May 25, 2008
Scripture
Scripture
Can we go back to 1 Chronicles 16 just to read a verse or two? This is a precious portion of Scripture, it is David speaking, giving thanks. “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth … Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place” (vv. 8 – 12, & 23 – 27).
Hymn 361 – There is a happy land
Prayer
Today we’ll look at day 6; Read Genesis 1:24 & 25. On day 6, God created animals and creeping things. If you look at the verses we just read, you will find that there are a few words that are repeated: “after his kind.” What does that mean? God knew that people would eventually question whether He created all things; He knew they would say that all animals evolved from a common species. that’s why He put this in. He made it clear that every animal was made individually.
Read v. 26. This verse starts differently from our other creation verses. Instead of saying, “Let there be … ” God says, “Let us … ” Who is “us”? It is the Trinity—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and they seem to be having a meeting. God has already made a lot of life, but now He is preparing for a special creation, a creation in the image of God; it was to be God’s representative on earth. God owned everything He had created, but He wanted this special creature to rule on earth. This creature was mankind. Man would also be in the likeness of God, meaning that he would be sinless as God. God didn’t create man as a sinner. Read v. 27 – 29. God created man and woman, and told them to rule over all creation.
Read v. 30 & 31. God told the animals and man that they could eat the plants and fruits; this was God’s plan to sustain life on the earth. That was day 6.
I want to look at one more verse: ch. 2:7. Was man made just like the other animals? No, God just spoke and created the animals; with man, he formed him out of the dust of the ground and breathed His life into him. Man was the only creature with a living soul. Man’s soul is an invisible component; an extra piece that animals don’t have. That’s why I put man on the line on our chart; he is part of both the visible and invisible creations. Man is the highest creature in the visible world and the lowest creature in the invisible world. We will look at this in more detail in the future, Lord willing, after day 7, but I’ll give you a clue: we saw near the beginning of our study that there was a conflict between God and Satan; who will solve that conflict? God or man?
after reviewing the creation of man, v. 3 here is so much more precious. God has provided life beyond physical life; physical life seems to ebb away, but our spiritual life flows like a river, continually getting stronger. The Lord compares spiritual life to a river; through different verses in John 3, 4, & 7, we see how that life can grow in us and flow out to others. Hezekiah is an interesting example here: Read II Chronicles 32:2 – 4, & 30. Hezekiah stopped the river so the enemy couldn’t get to it and redirected it so Jerusalem could enjoy it. Read Psalm 87:7. For us, can we say that all our springs are in the Lord? We can and should plug into that life that flows from the Lord. So, God has given us everything we need for life—the input—and godliness—the output. We should covet the attitude that seeks to find our resource in that which flows from above. We can enjoy these waters like Hezekiah did. Read II Chronicles 32:10 & 11; even though the enemy threatened or flaunted better things, Hezekiah was not overcome. The only truly satisfying water comes from the Lord.
V. 3 gives us divine power; v. 4 gives us divine promises and divine nature. Also, we have knowledge in vv. 2 & 3: we have that divine power and nature working for us because of our knowledge of Him. Also, we have knowledge 5 times in vv. 1 – 8. This knowledge comes to us because we are special creatures, made in the images of God. He wants to relate to us. We can’t say like the Queen of Sheba, “not even half was told me” (I Kings 10:7). God has manifest Himself in the scriptures; we will say, “I didn’t comprehend even half!”
Notice that we are called. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and others were called. We are called by glory and virtue. Our time is about up, but notice that in v. 4, God has given us so many precious promises, He couldn’t give any more!
Hymn 345 – Jesus loves the little children
Prayer