Psalm 86 A prayer of David
David pours out his heart to the Lord in a mixture of petitions and praise. He acknowledges his great neediness as well as his faith in God's willingness to answer his cries. Every part of this psalm reflects David's love and trust in the Lord. It shows David's knowledge of the Word and his intimate walk with the Lord.
Petitions:
v1 "Incline Thine ear, O Lord.."
v2 "Do preserve my soul.... save Thy servant"
v3 "Be gracious to me, O Lord"
v4 "Make glad the soul of Thy servant"
v6 "Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer"
David knows his own great need for and dependence on the Lord. He seeks His Face, he wants the Lord's ear. He knows that God alone is His Help in times of trouble and he does not take that for granted. This petition is a daily necessity. We need God's attentive ear, we need Him to preserve our souls, to be gracious to us, and to make our souls glad.
Praises:
v5 "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee."
v8 "There is no one like Thee... nor are there any works like Thine."
v 10 "For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds, Thou alone art God"
v15 "But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth."
David confesses the greatness of the Lord. He appeals to His holy character as revealed in the Word. There is truly no one like You Lord! "Teach me Thy way O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy Name, I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Thy name forever." ( v11-12) David commits himself fully to be a follower of God, in truth, in fear, and in love, forever.
Father in heaven , Abba, may Your Name be honored. I offer my praise to You. You are good. You are forgiving. You are great in love and mercy. You do wonderful works and mighty deeds. You are holy and righteous and just. I give You all my worship and praise. There is NO ONE like You. Your Kingdom come! Your reign of peace and joy, of righteousness and truth, Your eternal kingdom, rule in me today. Come into the lives of each of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Open their eyes to see their desperate need of You in their lives. Thank You for being merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Genesis 10 From the 3 sons of Noah there came nations. ".. out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood." Japheth's descendants went to the coastlands. Ham's descendants were "spread abroad". Shem's descendants went to the "hill country of the east." We are also told that during this time "the earth was divided". God separated the family of Noah into nations and also separated the earth itself. Must have been an interesting time to be living!
Genesis 11 tracks the next 10 generations between Noah and Abraham. The tower of Babel incident is recorded here. Men once again want to have power over God, so they try to build a tower to reach heaven. God puts a stop to that by confusing their language and by scattering them "abroad from there over the face of the whole earth;" .
Father, let us see Your heart here. In all these lives You were working out Your plan according to Your will. You created nations and languages. You divided people into tribes and clans and families.
You moved the earth. And You moved Abraham. In all those families, over all those years, You were working towards this one man who would be Yours. We call You the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not the God of Adam, Moses, David, John or Peter.. although You are their God too. There is something special about Abraham. Help me to learn and understand in a new, fresh way as I read through Genesis in the days to come.
Thank You, amen
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Psalm 87 Zion - the City of God's choosing. Whether it speaks of Jerusalem, the city of David in Old Testament times, or the future New Jerusalem, I do not know. But, here we are told that "the Most High Himself will establish her." It is His City and He "shall count when He registers the peoples there." Our Mighty God allows us to enter into His glorious Presence as He chooses. He determines those whom He calls. "This one was born there." How can we be born in Zion?
Only through being "born again" in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Abba, for calling me to be Your own, for adopting me as Your child. I have been redeemed, forgiven, reborn, and I will live in Zion one day. What a glorious hope! Thank You!!!
Genesis 9:1-17 As Noah and his family leave the ark and establish a new society, a new world, God gives some directions.
1. God gives a blessing. Before anything else, God establishes a relationship of blessing, favor and grace.
2. God gives a command, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." It is God's will and plan to have families and communities and nations! It is His will and purpose that we be fruitful.
3. God gives a commission. " And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast.... into your hand they are given." Adam and Eve had been given the assignment of ruling over all living things and eating from the plants and trees. Now Noah is given the animals and plants for food.
4. God gives a warning. "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is its blood. And surely I will require your lifeblood from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man."
5. God establishes a covenant. This agreement is for Noah and all his descendants. It is unconditional. The sign is in the clouds, a "bow" or rainbow is given as proof that God will never again destroy all the flesh on the earth with a flood. God says that the rainbow will cause Him to remember the promise.
Verses 18-29
Noah's sons are Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It appears that Ham already has 1 son, Canaan. Before we are told about their descendants and how they establish nations, we are told of an incident that sets the stage for the future.
Noah plants a vineyard, makes some wine, gets drunk, and goes into his tent to sleep it off.
Ham goes into his father's tent and sees Noah in his "nakedness". It was something that was shameful. When Ham tells his brothers they react with respect and concern for their father. They carefully cover him while turning their faces away. Noah's reaction after waking up reveals that this incident was very serious, for he curses Canaan ( Ham's son). He blesses the Lord, "the God of Shem". He gives Japheth 2nd place after Shem and Canaan is to be their servant.
Father, I don't understand all that happened to Noah and his family, but I ask that You would enable me to learn what You want me to know through Your Word today. I pray that my family and I would live for You and be blessed by You. To honor You and to obey You always. Teach us to live in faith and to love You with all our hearts, minds, and with all our strength. Make us fruitful branches as we abide in the True Vine, Christ Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Only through being "born again" in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Abba, for calling me to be Your own, for adopting me as Your child. I have been redeemed, forgiven, reborn, and I will live in Zion one day. What a glorious hope! Thank You!!!
Genesis 9:1-17 As Noah and his family leave the ark and establish a new society, a new world, God gives some directions.
1. God gives a blessing. Before anything else, God establishes a relationship of blessing, favor and grace.
2. God gives a command, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." It is God's will and plan to have families and communities and nations! It is His will and purpose that we be fruitful.
3. God gives a commission. " And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast.... into your hand they are given." Adam and Eve had been given the assignment of ruling over all living things and eating from the plants and trees. Now Noah is given the animals and plants for food.
4. God gives a warning. "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is its blood. And surely I will require your lifeblood from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man."
5. God establishes a covenant. This agreement is for Noah and all his descendants. It is unconditional. The sign is in the clouds, a "bow" or rainbow is given as proof that God will never again destroy all the flesh on the earth with a flood. God says that the rainbow will cause Him to remember the promise.
Verses 18-29
Noah's sons are Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It appears that Ham already has 1 son, Canaan. Before we are told about their descendants and how they establish nations, we are told of an incident that sets the stage for the future.
Noah plants a vineyard, makes some wine, gets drunk, and goes into his tent to sleep it off.
Ham goes into his father's tent and sees Noah in his "nakedness". It was something that was shameful. When Ham tells his brothers they react with respect and concern for their father. They carefully cover him while turning their faces away. Noah's reaction after waking up reveals that this incident was very serious, for he curses Canaan ( Ham's son). He blesses the Lord, "the God of Shem". He gives Japheth 2nd place after Shem and Canaan is to be their servant.
Father, I don't understand all that happened to Noah and his family, but I ask that You would enable me to learn what You want me to know through Your Word today. I pray that my family and I would live for You and be blessed by You. To honor You and to obey You always. Teach us to live in faith and to love You with all our hearts, minds, and with all our strength. Make us fruitful branches as we abide in the True Vine, Christ Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Psalm 88 The psalmist cries out with desperation and grief. Here is a picture of life without God. A spiritually dead man.
v3 A troubled soul and a nearness to death
v4 Weakness and obscurity
v5 Forsaken
v6 Dark
v7 Afflicted
v8 Alone and hated and imprisoned
v9 Blinded and begging
v15 Terrified and overcome
v16 Destroyed
v17 Drowning
v18 Isolated
We are all in this position until we become like the psalmist and cry out to God for help. We must realize the depth of our sinfulness and how really desperate we are without Him. Only then will we pray with fervent hearts for the help that we all desperately need. For only He can rescue us from the pit.
Prayer includes:
v1 Praying to the One who alone is able to help, " O Lord, the God of my salvation," It is to Jehovah, the self-existent One, the I AM, who has revealed Himself to us, that we come. He is God, the only True Elohim - Creator, Master, Sovereign, Covenant making God.
The psalmist cries out "by day and in the night before Thee". If we are truly desperate for help we will not cease praying to the One Who is able to help us. Earnest, fervent prayer is continual prayer from the heart.
v2 Earnest prayer comes from a posture of humility. The psalmist requests that God allow his prayers to "come before" Him, "Incline Thine ear to my cry!" We cannot make God listen, but we can ask that He will. He tells us that when we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him.
v3-9 The psalmist confesses his needs. His situation is desperate. But he knows that The Lord is His only hope. "I have called upon Thee every day, O Lord; I have spread out my hands to Thee."
He has no other hope and no other plan. There is no other way. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We must know that and agree ( confess) that this is our situation too.
v10-12 The psalmist asks a series of questions that appeal to the Lord's mercy and remembers the Lord's goodness. It is the Lord God alone Who : performs wonders, receives praise, is loving and kind, faithful and righteous. The dead do not declare these things, only the living do. The spiritually dead do not know the greatness of the Lord's character. But those made alive in Christ do! And we must declare how great and wonderful He is!!!!
v13 "But I, O Lord, have cried out to Thee for help, and in the morning my prayer comes before Thee." A statement of faith in the middle of a desperate plea. By faith we come to our God, our only Hope, our Refuge and Fortress, our God in Whom we trust.
Father in Heaven, Your Word is Truth. It is living and active. I am amazed as Your Holy Spirit opens my eyes to that truth. Here in this psalm I have found a key to earnest prayer. James told us that "The effective (earnest) prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." Elijah prayed earnestly and great things happened. Our prayers sometimes are trite and meaningless. We do not know our need to pray unless we know that we are desperately in need. Open our eyes to this Truth. We need You. You are the air we breathe and our daily bread. In You is Life and without You we are withered branches that will be cut off and burned. I seek You Lord, I come to You and confess my great need for You today. Thank You for allowing my prayer to come before You. In the Name of the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Genesis 8 God "remembered Noah". He closed the floodgates, stopped the rain, sent a wind, and made the water start to subside. It was still a long time before Noah and his family and all the animals could leave the ark. When they finally were allowed off the boat the first thing Noah did was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. God promised that He would never again destroy every living thing as He did during the flood. He also promised that we would always have seedtime, harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night... as long as the earth exists. He also reminded Noah that a man's heart is inclined towards evil. It is a reality. We are all in the same pot. In the same desperate situation that the psalmist talked about many, many years later. So thankful for a God who "remembers" us!
Keep us occupied with Yourself today, through all the activities that seek to run our lives. May we know our need for You and seek to walk with You each moment. Amen
v3 A troubled soul and a nearness to death
v4 Weakness and obscurity
v5 Forsaken
v6 Dark
v7 Afflicted
v8 Alone and hated and imprisoned
v9 Blinded and begging
v15 Terrified and overcome
v16 Destroyed
v17 Drowning
v18 Isolated
We are all in this position until we become like the psalmist and cry out to God for help. We must realize the depth of our sinfulness and how really desperate we are without Him. Only then will we pray with fervent hearts for the help that we all desperately need. For only He can rescue us from the pit.
Prayer includes:
v1 Praying to the One who alone is able to help, " O Lord, the God of my salvation," It is to Jehovah, the self-existent One, the I AM, who has revealed Himself to us, that we come. He is God, the only True Elohim - Creator, Master, Sovereign, Covenant making God.
The psalmist cries out "by day and in the night before Thee". If we are truly desperate for help we will not cease praying to the One Who is able to help us. Earnest, fervent prayer is continual prayer from the heart.
v2 Earnest prayer comes from a posture of humility. The psalmist requests that God allow his prayers to "come before" Him, "Incline Thine ear to my cry!" We cannot make God listen, but we can ask that He will. He tells us that when we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him.
v3-9 The psalmist confesses his needs. His situation is desperate. But he knows that The Lord is His only hope. "I have called upon Thee every day, O Lord; I have spread out my hands to Thee."
He has no other hope and no other plan. There is no other way. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We must know that and agree ( confess) that this is our situation too.
v10-12 The psalmist asks a series of questions that appeal to the Lord's mercy and remembers the Lord's goodness. It is the Lord God alone Who : performs wonders, receives praise, is loving and kind, faithful and righteous. The dead do not declare these things, only the living do. The spiritually dead do not know the greatness of the Lord's character. But those made alive in Christ do! And we must declare how great and wonderful He is!!!!
v13 "But I, O Lord, have cried out to Thee for help, and in the morning my prayer comes before Thee." A statement of faith in the middle of a desperate plea. By faith we come to our God, our only Hope, our Refuge and Fortress, our God in Whom we trust.
Father in Heaven, Your Word is Truth. It is living and active. I am amazed as Your Holy Spirit opens my eyes to that truth. Here in this psalm I have found a key to earnest prayer. James told us that "The effective (earnest) prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." Elijah prayed earnestly and great things happened. Our prayers sometimes are trite and meaningless. We do not know our need to pray unless we know that we are desperately in need. Open our eyes to this Truth. We need You. You are the air we breathe and our daily bread. In You is Life and without You we are withered branches that will be cut off and burned. I seek You Lord, I come to You and confess my great need for You today. Thank You for allowing my prayer to come before You. In the Name of the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Genesis 8 God "remembered Noah". He closed the floodgates, stopped the rain, sent a wind, and made the water start to subside. It was still a long time before Noah and his family and all the animals could leave the ark. When they finally were allowed off the boat the first thing Noah did was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. God promised that He would never again destroy every living thing as He did during the flood. He also promised that we would always have seedtime, harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night... as long as the earth exists. He also reminded Noah that a man's heart is inclined towards evil. It is a reality. We are all in the same pot. In the same desperate situation that the psalmist talked about many, many years later. So thankful for a God who "remembers" us!
Keep us occupied with Yourself today, through all the activities that seek to run our lives. May we know our need for You and seek to walk with You each moment. Amen
Friday, November 8, 2013
Psalm 89 "Who is like Thee, O mighty Lord?" You have declared Your lovingkindness to us. You have established Your faithfulness. You keep Your covenants through the generations. You have established Your Kingdom and the eternal King, Jesus Christ. You rule the sea and the earth. It is Your creation and is subject to Your commands. You determined that righteousness and justice would be the foundation of Your throne. We rejoice in Your Name. And even though it seemed to the Israelites that You had abandoned them, You did not. Even in their rebellion and idolatry, You did not forget Your promise to David. For Jesus is the everlasting Son of David and Son of God. He endured the cross. "Blessed be the Lord, forever!"
Genesis 7 The Flood. Noah obeyed God, doing all that God had commanded him. He built the ark exactly as God said. He entered the ark when God told him to enter. He took his family and the animals into the ark and God Himself shut the door. That "very same day", the floodgates opened. That day, rain fell. For forty days the water prevailed until all life outside of the ark was gone. Only those inside were saved.
Life for Noah and his family must have been a true roller coaster. 40 days of rain and 150 more days of nothing but water on the earth. Knowing that the only living things on the whole earth consisted of just them. They must have sorrowed at the loss of family and community. They must have grieved over the death and destruction. Thankful that they were hidden in God's shelter, but wondering about what would happen next.
Father, the world around us is headed to destruction again. We know that is true. We know that only those whose lives are hidden in Christ, resting in His salvation, will be saved from the final judgement. We are thankful for Your provision, for Your Grace. But we still grieve for those outside Your Ark. We pray that You would open the eyes and hearts of men and women and children to come to Jesus and be saved, before the day when the door is shut and there is no more time to enter into Your salvation. May we live in obedience, like Noah did, that others may know the Truth and find You. Oh teach us to "number our days".... to make our days count for You. May we abide in Christ and Christ in us that we may bear fruit, that others will come to You and find shelter from the destruction that will come. In Jesus' Name I ask this, amen.
Genesis 7 The Flood. Noah obeyed God, doing all that God had commanded him. He built the ark exactly as God said. He entered the ark when God told him to enter. He took his family and the animals into the ark and God Himself shut the door. That "very same day", the floodgates opened. That day, rain fell. For forty days the water prevailed until all life outside of the ark was gone. Only those inside were saved.
Life for Noah and his family must have been a true roller coaster. 40 days of rain and 150 more days of nothing but water on the earth. Knowing that the only living things on the whole earth consisted of just them. They must have sorrowed at the loss of family and community. They must have grieved over the death and destruction. Thankful that they were hidden in God's shelter, but wondering about what would happen next.
Father, the world around us is headed to destruction again. We know that is true. We know that only those whose lives are hidden in Christ, resting in His salvation, will be saved from the final judgement. We are thankful for Your provision, for Your Grace. But we still grieve for those outside Your Ark. We pray that You would open the eyes and hearts of men and women and children to come to Jesus and be saved, before the day when the door is shut and there is no more time to enter into Your salvation. May we live in obedience, like Noah did, that others may know the Truth and find You. Oh teach us to "number our days".... to make our days count for You. May we abide in Christ and Christ in us that we may bear fruit, that others will come to You and find shelter from the destruction that will come. In Jesus' Name I ask this, amen.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Psalm 90 "Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God." This prayer of Moses reminds us that God is Great! He established all of creation, He is eternal, and He in omnipotent. In contrast, we are dust. We are like grass that sprouts in the morning and fades away in the evening. Life is short. "We finish our years like a sigh." We need to learn to "number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom." How do we do that?
v 14 - Seek Him in the morning and find contentment in His loving kindness. Sing for joy and be glad in Him. Every day, no matter what.
v16 Praise Him. Marvel at His Work and His Majesty. Pray for eyes to see His Hand in your life and that Your children will see His majesty.
v17 Pray for God's favor. That God will use the "work of our hands" for His eternal glory.
v 4 "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by." Where did yesterday go to? I am always amazed how quickly the days and weeks, and months fly by. That is how a thousand years is to God. When we number our days, when we weigh them, allot them, count them, may they each be lived for God's glory.
Find us living in faith, in communion with You, Lord God, every day. Teach us to seek You, praise You, see You, marvel at You, and work for You every day.
This is how we present to You a heart of wisdom. Daily walking with You, abiding in You and You in us. Oh how we need to learn this lesson of committing every day to You. Teach us I pray. amen
Genesis 6 Man, left to his own devices becomes corrupt. 10 generations from Adam's fall and the whole earth was corrupt (v12). Violence, wickedness, and evil had permeated the perfect creation that had once been "good" in the sight of the Lord. God decided to destroy all flesh. Every living, breathing thing would be destroyed, except for those whom He would save in the ark. One man, Noah, walked with God. One man found favor in His sight. We are told that Noah was righteous and blameless. He did everything that God commanded him to do. (He numbered his days and had a heart of wisdom.)
Father, we live in a corrupt world also. There are many violent and wicked men. Your Word tells us that another time of judgement is coming. This time it will not be a flood, but fire. Heaven and earth will pass away. Only those who come into Your Ark, into the place of safety, into Jesus Christ, will be saved. Oh to find favor in Your sight as Noah did, to walk in Your righteousness, to be obedient to all Your commands, and to be safe in Your arms. I ask that You will open our eyes to see how much we need to be ready, for the day of Your coming is drawing near. "Jesus, Messiah, Name above all names, .. rescue for sinners, Ransom from Heaven" You alone are our Ark of safety. Bring us fully inside... into You. Thank You for the free gift of salvation by Your Grace. I enter in by faith and find refuge. I ask for mercy on those (loved ones... You know their names Lord) who wait outside, who don't see the coming destruction, that You would grant them repentance, that they would see their own corruption and confess their sins and turn to You. That they might also enter the ark of salvation, Jesus Christ, and be transformed, made truly alive. I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
v 14 - Seek Him in the morning and find contentment in His loving kindness. Sing for joy and be glad in Him. Every day, no matter what.
v16 Praise Him. Marvel at His Work and His Majesty. Pray for eyes to see His Hand in your life and that Your children will see His majesty.
v17 Pray for God's favor. That God will use the "work of our hands" for His eternal glory.
v 4 "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by." Where did yesterday go to? I am always amazed how quickly the days and weeks, and months fly by. That is how a thousand years is to God. When we number our days, when we weigh them, allot them, count them, may they each be lived for God's glory.
Find us living in faith, in communion with You, Lord God, every day. Teach us to seek You, praise You, see You, marvel at You, and work for You every day.
This is how we present to You a heart of wisdom. Daily walking with You, abiding in You and You in us. Oh how we need to learn this lesson of committing every day to You. Teach us I pray. amen
Genesis 6 Man, left to his own devices becomes corrupt. 10 generations from Adam's fall and the whole earth was corrupt (v12). Violence, wickedness, and evil had permeated the perfect creation that had once been "good" in the sight of the Lord. God decided to destroy all flesh. Every living, breathing thing would be destroyed, except for those whom He would save in the ark. One man, Noah, walked with God. One man found favor in His sight. We are told that Noah was righteous and blameless. He did everything that God commanded him to do. (He numbered his days and had a heart of wisdom.)
Father, we live in a corrupt world also. There are many violent and wicked men. Your Word tells us that another time of judgement is coming. This time it will not be a flood, but fire. Heaven and earth will pass away. Only those who come into Your Ark, into the place of safety, into Jesus Christ, will be saved. Oh to find favor in Your sight as Noah did, to walk in Your righteousness, to be obedient to all Your commands, and to be safe in Your arms. I ask that You will open our eyes to see how much we need to be ready, for the day of Your coming is drawing near. "Jesus, Messiah, Name above all names, .. rescue for sinners, Ransom from Heaven" You alone are our Ark of safety. Bring us fully inside... into You. Thank You for the free gift of salvation by Your Grace. I enter in by faith and find refuge. I ask for mercy on those (loved ones... You know their names Lord) who wait outside, who don't see the coming destruction, that You would grant them repentance, that they would see their own corruption and confess their sins and turn to You. That they might also enter the ark of salvation, Jesus Christ, and be transformed, made truly alive. I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Genesis 4 Cain is the firstborn of Adam and Eve. This is after the fall and the curse of painful childbirth. Perhaps this is why Eve proclaims "I have gotten a man child with the help of the Lord ".
Cain was "tiller of the ground". This was his love. He desired this above anything else, even above God. He chose to bring an offering to the Lord from his fields. Something he did with the sweat of his brow and his own hands. This is not acceptable to the Lord. Cain becomes angry that the Lord does not respect this gift. His anger leads to jealousy, which leads to murder. The result for Cain is judgement. He is cursed with the loss of his ability to cultivate the ground. He becomes "a vagrant and a wanderer". Then " Cain went out from the presence of the Lord". He starts his own city. He becomes the father of a clan. They do great things - Jabal institutes tent-dwelling and livestock, Jubal institutes the arts, "the lyre and pipe"; Tubal-cain is a forger of implements of bronze and iron, tools.
But it never says that they worshiped God again.
Cain had a choice and his wrong, sinful choice led to a society of godless people. One person's choice affects more than just himself. God warned Cain, and He warns us. " If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (v7) Cain's "countenance fell" because of his anger. He lost control of his conduct and his attitude. He let sin in the door. He let it devour him instead of mastering it. He only had to confess and repent. To choose God's way over his own. But he refused. Even after he killed his brother, he never repented. He just complained about the punishment.
Abel is the second born son. He is a keeper of sheep. He brought an offering that God respected, a firstling of his flock. He worshipped properly. This brought about his brother's jealousy. He is murdered by his brother Cain. And his blood cried out to God. Hebrews 11:4 speaks of Abel, " By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith though he is dead, he still speaks."
And in Hebrews 12:24 Abel's blood is compared with the blood of the new covenant, the blood of Jesus which "speaks better than the blood of Abel."
Chapter 4 ends with the birth of Seth. Abel is dead, Cain is an outcast, but God gives Adam and Eve another son. It is from his line that we have Noah, Abraham, David, and finally Jesus. Eve considered Seth a replacement for Abel, appointed to her, from God. Gen. 5:3 "When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth." Seth carries on the likeness, the family resemblance of his father Adam.
This begins a long line of descendants who carry on this image. And it is in this generation that "men began to call upon the name of the Lord."
Chapter 5 gives the lineage of Adam, made in the image of God, through until the life of Noah. 10 generations. All having many sons and daughters. All living hundreds of years. Massive reproduction! Unique among the many are Enoch, who walked with God so closely that God took him, and Noah. Noah's father, Lamech, made an interesting statement about his son, "This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." There was something special about Noah right from the beginning of his life.
Father, thank You for Your Word that reveals all Truth. Thank You for helping us to see what the life of faith looks like and what the life of sin leads to. Help us to always choose to live for You, in obedience to Your Word, in relationship with You. Help us to walk with You like Enoch did. We call upon Your Name, the only Name by which we can be saved. Help us to abide in You and know that You abide in us. Through Jesus, the True Vine. Amen.
Cain was "tiller of the ground". This was his love. He desired this above anything else, even above God. He chose to bring an offering to the Lord from his fields. Something he did with the sweat of his brow and his own hands. This is not acceptable to the Lord. Cain becomes angry that the Lord does not respect this gift. His anger leads to jealousy, which leads to murder. The result for Cain is judgement. He is cursed with the loss of his ability to cultivate the ground. He becomes "a vagrant and a wanderer". Then " Cain went out from the presence of the Lord". He starts his own city. He becomes the father of a clan. They do great things - Jabal institutes tent-dwelling and livestock, Jubal institutes the arts, "the lyre and pipe"; Tubal-cain is a forger of implements of bronze and iron, tools.
But it never says that they worshiped God again.
Cain had a choice and his wrong, sinful choice led to a society of godless people. One person's choice affects more than just himself. God warned Cain, and He warns us. " If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (v7) Cain's "countenance fell" because of his anger. He lost control of his conduct and his attitude. He let sin in the door. He let it devour him instead of mastering it. He only had to confess and repent. To choose God's way over his own. But he refused. Even after he killed his brother, he never repented. He just complained about the punishment.
Abel is the second born son. He is a keeper of sheep. He brought an offering that God respected, a firstling of his flock. He worshipped properly. This brought about his brother's jealousy. He is murdered by his brother Cain. And his blood cried out to God. Hebrews 11:4 speaks of Abel, " By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith though he is dead, he still speaks."
And in Hebrews 12:24 Abel's blood is compared with the blood of the new covenant, the blood of Jesus which "speaks better than the blood of Abel."
Chapter 4 ends with the birth of Seth. Abel is dead, Cain is an outcast, but God gives Adam and Eve another son. It is from his line that we have Noah, Abraham, David, and finally Jesus. Eve considered Seth a replacement for Abel, appointed to her, from God. Gen. 5:3 "When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth." Seth carries on the likeness, the family resemblance of his father Adam.
This begins a long line of descendants who carry on this image. And it is in this generation that "men began to call upon the name of the Lord."
Chapter 5 gives the lineage of Adam, made in the image of God, through until the life of Noah. 10 generations. All having many sons and daughters. All living hundreds of years. Massive reproduction! Unique among the many are Enoch, who walked with God so closely that God took him, and Noah. Noah's father, Lamech, made an interesting statement about his son, "This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." There was something special about Noah right from the beginning of his life.
Father, thank You for Your Word that reveals all Truth. Thank You for helping us to see what the life of faith looks like and what the life of sin leads to. Help us to always choose to live for You, in obedience to Your Word, in relationship with You. Help us to walk with You like Enoch did. We call upon Your Name, the only Name by which we can be saved. Help us to abide in You and know that You abide in us. Through Jesus, the True Vine. Amen.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Genesis 3 "The Fall of Man" is the title given to this chapter. It is the sequence of events from which the rest of scripture plays out; the telling of the story's dramatic plot that all of history tries to solve; which climaxes in our Savior's death, resurrection, and someday His glorious return. There is a detailed retelling of the drama through the actions of the main characters.
The crafty Serpent tempts. He lies.
The woman is deceived. She breaks the commandment.
The man is persuaded. He sins.
God is righteous. He does exactly what He said He would do.
Satan always acts the same. He lies and deceives. He tries to convince us that what God has said is wrong. He is cursed to always eat dust. (Since we are dust, that means he is after us.)
The woman saw the fruit, delighted in it, desired it, ate it, shared it, and paid for it. Pain in childbirth, longing/ desperation for a husband, dominated by him.
The man listened to his wife, hid from God, and ushered in death.
God cursed the serpent and the ground. He gave consequences to the man and the woman for their disobedience. They were removed from the garden that He had planted and returned to the place of Adam's creation, to the place where he was formed from the dust. Out of the garden where there was life, into the wilderness where they would eventually die.
Yet, God clothed the man and woman. He covered them with the skin of an animal. And He gave a promise that one day the "seed" of the woman would bruise the head of Satan. A promise that is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of God.
It is all here. All the drama of our lives and every life before us, and those who will follow after us.
We are all deceived by the cursed serpent. We see the "tree" that we think is delightful. We desire after that which God has told us not to desire. We share it with others, leading them to the same fate. We hide from God's presence. We are destined to return to dust. We dwell in a wilderness instead of a garden. Until we turn to Jesus. Until we are covered by His blood, by His righteousness, clothed by the Father's grace.
Oh we need You, Lord Jesus! Every hour we need You. We need Your Truth, lest we swallow the enemy's lies. We need Your life, for we are just dust. We need Your covering, for we are naked and afraid. We need Your will to be done, not our own. For Your will is good and holy and right. We need You. Thank You for rescuing us from sin and death through Jesus, the Lamb of God, slain for our redemption. Bless Your Holy Name forever and ever. Amen.
The crafty Serpent tempts. He lies.
The woman is deceived. She breaks the commandment.
The man is persuaded. He sins.
God is righteous. He does exactly what He said He would do.
Satan always acts the same. He lies and deceives. He tries to convince us that what God has said is wrong. He is cursed to always eat dust. (Since we are dust, that means he is after us.)
The woman saw the fruit, delighted in it, desired it, ate it, shared it, and paid for it. Pain in childbirth, longing/ desperation for a husband, dominated by him.
The man listened to his wife, hid from God, and ushered in death.
God cursed the serpent and the ground. He gave consequences to the man and the woman for their disobedience. They were removed from the garden that He had planted and returned to the place of Adam's creation, to the place where he was formed from the dust. Out of the garden where there was life, into the wilderness where they would eventually die.
Yet, God clothed the man and woman. He covered them with the skin of an animal. And He gave a promise that one day the "seed" of the woman would bruise the head of Satan. A promise that is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of God.
It is all here. All the drama of our lives and every life before us, and those who will follow after us.
We are all deceived by the cursed serpent. We see the "tree" that we think is delightful. We desire after that which God has told us not to desire. We share it with others, leading them to the same fate. We hide from God's presence. We are destined to return to dust. We dwell in a wilderness instead of a garden. Until we turn to Jesus. Until we are covered by His blood, by His righteousness, clothed by the Father's grace.
Oh we need You, Lord Jesus! Every hour we need You. We need Your Truth, lest we swallow the enemy's lies. We need Your life, for we are just dust. We need Your covering, for we are naked and afraid. We need Your will to be done, not our own. For Your will is good and holy and right. We need You. Thank You for rescuing us from sin and death through Jesus, the Lamb of God, slain for our redemption. Bless Your Holy Name forever and ever. Amen.
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