the promises of God. On the contrary, t...

Paul speaks of a peace that passes understanding in our worship text today (Phil 4:7). This promise of superior peace via the Gospel which inspired and encouraged the early church was not a concept novel to the New Testament however. Rest of soul secured in the covenant blessings of God is a theme explored long before in the Psalms, particularly our text today: Psalm 121. This, the second song of...

Jude's letter provides a model for Godly worship in the form of confession, song, prayer, and proclamation in his final words. Verse 24-25 of his epistle contain one of the most beloved doxologies of the church. Though brief in its expression, this salutation of praise draws deeply from the wells of scriptural revelation for its inspiration. Jude is moved to magnify the Lord on account of 1.) The...

We've considered the 2nd half of Gen 47 in light of the contrasts of 2 nations: Egypt at the time of this exile through the period of Exodus Vs. Israel as established under Moses and evident in Jacob's family at this time. We have noted thus far a contrast of provision, a contrast of priesthood, a contrast in politics, and today we note finally, a contrast of peoples. The national, cultural, histo...

Central to my thesis on this text is the difference in fortunes between the citizens of Egypt and the covenant family under the administration of Joseph (v:20-21 & 27). The taxation policies and the slavery of the people under famine conditions is the experience of the native citizens, while the Hebrews enjoy liberty and favor at this time. The account of the political and cultural dynamics of...

Psalm 120 introduces the 'Psalms of Ascent' section of the Psalter. Chapters 120-134 share this title which can be translated 'degrees', 'steps', or an upward direction or trajectory. Many have taken this collection as a hymnal to accompany the pilgrimage of the faithful unto temple worship in Jerusalem. The structural layout of this set of songs appears to favor this view. The first 3 songs are s...

There was a piece of paper clasped in the hands of Stanley Clark when he was buried several years ago. The piece of paper reads: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever, am...