Notes from my Bible Study for January 7, 2010

Passages Read Today: Psalm 6, Genesis 7, 1 Chronicles 7, Luke 3:23:-4:13


Psalm 6 -One of the things that I love about David, is that he was a man's man. He conquered nations. He was a warrior king. He defeated a giant and some ferocious animals. He was brave. And yet, he was tender.
David played the harp. He sang. He worshipped with passion. And, he sinned with passion. Everything he did, David did with passion. Even weeping.

This man's man wasn't afraid to admit that he wept. In Psalm 6:6-7, David gives one of the most vivid descriptions of despair that I have ever read. He writes, "I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes."

Doesn't quite sound like a conquering king, does it? Even those who hold great positions of power, struggle with emotional pain from time to time. David was no exception. But, David knew too, where his source of strength and healing was. It was God.

He ends this psalm with the truth that God had heard his plea and accepted his prayer. God would have his back. May we remember in our dark nights of the soul that God is watching over us. He loves us. He knows how tough life can be. And, he stands ready to heal us, if we'll serve Him fully.

Genesis 7 - Genesis 7 ends with these words, "Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days."

It got me thinking . . .

"Noah, it's time."

"Lord, is that you?"

"Yes, Noah. Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. . ."

"It's time. It's really time," Noah thought to himself as he hastily rushed the animals onto the ark.

It was so surreal. Animals were coming to him, and this huge vessel that he and his sons had built. The jeers and taunts of godless friends and neighbors had taken their toll over the years. There had been more than one discussion with his wife and sons over just how God expected them to endure under such hostility. They had felt like fools on more than one occasion. But now, even as they saw the miracle of the animals coming, all Noah felt was sadness.

Why had the people turned their backs upon God? Why was it that only Noah and his family could hear the voice of God? The distractions of the world had so drowned out the voice of God in the lives of the people.

Those distractions would soon be gone. The lust of the flesh would soon be replaced with rotting of flesh. God's judgment was sure to come. God always kept His promises. Noah felt sad.

God said that he would send rain, whatever that was, for forty days and forty nights and every living thing that he had made would be blotted out from the face of the earth.

Noah had never seen God so angry. He had walked with God for all 600 years of his life. He had seen such a change in the people during those years. A people who just a couple hundred years back had served and followed God had forgotten about Him.

"Forgotten, Dad? Forgotten, or ignored?" It was the voice of Shem. Shem, one of Noah's triplets had always had a special place in Noah's heart. He asked good questions. He, like Noah, loved the Lord.

"I suppose, ignored would be the better word, son? The evidence of God is all around, isn't it? How can you see the sunrise and forget the Creator? How can you see these magnificent beasts, and ignore the Lord?"

Just an hour before, Shem had been talking with his brothers about the dinosaurs that entered the ark so peacefully. These were indeed fascinating times. Shem wondered about the effects of this impending judgment on the big meat eaters like the dinosaurs. How would they survive? And, if they did, how would the other animals survive. It was so complicated. And so. . . sad. So, sad.

When the last of the animals boarded the ark it happened. Rain came. "So this is what rain is," thought Noah. It was drops of water at first, but within moments it became violent. The best way to describe it is that the fountains of the great deep burst fourth and the windows of heaven were opened.

The screams were awful. There were a few who knocked on the ark begging for mercy. But, God had shut the door. The people had their chance long ago. And the people chose pleasure, temporary pleasure, over God.

There wasn't just weeping on the outside of the ark, there was weeping in the ark too. Weeping for everyone, EVERYONE, else on planet earth. Weeping that God had chosen this family to survive while all else perished. Weeping that life would be so lonely. And, there was hope. Hope that God would do something new. Hope that this line of people would stay faithful to God. Hope that never again would the earth choose to reject God like this.

Only Noah was left, and those who were with him on the ark. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

1 Chronicles 7 - I did not add any notes to my Bible here.

Luke 3:23-4:13When I read about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, I reminded of how easily I fall for Satan's traps, and how much power we have in Christ to resist the devil. Jesus didn't fall for any of Satan's schemes. Not once! Never, ever! And, that, to me, brings great joy.