Genesis 10:8 -  "And Cush begot Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth." - The world's first monarch also established the Kingdom of Men. Nimrod was a rebel; that is, he believed he knew "a better way" - but then rebels always do. Not for him, the covenants of promise spoken to Adam, Eve, Enoch and Noah. Nimrod is the 13th from Adam (scripturally 13 = the number for rebellion) and in effect he became the first "Pope" - he brought "church" and state together to become earth's first "God King".  He was ultimately deified and a Triune Doctrine grew out of Father, Mother, Child, when Semaramis, Nimrod's wife gave birth to baby Tammuz some time after Nimrod died. Semaramis claimed baby Tammuz (who is believed to have been born on December 25th) was Nimrod re-incarnated. The false religion established by Nimrod and embellished by Semaramis became the foundation religion for all that is apostate and against God's Truth.

9:1 The flood marked a new beginning – it was like a new creation – hence the commandment echoes the commandment given to Adam (Gen 1:28)

10:10 Shinar is Babylon (Dan 1:1)

Gen 9:8-17 In these few verses the word covenant appears seven times. This is a perfect covenant.

Gen 9:14  God is promising that the sun is going to shine again. (2Sam  23:4-5) Here we have an extention to the rainbow covenant

Geneologies
The word apernatos (only found here) used in 1 tim 1:4 for endless has the sense of unfinished. So it seems the adversaries the truth(ie. gnostics) in Paul's day were using geneologies in a similar fashion to their other vain talk that led nowhere and edified none. Reading the geneologies in a correct way however, would be most beneficial as ALL scripture is inspired by God.
In Asia Minor and Crete gnosticism was especially strong, due probably to the semi-Oriental character of the populations of those places. It was for this cause that Paul deemed it advisable to leave Timothy and Titus in Ephesus and Crete respectively, for the purpose of combatting the evil and upholding the truth. Timothy in Ephesus was there that he might "charge some that they taught no other doctrine, neither gave heed to fables and endless genealogies"(1 Tim. 1:3, 4). Titus in Crete was to "set in order the things that were wanting"(Tit. 1:5). "profane and vain babblings and the oppositions of science (gnosis) falsely so-called" were the things to be put down, and in regard to which the brethren needed to be warned and set right.

9:16 This is one of a number of ‘everlasting covenants’ that God made with men. The next is to be seen in Gen 17:13

10:12 In calling Nineveh a ‘great city’ God is setting the scene for the way in which He would describe Nineveh in the days of Jonah – Jon 1:2

10:5 The division of the nations was, actually, done according to the number of the children of Israel – Deut 32:8– even though they did not exist as a nation at that time.

10:25 The division of the land in the days of Peleg probably relates to the events of the tower of Babel.

9:3 If one wishes to be a vegetarian or a vegan, it is his/her choice.  But, nobody has the right to prevent others from eating the flesh or products of animals, because Yahweh has sanctioned eating them.  However, Yahweh does not allow anyone to be cruel to animals (9:5).

9:2    Adam had been told that he should ‘have dominion’ over the animals – Gen 1:28. That relationship is now destroyed and the animals would be afraid of man.

9:3-4 It seems that up to the flood man had been a vegetarian at God’s instruction but now things change. Man can eat met. Another reason why the animal creation would ‘fear’ man – Gen 9:2

12:6 - The Psalmist has a high regard for the words of God. Do we regard the Scripture in the same light?

12:1 In an evil society where laws are flouted and even changed to allow evil actions we should not look to the politicians to sort things out. David understood that God is the only one who can help. We should share his attitude realised that the problems of this evil world will only be resolved when Jesus returns.

Psalm 12:1-8 - The psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, "What makes the times bad?" They will tell you  - "scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad". But the Scripture lays the badness of the times on causes of another nature, 2Tim 3:1, etc.: perilous times shall come, for sin shall abound; and of this David complains. When piety decays times really are bad. He who made man's mouth will call him to an account for his proud, profane, dissembling, and blasphemous words. How bad, then are the days in which we live, with all its "Hollywood Filthy Talk". When the poor and needy are oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds, and is countenanced by those in authority, then the times are very bad - Romans 1:29-32.

See with what good things we are here furnished for such bad times.

1. We have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our just grievances.

 2. God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud men.

3. God will work deliverance for his oppressed people.

11:5 A recurring theme in Scripture is that God ‘trieth’ His children. So we should not be disheartened when we have issues to deal with in our lives. They are part of our father’s work on us to develop a Christ Like character.

12 - It is easy to think that the wicked and their ways do not affect us as we stay away from them. However such a view is wrong, and dangerous. We are all influenced by the things we hear and see. Our children are exposed to it at school and we are when we are at work.  The antidote is to appreciate that the ‘words of the Lord are pure words’  Psa 12:6 and are the only antidote to the evil words and ideas that the world assails us with.

13 - The way that David accuses God of having forgotten him (13:1) is very different from our prayers, I suggest. Do we feel so intense about issues that we would ever speak like this? If we don’t are we correct? Would it be wrong to pray like David does in this Psalm?

I wonder if these Psalms were written about Ahithophel? This man had hatred in his heart brought on by the sin of David with Bathsheba. Ahithophel was Bathsheba's grandfather, and ever since he learned of the incident, he kept his hatred of David's actions locked in his heart, where the feelings festered and grew. We have a window into his heart by using the proverbs. The proverbs give the hidden motivations behind actions. It's a simple matter of cause and effect.

The Proverbs say this: "Whoever hides hatred has lying lips..." (10:18)

Thus we know that Ahithophel must have been lying constantly to David all the years that he was hiding his hatred. Ahithophel was David's closest advisor. Why had he not confronted David with his sin and got it out in the open, as Nathan did later (2Sam 12:9)! Instead, as David says "the wicked bend their bow... that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart" Psa 11:2 and "with flattering lips and a double heart they speak!" (12:2)

Let's not allow the sun go down on our wrath. We should be openly angry with one another when they harm us or upset us in some way, so that our anger doesn't fester and grow in our hearts. Ahithophel never spoke the words in his heart. Instead he covered them with a lying and flattering tongue. These hidden, unspoken words came back to him at the end, and ensnared him as he had sought to ensnare David. Prov 11:13, 2 Sam 17:14,23

Psa 13  We see David going through a series of thoughts in this Psalm. He opens with a complaint,"How long wilt thou forget me?"  He then pleads to the LORD."Consider and hear me"  He then concludes his thoughts by expressing his trust and confidence in the LORD. "I have trusted in thy mercy;--- he hath dealt bountifully with me"  Are our prayers expressed in a similar way?

11:1     In speaking as fleeing as a bird david echoes what he said to Saul – 1Sam 26:20 – on one of the occasions when Saul was seeking David’s life so we might conclude that this Psalm has its origins in the time of David’s flight from Saul.

13:4Whist it may seem selfish to be concerned that the ‘enemy’ might think they had triumphed David realised that if he fell through the ways of the wicked then God would be diminished in the eyes of the wicked. How often do we think that our sins and failings reflect badly on God?

11:7     In saying that the righteous God loves righteousness might seem an obvious point to make. However it is a fundamental point to understand if we wish to please Him. Righteousness is part of His character, hence He loves it. If we manifest that characteristic He will love us to, if we do not He will not love us.

12:6 Yahweh's words are considered as refined silver.  His words last forever.  In the process of refining silver, lead is used.  Compare Job's wish to have his words preserved forever (Job 19:23,24).  He would be satisfied in using lead, the (inferior) material used in refining silver.  Does this not highlight the superiority of Yahweh over man (Isa 55:8,9).

Yahweh's words are like silver purified in a furnace seven times.  This indicates that His words are completely pure.  There is, perhaps, an echo here of a human trial that emerged acceptable to Yahweh.  Consider the servants of Yahweh: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  They were tried by fire, in a furnace heated seven times its normal heat (Dan 3:19).  These men were delivered safely by Yahweh's grace and power (Dan 3:26,27).  Surely, these men came out of that trial spiritually refined.

12:2      The ‘double heart’ reflects a double mind and we know that such a heart is unstable – James 1:8 -  such people are only concerned with their own position and change their words to suit themselves.

Matthew 7:23 - "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - These, I think, are among scriptures most terrible and most sobering words. Every human being loves to hear words of comfort, encouragement, hope and consolation. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy manipulating (if that is the right word) circumstances and events to hear the words that mean so much to us. Example:- I bought my wife flowers this afternoon.... because I love her. And I must confess, I do like the words that she shares with me most times that I bring flowers home. What do you do, or not do, to hear meaningful words sincerely spoken just for you.

What person then, would wilfully do anything so as to receive the words that Jesus speaks here in v23.  Of course, no ordinary person who professes a love for God would wilfully strive to hear those words from Christ. Those who do, receive these words because they have never built a dynamic, working, trusting, family relationship with their Lord. "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord... and do not the things which I say" He remonstrates in Luke 6:46. The words here in Matthew, "I never knew you" can mean literally, "You do not belong to my family, I do not know where you come from."  No wonder in that day there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth!"

v.15 contains sheep [probaton <4263>] and wolves [lukos <3074>] - not a combination I expected to find elsewhere - but to my surprise i find it also occurs in these two passages the first (and possibly both) of which, I suggest refer back to this verse here in Matt. 7:

Matt 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep <4263> in the midst of wolves <3074>: be ye therefore wise as  serpents, and harmless as doves.

John 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep <4263> are not, seeth the wolf <3074> coming, and leaveth the sheep <4263>, and fleeth: and the wolf <3074> catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep <4263>.

V.6 - we aren't to throw pearls to swine but that is balanced by v.1-2 which reminds us we have to be careful who we consider swine.

7:6      Jesus' warning not to give things to 'dogs' lest they turn on you and trample the gospel under their feet is based on Isaiah's comment (56:10) about the leaders in his day who were astray from God. So it is clear that the gospel should not be repeatedly presented to those who would spurn God's offer of salvation.

7:2 Jesus presents a stark warning to those of us who would stand in judgement upon others. This is not to suggest that it is better not to make any judgements but rather that our judgements must be tempered with the sort of mercy that God shows to us.

Vs.1,2 cautions us to not to judge.  The meaning of judge here is that of condemnation.  However, we are asked to use judgement with whom to share the Truth (v.6).  The kind of judgement required, in this instance, is that of discernment.  Dogs and pigs are both despised, unclean animals under the Law.  Jesus is telling us that some people present themselves as unholy and not really interested in things of the Truth.  In that case, we should make the determination not to discuss the Truth with them.

7:3    In teaching that his followers should not cast holy things ‘unto the dogs’ Jesus is drawing on the teaching in Exo 22:31

7:2 This verse which speaks about how we will be judged is used by James 2:13 when speaking to the believers he wrote to.

On Judging Others

"Judge not, that ye be not judged..." (Matt.7:1) vs "Are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" (1Cor.6:2).

We have here two sets of Scriptural texts that need to be balanced. The first scripture clearly forbids fallible human beings from sitting in judgment on their fellows. We are to be merciful in how we deal with the faults of others if we expect to receive mercy for our own faults. The second scripture requires the exercise of judgment.

Some believers are too ready to condemn, sitting in judgment and criticising their brethren in a censorious way; while others are unwilling to form a judgment or discernment even if it is required - potentially a form of moral cowardice. We have to be prepared to judge matters as occasion demands, but never from a prejudiced or self-righteous stance. And never with a desire to pronounce sentence - that is for Christ to decide upon his return.

Mentioned previously was the Greek word "krino" (2919) which has a wide range of nuances and various meanings including: "to judge, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially), by implication to try, condemn, punish: -avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think."  

Following are some passages where the word "judge" carries the harsher meaning of "sitting in judgment or condemning": Matt 7:1-5;Luke 6:37-38;James 2:13;John 8:3-11;Luke 19:22;John 5:30;16:11;Rom 2:1;2:16;14:1,3,4,9,10,13;1Cor 4:5;James 5:9.

Following are some passages where the word "judge" carries the softer meaning of "discernment" or "distinguishing", i.e. using the faculty of discrimination: 1Cor 6:1-7;5:1-5;Matt 7:6,15-20;1John 4:1;John 7:24;Gal 6:1-2;Luke 7:39-48;12:54-59;Acts 4:19;16:15;1Cor 10:14-15;11:13;2Cor 5:14.

The above was gleaned from Balancing The Book: A Study of Biblical Paradoxes by Len Richardson, pp 15-20.

7:7-8 These early words of Jesus are spoken again to the disciples – Luke 11:9-13 – near the end of his ministry teaching us that we often need to be told things more than once before they sink in.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

They are perfectly logical words and yet so so often we forget, refuse, or just don't apply them in our lives and lose the benefit we could have gained.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8) Face to face on a personal level with other people, we realise this is true, but when it comes to God the logic goes out the door.

"Ask and it will be given to you." How many of us have asked for wisdom lately? And continued to ask again and again? Have we asked that God would act to save certain of our friends and family? Have we asked for our sins to be forgiven? Ask and it will be given to you.

"Seek and you will find." Too often I have heard people say, "But I get nothing out of reading the Bible!" My question is, Did we seek? Did we look for the life changing principles in the word? Did we ask for help? Did we persevere? I hear others say that they feel distant from God. If we seek him, he will be found by us.

"Knock and the door will be opened." We want to be in his kingdom. It's no good just playing games around the gates, the instruction is to knock. Ask to come in. Let God open up the way for you to take part in his family and in his household.

Let's not forget, but always remember to ask, seek and knock.