ch 6 - Noah "found Grace in the eyes of the Lord". Unlike most of Noah's contemporaries, Noah was searching for the Grace of God. Which is why he found it.

Have you found the Grace of God yet? Do you know what it looks like?

Mercy is when we do not receive what we do deserve - [like David who found mercy even though he deserved death under the law], and Grace is when we do receive what we do not deserve - [like Noah who received salvation, not because he deserved it, but because he had also built a dynamic relationship with the provider of Grace in heaven].

Giants in the Earth - does not refer to physically large men, but rather to bullies, men of great reputation, who threw their weight around, just as the evil servant described by Jesus in Matthew 24:48-51.

As it was in the Days of Noah - There are many who believe that by these words, Jesus was warning about a relative few who will be saved when He returns. But the warning of Noah is not so much about the number who escaped the flood, but the means whereby they did escape.

5:29 One wonders what Lamech expected when he said of Noah ‘this same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil’ because of the curse. He certainly did bring comfort – but not to those who were like Lamech who simply saw the curse as  punishment.

6:8 This is the first mention of ‘grace’ in Scripture

5:3 Contrasting with what we saw yesterday these sons are all Adam’s son – ‘he begat’ – and they all died – thus we see that the deliverer will not come through the work of Adam – that is man.

6:2     That the sons of God ‘saw’ the women were ‘fair’ and so ‘took’ them echoes Eve’s response to the fruit of the tree of life – Gen 3:6. So Eve’s behaviour is seen to be manifest in the sons born to Adam and his descendants.

6:9     We should not read lightly that ‘Noah walked with God’  he was in a minority but was doing what Abraham will later be called to do - Gen 17:1 and what Jesus calls us to do  Matt 5:48

Gen 5:1-2 First Principles>The Nature of Man
A creature of dust, man is mortal: that is, subject to death or dissolution of being, in consequence of the disobedience of Adam which brought death as the penalty of sin. In the death state a man is a body deprived of life, and is utterly unconscious as if be had never existed. His dead body corruption will presently destroy.
1. The origin of man - God created man - go to Gen 5:1-2. This is a sufficient statement, never mind how.
2. The fall of man. God gave man a commandment Gen 2:17 and man was beguiled by the serpent - go to Gen 3:4-5 for more details. The consequence is that death was passed upon the human race Gen 3:17. Adam represented the human race.
3. The effects of Adam's transgression on the Human race. We cannot be responsible for Adam's transgression, but we still suffer its consequences. Go to 1Cor 15:21-22.
4. The death state - Man is mortal - go to Ecc 9:5.
5. Bible Teaching on the Soul. The serpent was the first being to teach the immortality of the soul. Soul in the Bible means, primarily, creature; but it is also used of the various aspects in which a living creature - man or beast - can be contemplated, such as person, body, life, breath, mind. It never expresses the idea of immortality.
An Official Church of England Publication in 1945, page 23 states:
The idea of the indestructibility of the human soul or consciousness owes its origin to Greek and not to Bible sources.
    1. Nephesh (Hebrew word for Soul) - go to Eze 18:4
    2. Properties of the Soul - go to Isa 29:8
    3. Psuche (Greek word for Soul) - go to Matt 10:28
    4. Bible teaching on the Spirit - go to Gen 41:8
6. An end to the mortal state:
    1. Redemption from death Hos 13:14
    2. Death to be swallowed up in victory Isa 25:8
    3. No more death, sorrow or crying Rev 21:4
    4. Last enemy to be destroyed 1Cor 15:26
First Principles> For more First Princile topics, go to Acts 8:12.

6:11 Contrast the description here – the earth filled with violence with Num 14:21, Isa 11:9, Hab 2:14where the earth will be filled with God’s glory. We must realise that the world in which we live is a far cry from what God is looking for.

5:29   The name Noah means rest.  In Gen 7:7 we learn that Noah entered the ark ahead of he animals, which begs the question, how did the animals then get into the ark? Perhaps the answer is found in Matt 11:28-29, where we are told that coming to Jesus will give us rest. The play on the english word "rest" is obvious.  We came to Jesus, we were not driven to him.  The animals came to Noah, they weren't driven to him.

In the UK, a shepherd drives sheep before him, in the Middle East, the shepherd leads the sheep. John 10:4,5,27  We need to be sure that we know the voice of our shepherd.

Psa 7 - This Psalm was written because of the words of Shimei - 2 Samuel 16:7. So the use of 'if' v3,4 and the call for God to allow the enemy to persecute him - v6 - are not general comments, nor is David making some claim to have done nothing wrong. Rather, on listening to the accusations of Shimei, his is pleading for God to judge, on the basis that he is not guilty of the specific accusations of Shimei. This is why he would not allow Abishai to go and kill Shimei. 2 Samuel 16:9

7:8 In saying 'The Lord shall judge the people' David is quoting Deuteronomy 32:36 demonstrating that he was willing to leave judgement in God's hand because He had promised that he would intervene on behalf of His people.

Psalm 7:1 Cush the Benjamite - As to Cush the Benjamite, he is a person unknown by that appellation in Jewish history; the name is probably a name of disguise; and by it David may covertly be referring to Saul himself, the son of Kish, who was of the tribe of Benjamin. The subject of the Psalm will better answer to Saul's unjust persecution and David's innocence, than to any other subject in the history of David.

Which of us could pray the words of Psalm 7 to God with an honest heart?:

"If there is iniquity in my hands... Let the enemy persue me and... trample my life to the earth. (v.3-5)."

Or:

"Judge me O LORD according to my righteousness."

Would we be able to utter such a prayer? Wouldn't we remember the things we had done which weren't right in His sight? Wouldn't we be afraid to be judged by our righteousness, because of our lack of it? Maybe this prayer could only be made by Jesus himself. As for the rest of us, Psalm 6 might be more advisable:

"Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak.... Save me for your mercies sake." (2-4)

God remembers that He made us from dust in the first place. He knows that if He were to judge us by our righteousness we would fail miserably. God will always accept us if in the humility of our hearts we cry to him, having realised that our own righteousness is as dirty rags.

"the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer." (v.8-9)

6:1 Whilst it may seem that David is asking God to overlook his need for chastening he is not. Rather he is asking that God rebukes and chastens him in love.

7:12-13 David twice quotes Deuteronomy 32

whet his sword … bent his bow Deut 32:41
ordaineth … persecutors  Deut 32:23

Moses, speaking the words of God, is saying that this is how God will deal with His enemies. David, therefore, sees Shimei as God’s enemy – which he is as he is cursing the Lord’s anointed.

8:6 ‘thou has put all things under his feet’ speaks of the supremacy of the risen Christ (1Cor 15:25, Eph 1:22)

Few of us will have felt the real hatred that David had to face. But Few of us will have felt the real hatred that David had to face. But Ps6:6,7,9 encourages us with the fact that although David had real troubles which kept him in tears all night long, still he knew his prayer had been heard, and that God was awake during those terrible nights.. I'm sure we have all tried to tell somebody our problems, but realised that they were not listening to us. But God's ears are always open.

5:2-3    The ‘vexed bones’ is like the ‘roaring bones’ - Psa 38:8 -  maybe indicating that this Psalm was written, as was Psalm 38, consequent upon David’s sin with Bathsheba.

6:3 When Adam begat a son ‘in his own likeness after his image’ we are being asked to reflect on Gen 1:26-28 where Adam had been made in God’s image and likeness. This provides the most powerful explanation as to why men die. They are like Adam and not like God.

6:5 When a person is dead he/she has ceased to exist.  There is no ethereal part of the organism that floats off to heaven (see also Ecc 9:5).

7:15,16 Doing nasty things to people will ultimately blow up in the perpetrator's face.  Wisdom dictates being peaceable with all people (Heb 12:14).  Leave any settling of accounts to Yahweh (Rom 12:19).

8:5 This is descriptive of the human nature of Jesus (see also Heb 2:9). It is strange, then, that some claim Jesus as originally being the archangel Michael.  The worship of angels is forbidden in scripture (Col 2:18).

8:5     The Glory and honour that the Psalmist ascribes to the one spoken of - Jesus - is akin to the garments of the high priest - Exo 28:2

6:1 Neginoth upon Sheminith means instrumental musical played on an eight-stringed lyre.

7:1 Shiggaion means rambling poem.  in Modern Hebrew, the expression means farcical when applied to a situation.

8:1 Gittith means a harp.

6:6     David here talks about his feelings of remorse after some terrible sin – possibly his sin with Bathsheba – and his repentance.

6:9 So having repented – see verse :6 – David is confident of forgiveness. Is this how we feel about our Father’s response to our repentance? Or do we still think that God will hold us guilty of the sin we have repented of?

Dr Matthew Maury was in charge of the Depot of Charts and Instruments in the Hydrographic Office of the United States Navy from 1841-1861.  He was aware of Psa 8:8 - “the paths of the seas" and Ecc 1:6 -  “The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.”

In contrast to when the Law was given to Moses, the multitudes here follow Jesus up the mountain - cp Exodus 19:12.

The eight Blessings He proceeds to pronounce upon the people in what has become known as the Beatitudes, contrast particularly with the curses that issued forth from Mt Ebal when the Children of Israel came into the Land under Joshua - cp Deut 27:13.

The Beatitudes also contrast exactly with the 8 Woes which came thundering from our Lord's lips at the end of His ministry in Matthew 23.

Mercy and judging - Matt 5:7 blessed are the merciful James 2:13. Matt 6:14-15 we will be forgiven as we forgive. Matt 7:1-2 we will be judged as we judge. Matt 13:24-30 let us not be too quick or harsh to judge, uproot, or disfellowship/shun lest we make a mistake and discourage potential.

The law pointed to Christ - Matt 5:17 "fulfill" Grk. "pleroo" (4137) means "fulfill, complete, perfect, accomplish, supply, fully preach", etc. ; Rom 3:19-25; Heb 10:1-12

Non-violence and compassion - Matt 5:38-39; 9:36

How much love for our enemies does God expect us to have? - Matt 5:43,44,46,47  all references to "love" in these verses be they for neighbor or enemy are the Grk "agapao" (25) meaning "love, to love (in a social or moral sense)" and is the deep form of love going beyond a mere friendship love Grk. phileo (5368)

5:6 Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is like realising that man does not live by bread alone - the disciple must learn what Jesus learnt. (Matt 4:4)

a) I imagine that Jesus started His ministry with these 3 chapters of “The Sermon on the Mount”, to correspond with Moses being given the law on the mountain. Like Moses, the message was repeated and expanded throughout the rest of his life.
b) There is a great correlation between Christ’s teaching and the summary of Moses’ Law, which we call the 10 Commandments.
Matt 5:21 not kill
Matt 5:27 Do not commit adultery
Matt 5:33 Do not bear false witness
Matt 5:38 Do not steal
Matt 5:43 Do not covet

5:34 Ion counselling his followers not to swear – make oaths – Jesus extends the teaching of Ecc 5:5.

What Jesus is trying to teach in this & the subsequent chapters, is that it is the attitude of mind & heart of the believer that is important, & not primarily works, as the Pharisees thought. We should not see those of v3-10 as being different people in each example, but like the fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22,23 they are all aspects/parts of the whole. The same person should also be the salt & the light, should not hate his brother, etc.

This chapter is commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount.  Well known are the eight so-called Beatitudes (beatitude means blessedness).  The word blessed (Gr. makarios) means happy.  And so, the person who conforms to these eight behaviors will be happy in knowing that they have followed in the footsteps of the Lord.  Following the Lord is a requirement for salvation.  This occurs after an understanding of the Gospel and baptism, both of which are also requirements for salvation.

5:48  The perfection required of us will mean that eventually, if we do grow, that we will be presented ‘without blemish’ – Eph 5:27– to Christ.

Salt is a preservative which has the quality of being hygroscopic (ability to absorb water from the air).  Being the salt of the earth (v.13) implies absorbing the water of the Word.  Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14) and following His commandments ensures hydration (John 7:38).  Failing to absorb water makes salt a useless commodity.  Failing to absorb the water of the Word renders one useless in the sight of the Lord.

5:3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ draws on Psa 34:18 so we see that Jesus’ message was not new. It was based upon the Old Testament – but not the letter of the law of Moses, rather it was based upon the principles behind the law of Moses.

v35 First Principles>Sure mercies of David>King
The City of the Great King is Jerusalem, and the King is Jesus. For more about the King, go to 2Sam 7:12-16.

5:12 Persecution and ridicule is the lot of the servant of God. Today ‘Christianity’ is presented as a pleasant experience’ by many who purport to bear the name of Christ. Clearly they are mistaken and this appeal to encourage people to join the church is false and has no basis in Scripture. Rather the reverse is presented as the lot of the Christian. We must take care not to be deceived by this way of thinking so that if persecution comes we fall away – Jesus later will warn about this – Matt 13:21 - in the parable of the sower.

A significant element to the Beatitudes, as with the latter part of chapter 5, seems to be an appeal to step aside from a false system of religion which had no power.  The selection of qualities extolled in the Beatitudes form a marked contrast to what an Israelite would have come to understand as religion under Judaism as it was then.  

To illustrate by reference to the specific qualities mentioned:
1. The poor in spirit – the picture shown in the gospels of the Jewish religion was of a system that had scarely a vestige of humility rather religion had been orchestrated into a system whereby the so called "religiously devout" could show themselves to be better than "publicans and sinners".
2. Those that morn – Jewish religion was divided over the concept of suffering – the prevailing view however, held that to be blessed, even in the most physical sense, was seen to be a reward from God for righteousness, whereas suffering or disadvantage were a mark of spiritual failure. Jn 9:2-3,34 
3. Meekness – although the overriding characteristic of the man who gave them their law, there remained no teachableness in the people who claimed to be his followers, God himself declared them to be stiffnecked and hardhearted.  Their sense of inherited entitlement to be the children of God made them self confident and impervious to God’s attempts to change their character. Mk 3:5
4. Hunger & Thirsting after righteousness – Righteousness under Judaism was not something to be sought but a present possession, by adherence to the law in it’s detail and by a legalistic defining of how much they did and how much they didn’t have to do they “trusted in themselves that they were righteous” Lk 18:9
5. Merciful – the legalistic approach to religion bred a mindset that was far more focused on judgement than showing mercy.  Their confidence in their own righteousness led them to be utterly unaware of their own need for mercy and hence this had an inevitable effect on their dealings with others. Mt 9:13
6. Pure – hypocrisy was a fundamental flaw of the Judaisist religion, in their attempts to create their own righteousness there was a focus on the external at the expense of the internal, the heart and mind was often a place of “all uncleanness” Mt 23:27
7. Peacemakers – in their so called religious zeal often anger and strife would arise and factions were ever present amongst the religious Jews and so often they found their religion isolated them from each other when it fundamental intention is to reconcile to both God & man.
8. Persecution – it is little wonder then that Christ concludes with a warning against persecution.  This was wise advice given the nature of that the religion he taught was so different from that which was perceived to be religion in His era. It was also justified warning on account of the character of a false professors of religion who being neither peacemakers, merciful, meek or poor in spirit would oppose a true disciples with all full force of their ignorance.