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Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapters 6 to 8 Chapter 9 Chapters 10 and 11 Chapter 12 Chapters 13 and 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapters 20 and 21 Chapters 22 to 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapters 29 to 35 Chapter 36 Chapters 37 to 41 Chapters 42 to 47 Chapters 48 to 50 |
The History of the New Earth
In chapter 9 begins the history of the new earth. God blesses
the earth more than before; and the answer to the sweet savour of
the sacrifice assures the world that a universal deluge will never
recur. God makes a covenant* with the creation to this effect.
Government is established in the hand of man, and death begins to
furnish him with nourishment. It does not appear to me that, before
this, there had been either government or idolatry. There had been
sin against God, violence without restraint against one another,
and corruption; the two perpetual characters of sin, amongst men,
and even in Satan as far as may be**. God cared for His creation
in mercy; but with Noah new principles were brought out. The
sacrifice of Christ (in figure) becomes a ground of dealing with
the earth, not alone of accepting man, as in Abel; and on this a
covenant is founded. That is, God binds Himself in grace, so that
faith has a sure ground to go upon, that on which it can
count. Government in the hand of manAnother very important principle introduced was the second referred to — government in the hand of man. Covenant was sure, for God is faithful when He binds Himself. Government was entrusted to the hands of men. Alas! this new trial soon has the same result as before. The government confided to Noah loses immediately its honour. The earth, under mercy, relieved (as Lamech had announced) by agricultural care, becomes in its fruits a snare to Noah, who becomes intoxicated, and his own son dishonours him; on whose race consequently the curse falls. This is given in view of the people opposed to Israel, the centre of God's earthly government, and of the relationship of God with that family. A beginning on new principlesIn these chapters then we have the old earth closed and the new begun on new principles. This lasts till the judgment by fire. Man's failure in the old world is set forth, and God's judgment thereon, in Adam and Cain. Now the special judgment and the special blessing in connection with Israel begins to shew itself, for we are yet on the earth here. The historical course of Noah's family is brought out in connection with these two points, the blessing and the curse in Shem and Ham. This is God's survey of the new world, in its three heads Shem, Ham, and Japheth, in a brief declaration of what characterised their position in the earth. Its whole history is stated in a few words. How mighty in everything is the word! He who knows all can state all briefly and surely. We begin afresh with chapter 10 with the generation or history of Noah's sons. We have thus the establishment of the new earth and its whole general prophetic history, as this earth, in the first account of Noah, and God's communications with him; Shem being owned as the root of God's family in it, allied to the name of Jehovah, with special judgment on Canaan, whose place, we know, Israel took. |
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