01.04.2010

Today's reading is Genesis 7, 8, Psalms 4, Proverbs 4, Matthew

Noah has built the ark, it does not go into detail of Noah's building the ark. Rather it simply said, Noah built the ark, and followed God's command and boarded the boat with his family. The Lord told him how it would begin, when the rain would start. It doesn't go into how Noah felt about the Lord's commandment, how his neighbors reacted. It does not explain how hard it was to build such a large ark, or what the wait was like. It did not go into detail about his trials of faith, it simply says what was done. Then that everything went according to all of the Lord's commands. Also as soon as the event was over, without prompting Noah, Noah greatfully gave an offering to the Lord.

Psalms chapter four is quite short, and seems a demand that corrupted people repent. Fear the Lord, and put your faith in Him seems to be the message. There is no hope in worldly wisdom, only in the Creator's wisdom and will. God's will is more precious than the world's wealth of bounty and drink.

In today's Proverb is a direction for the son to honor his father. To follow the only commandment of the ten that comes with a promise, and this proverb restates the promise of a long life in result of the honoring of your father. Solomon tells his sons, to honor him by embracing the Lord's wisdom.

To the New Testament; in Matthew we continue with and end the Sermon on the Mount. Do unto others as you would have them do to you, is taught. Love your neighbor as you would yourself, rephrased and repeated. I love that about the Bible. Everything important is repeated constantly. The end of the sermon was most interesting to me. Jesus said that not everyone who calls to him, Lord, will be saved. Calls to Him! He comes right out and says, when you die, and try to get to heaven, you will ask me. Jesus's first recorded words in the New Testament declare him as Lord.