Day 2: Genesis 3-4, Psalm 92, 2 Peter 2

From the very outset, do you wonder how much time passed between Genesis 2 and 3?  When reading a story where time has passed, traditionally, an author tells us if the next page is the following hour, day or a passage of decades.  Here, we are not given a clue as to the passage of time. 

Tricky little serpent, huh?  He promises Godliness to Eve by tempting her with three evils -- goods for the stomach, the eyes and the mind.  Of course, we know that the result was anything but that.  She already had those things, but did not know the opposite.  Its by contradiction, it seems, that she learns -- who of us does not experience this daily?  I am reminded of the grace God has given us, when I disparage something I feel is "disgraceful." 

I find myself asking as I read Genesis 3 - Where did the great deceiver come from?  Did you catch it in verse 22 that God says, "the man has become like one of Us", who is He talking to and who is Us?  As I moved on to Peter, I think he must be talking to the angels?  What do you think? 

Have you read, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God?" (Jonathan Edwards, theologian - July 8, 1741)  God seems both angry and yet a little witty when he rhetorically asks Adam, "where are you?"  I think this is said by God to point out to Adam that before eating the apple, he would not have even understood to behave this way - he would never have thought to hide and now he is hiding his body by clothes and by trees.  Did you notice the other rhetorical question in our readings today?  In Genesis 4, Cain rhetorically asks God "What, am I my brother's keeper?"  I think that we rhetorically ask God these things all the time. "Was I not supposed to eat the whole pie?"  "Was I not supposed to buy that thing I cannot afford?"

Did you notice another common theme in our current society -- Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent and no one takes their own blame in Genesis 3.

I find myself again questioning, how am I to believe this when the Bible cannot even tell me where this is happening -- the land of Nod in Genesis 4.  Did you find yourself wondering does my family stem from the Cain or Abel branch of the family tree?  Seems like, before the Resurrection, it may have made a huge difference, maybe not so much now.

Today's reading also touches on the current fodder for religious difference - homosexuality, monogamy and adultery.  Genesis 4:19 and 2 Peter 10.

Moving on to Psalms.  I am not grasping the Psalms.  They are pretty, but I don't get it.  Anyone?  I had to seek out other sources to get the point of Psalm 92.  I mean the basic introduction - this is to be said on the Sabbath - that was easy, but why? 

Matthew Henry a theologian who wrote a complete commentary in 1706 indicates that verses 1-6 are a reminder to thank God for his grace of the night by prayer in the morning and likewise thank Him at night for his graces throughout the day.  He indicates of verses 7 - 15

The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness. 

I find 2 Peter 2 to be a great passage for us to read as we are at the beginning of this Bible study.  It is open to the public and what I or you find on the Internet could provide a false message.  We should be weary of false prophets, false teachers and false messages.

The commentary to verse 3 in my version of the Bible states "Although delay makes it seem that [deceivers] have escaped God's judgment, destruction is a reality that is sure to come upon them."  Great, but we need to continue to vest ourselves with the Right Word to make sure we can uncover these wolves in sheep's clothing.  And with that...I leave you until tomorrow (reserving my right for further comment.)  Have a great day!

Oh, and if you have any comments or suggestions to make sure you stay interested and involved, please let me know.