The Installation of Rev. J. den Hoed in Franklin Lakes

On Tuesday evening, August 10, 2004, the congregation of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, witnessed with joy the installation of Rev. J. den Hoed as their minister. Rev. H. D. den Hollander, their moderator, officiated. His text was Isaiah 50:4, "The Lord G O D hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." The theme for the sermon was "The Tongue of the Learned," and the points were:

1. From where this tongue comes,

2. T o whom this tongue speaks, and

3. What this tongue speaks.

This text speaks of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His servants. The use of the word "tongue" in the text implies "communicating." It is a wonder of the Lord that He gives His servants to communicate His Word to us, who have forfeited all blessings. It can be seen from the history of Moses' calling that he had not this tongue of the learned of himself, in spite of all his education. What are our expectations with the sending of God's servant? Is it to hear elegant preaching, the wisdom of the world, or is it to hear something of substance? Do we desire to hear and learn of that which the Lord of heaven and earth has hid from the wise and prudent and has revealed unto babes (Matthew 11:25)? Isaiah did not expect a tongue to communicate with, or an ear to hear with, from man. As the text shows, Isaiah had light only when the Lord awakened him, and he needed this continually: "He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." There is a continual need for God to give His servants what is necessary to address the unconverted, God's children, the little ones in grace, those who have wandered from the Lord, and those who have left their first love.

The tongue referenced in the text is directed to those for whom God's Word has been instituted. It is for His church, the elect: "him that is weary." His people have become weary of separation from God, as we can see from the lives of Job, David, and Paul. Job exclaimed, "Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat!" David often thirsted and longed for God, and Paul complained, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Such become weary from the warfare, weary of themselves, and weary of the world. Will we become the cause that the minister becomes weary of his work, as Elijah did?

We can see from the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ what this tongue speaks. He always spoke a fitting word in season. This can be seen from what Christ said to the Samaritan woman, the rich young ruler, the scribes, and the Pharisees. To His poor, afflicted, and weary people, He says, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" and "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Is this fitting word about duties, responsibilities, and the duty to exercise their faith? No! These people are brought to where they need to hear of that one-sided work of God's grace for the most hell-worthy sinner. They need a complete salvation from another side, from God's side.

In conclusion, the congregation was asked whether there are weary people among them, not a people weary from the consequences of sin, but weary because of sin itself, and weary from grieving the Lord. Are there those who are at an end with themselves and who thus need a Mediator? Such ones will, in God's time, glorify the Lord forever and ever.

The form for the ordination of the ministers of God's Word was read. To the three questions of the form, Rev. Den Hoed answered, "Yes, truly, with all my heart." Rev. Den Hollander then noted that a minister desires nothing more than to know how to speak to the unconverted and to the Lord's people. He wished Rev. Den Hoed to be bound to the remnant of the Lord and to be instructed by the Lord in what to speak. The presence of the Lord in this place was wished for his wife. The congregation was exhorted to receive their minister with all their heart and to pray for him. He cannot convert anyone, thus they must pray that the Lord will convert them.

Rev. Den Hoed preached his inaugural sermon on Wednesday evening. He noted that when this congregation called him last September, God spoke to him from Judges 6:14 even before he opened the call letter: "Go in this thy might." But he could not accept the call, for he looked to himself for that "might." Through the weeks and months that followed this call haunted him. When the next call letter came, the words "Go in this thy might" came back to him. Then the Lord spoke from 2 Timothy 1:14, "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." The Lord gave courage to go forward and to desire to be a small tool in this congregation.

The text for the service was Acts 8:8, "And there was great joy in that city." The theme was "Joy in Samaria," and the points were: 1. The reason for this joy, and 2. The objects of this joy. This text was given to him the first Sunday after he accepted the call. Persecution had driven many Christians from Jerusalem, but the Word went with them, for it was in their heart. Some are today dispersed with trials such as fearful diseases; may the Word go with them also. From verse 5 we learn that Philip "went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." To preach Christ one must receive a mandate from the Lord. God does not waste His Son. Thus there must first be a need, that is, a knowledge of sin, for the wages of sin is death. In eternity Christ came forward to bring His fallen people back to the Father. Therefore He would willingly be the sacrifice for them. An awakened sinner sees that he is not going lost, but that he is lost. God's people are brought to want only one gate, and that is the blood gate.

Rev. Den Hoed expressed the desire that the Lord would help him to preach the Word and that the congregation may give heed to the Word as was the case with Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened. Although this Word is a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, yet it is a joy unto those who are quickened by the Holy Spirit.

The congregation was exhorted not to turn away when the plowshare of the Word in God's house goes deeper than they desire, and if it does not go deep enough, to pray to the Lord to give more depth.

After Rev. Den Hoed had accepted the call, Satan attacked and caused deep fear. This fear was regarding the unknown, not about the decision. Then God was pleased to come and pour out His love into his soul, promising that He would go with him. When all the weary journey is past, then it will be time to go home. Meanwhile, God has been pleased to come with him, and He knows how deep to set the plow so that which is of man does not come forward.

With the plowshare of the Word set at the right depth, the objects of that joy will come forward. When God begins His saving work in the heart of a sinner, one becomes a missing person, and there will be a turning away from the world unto God. Such ones will cry out, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Is this joy? There is a godly sorrow in the heart before there is a godly joy. There is a great joy in the heart when such a one is given an eye of faith for Christ as the complete Savior of sinners. The congregation was asked whether there are lost ones among them and whether there is joy when that way of salvation through Jesus Christ is heard.

Rev. Den Hoed requested the congregation to carry their minister in their prayers, for if the minister must stand before them without God, he will be empty. His desire is to be a little tooi used by the Lord to His honor and glory.

Rev. Den Hoed then addressed those present in their various roles in the church. This included his brothers in the ministry, visitors, the congregation, organists, custodians, school faculty, and his family.

Several people then addressed Rev. Den Hoed. Rev. J. Spaans spoke, on behalf of Classis East, of the Lord's poor and needy and the sufficiency of the Lord for such people. Rev. Vogelaar spoke, on behalf of Classis Midwest, about what the form of ordination of ministers says, namely, "love Christ," a love which flows also to His sheep. He exhorted the congregation to be bound, not first of all to the minister, but especially to the truth. Rev. P. van Ruitenburg thanked him on behalf of Classis Farwest for all the work he had done in their Classis. He then observed that as a sailing vessel requires ballast and the lowering of its sails when the wind is strong, so we cannot handle much joy without similar preparation. Thus we are exhorted in Psalm 2 to "serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." If we have one without the other, it is not from the Lord. Elder H. Hoefakker, on behalf of the Lynden consistory, expressed their gratitude for having had a minister for nearly four years. He pointed out to the Franklin Lakes congregation that they have had many trials in the past, but also what God has done in maintaining the congregation with His truth. He wished the Lord's blessing on the minister and that he would not run out of seed. Elder B. Sweetman, on behalf of the Franklin Lakes consistory, welcomed Rev. Den Hoed. He then observed that the Lord loves beggars, but we do not like to become a beggar. The Lord keeps His servants and all of His people beggars even to the end, and yet they may acknowledge that the Lord has done all things well. He exhorted the congregation to remain with the truth even when trials arise. There were many trials in the congregation in the past, and there will be more, for Satan, the enemy of the church, will not rest. After the singing of Psalter 425:3, Rev. Den Hoed thanked the speakers and closed the service with the benediction.

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