Notes from my Bible Study for January 9, 2010

Passages Read Today: Psalm 8, Genesis 8:20‐9:19, 1 Chronicles 9, Luke 5:1‐6:16

Psalm 8 - It's amazing how many of our modern worship songs have come out of this Psalm. What is it about these words that resonate with us so much. We love a God who is majestic, whose name is renowned. We love the fact that God is so big and even though we are so insignificant in comparison, God is crazy about us.

I love the wording of the psalmist in verse 3. "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers. . ."

The heavens are the work of God's fingers! How many times do we use phrases like "the works of your fingers?" Not often. Works of your hands. Sure. Works of your labors. Sure. But, works of your fingers. I think of the works of fingers being works of art. Our fingers do fine detail work. They create. And, that's what God did in creation.

When a Jewish writer wanted to emphasize something, he might bookend it. That is, he would use the same phrase at the beginning and the end of his writing. That is what David did in Psalm 8. How majestic is our God's name in all the earth!

Genesis 8:20-9:19 - God had acted swiftly and justly. His judgment was final. There had never been a death toll like it. There would never be again. We read the covenant that God made with Noah and his family in Genesis 9:9. It is the first covenant ever recorded in the Bible. God's grace is good. He would move forward with His redemptive plan with this family. You and I are here because of this covenant, and are heirs to the covenant.

1 Chronicles 9 - It's interesting that Saul's geneaology is repeated in this chapter. It was also recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:29-38.

Luke 5:1-6:16 - Luke 5:1-6:16 records the calling of the first disciples. Our precious Lord chose ordinary men to follow Him as His disciples. And, their response to follow often times came because of that they had seen Him do. I find it interesting that Jesus came to save sinners, but Simon Peter, after seeing the miracle of the fish said, "Depart from me, I am a sinful man, O Lord." Jesus didn't want to depart from Peter, He wanted to save him. He came here because we needed Him. He came for sinful men and women.

These chapters really help us understand that it was because of to redeem sinful men that Jesus came to earth. Simon was right to ask Jesus to depart from his presence, because he felt guilty about his life. Jesus redeems Simon, and also offers this redemption to us.

I love after the calling of Matthew, the tax collector, that the Pharisees and Scribes accuse Jesus of hanging out with sinners. Jesus responds beautifully by explaining the the righteous don't need a doctor, the sick do. He came for sinners.

Luke, the doctor, is quick to point out the miraculous healings that took place in this chapter. These healings were needed because of the effects of the fall of man. Sin brought death, and Christ brings life. Embrace His gift of life today!