How the waters were gathered together at first, and how they are still bound and limited by the same Almighty had that first confined them, are elegantly described, Ps. (2.) (9-13) The third day of creation: the land is divided from the sea; plants and all types of vegetation … 2. Man was made the same day that the beasts were, because his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and, while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. Yet it was both an honour and a favour to him that he was made last: an honour, for the method of the creation was to advance from that which was less perfect to that which was more so; and a favour, for it was not fit he should be lodged in the palace designed for him till it was completely fitted up and furnished for his reception. Well, let us give to God the glory of the continuance of these creatures to this day for the benefit of man. Each day, hitherto, has produced very noble and excellent beings, which we can never sufficiently admire; but we do not read of the creation of any living creature till the fifth day, of which these verses give us an account. Omniscience cannot be separated from omnipotence. The beginning of the New Testament is called Genesis too (Mt. The lively faith of humble Christians understands this matter better than the elevated fancy of the greatest wits, Heb. The use they were intended to be of to this earth. The great things of God’s law and gospel are here written to us, that they might be reduced to a greater certainty, might spread further, remain longer, and be transmitted to distant places and ages more pure and entire than possibly they could be by report and tradition: and we shall have a great deal to answer for if these things which belong to our peace, being thus committed to us in black and white, be neglected by us as a strange and foreign thing, Hos. 11:10, 11, where Canaan is upon this account preferred to Egypt, that Egypt was moistened and made fruitful with the waters that are under the firmament, but Canaan with waters from above, out of the firmament, even the dew of heaven, which tarrieth not for the sons of men, Mic. No, there are not the words of him that hath a devil. Good, for it answers the end of its creation, and is fit for the purpose for which it was designed. And yet he divided time between them, the day for light and the night for darkness, in a constant and regular succession to each other. The foundation of all religion being laid in our relation to God as our Creator, it was fit that the book of divine revelations which was intended to be the guide, support, and rule, of religion in the world, should begin, as it does, with a plain and full account of the creation of the world—in answer to that first enquiry of a good conscience, "Where is God my Maker?" With us saying and doing are two things; but they are not so with God. Food provided for man, v. 29. In the new creation, the first thing wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit captives the will and affections by enlightening the understanding, so coming into the heart by the door, like the good shepherd whose own the sheep are, while sin and Satan, like thieves and robbers, climb up some other way. Food provided for the beasts, v. 30. 136:25. Victor P. Hamilton, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT), Eerdmans, 1990–1995, 1,273 pp. Here is a name given to the Creator, to Jehovah... View the entire commentary. That God divided them from each other by distinguishing names: He called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And as atheists, so deists, notwithstanding their vain-glorious pretensions to reason, as if wisdom must die with them, run themselves upon the grossest and most dishonourable absurdities imaginable; for, if the scriptures be not the word of God, then there is no divine revelation now in the world, no discovery at all of God’s mind concerning our duty and happiness: so that, let a man be ever so desirous and solicitous to do his Maker’s will, he must, without remedy, perish in the ignorance of it, since there is no book but this that will undertake to tell him what it is, a consequence which can by no means be reconciled to the idea we have of the divine goodness. Those that by sin were darkness by grace become light in the world. INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS . 1) the same blessed Spirit gave them clear and satisfactory information of. 2. The scripture proves its divine authority and original both to the wise and to the unwise. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl. In that world between these two there is a great gulf fixed; but, in this world, they are counterchanged, and we pass daily from one to another, that we may learn to expect the like vicissitudes in the providence of God, peace and trouble, joy and sorrow, and may set the one over-against the other, accommodating ourselves to both as we do to the light and darkness, bidding both welcome, and making the best of both. Whether we will hear or whether we will forbear, we must be told that this is the oracle we are to consult and to be determined by, the touchstone we are to appeal to and try doctrines by, the rule we are to have an eye to, by which we must in every thing order our affections and conversations, and from which we must always take our measures. If the light is good, how good is he that is the fountain of light, from whom we receive it, and to whom we owe all praise for it and all the services we do by it! A numerous lasting family, to enjoy this inheritance, pronouncing a blessing upon them, in virtue of which their posterity should extend to the utmost corners of the earth and continue to the utmost period of time. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. They must be for the direction of actions. (Read Genesis 28:6-9) Good examples impress even the profane and malicious. 2 Tim. The firmament itself is spoken of as having a brightness of its own (Dan. We have just added many new sources, including The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Bengel's Gnomon, Lange's Commentary, Hastings Great Texts and many more. In heaven there is perfect and perpetual light, and no darkness at all; in hell, utter darkness, and no gleam of light. 6:16. 1. 2. That religion is the one thing useful; and to know, and love, and fear God our Maker, and in all the instances both of devout affection, and of good conversation, to keep his commandments, (Eccles. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of God upon them. Nor is it any objection against the application of the ceremonial institutions to Christ and his grace that those to whom they were given could not discern this sense or use of them; but it is rather a reason why we should be very thankful that the veil which was upon their minds in the reading of the Old Testament is done away in Christ, 2 Co. 3:13, 14, 18. They might have been a divine revelation to those into whose hands they were first put, and yet we, at this distance, have been no way concerned in them; but it is certain that they were intended to be of universal and perpetual use and obligation to all persons, in all places and all ages, that have the knowledge of them, even unto us upon whom the ends of the world have come. In general, v. 14, 15, where we have 1. If God give us food for our lives, let us not, with murmuring Israel, ask food for our lusts, Ps. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Those are most valuable that are most serviceable; and those are the greater lights, not that have the best gifts, but that humbly and faithfully do the most good with them. Our own reason shows us the wound, but nothing short of a divine revelation can discover to us a remedy to be confided in. . He made the stars also, which are here spoken of as they appear to vulgar eyes, without distinguishing between the planets and the fixed stars, or accounting for their number, nature, place, magnitude, motions, or influences; for the scriptures were written, not to gratify our curiosity and make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. Though there is one kind of flesh of fishes, and another of birds, yet they were made together, and both out of the waters; for the power of the first Cause can produce very different effects from the same second causes. It concerns us to be ready in the scriptures, and to make ourselves so by constant reading and careful observation, and especially by earnest prayer to God for the promised gift of the Holy Ghost, whose office it is to bring things to our remembrance which Christ hath said to us (Jn. It is the visible heaven, the pavement of the holy city; above the firmament God is said to have his throne (Eze. Authored by John Schultz, who served many decades as a C&MA Missionary and Bible teacher in Papua, Indonesia. Free Online Bible Commentaries on all Books of the Bible. The scripture indeed is not compiled as a methodical system or body of divinity, secundum artem—according to the rules of art, but several ways of writing, (histories, laws, prophecies, songs, epistles, and even proverbs,) at several times, and by several hands, as Infinite Wisdom saw fit. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. The wickedness of man in the days of Noah. 4:7. God designed hereby to put an honour upon man, that he might find himself the more strongly obliged to bring honour to his Maker. His will complied readily and universally with the will of God, without reluctancy or resistance. CHAPTER 28. Mr. Boyle (I remember) says he admires the Creator’s wisdom and power as much in an ant as in an elephant. The naming of it: He called the firmament heaven. III. If one makes allowance for the writer's use of Redaktionsgeschichte, this work has some value for it is rich in historical references and has some occasional exegetical insights. The power of God’s providence preserves all things, as at first his creating power produced them. We have before us that part of the Bible which we call the Old Testament, containing the acts and monuments of the church from the creation almost to the coming of Christ in the flesh, which was about four thousand years—the truths then revealed, the laws then enacted, the devotions then paid, the prophecies then given, and the events which concerned that distinguished body, so far as God saw fit to preserve to us the knowledge of them. That all scripture is given by inspiration of God, (2 Tim. The scriptures, or writings of the several inspired penmen, from Moses down to St. John, in which divine light, like that of the morning, shone gradually (the sacred canon being now completed), are all put together in this blessed Bible, which, thanks be to God, we have in our hands, and they make as perfect a day as we are to expect on this side of heaven. And as the plain and practical expositors would not, for a world, say of the learned critics, There is no need of them; so, it is hoped, those eyes and heads will not say to the hands and feet, There is no need of you, 1 Co. 12:21. The divine authority likewise, which in this book commands our belief and obedience, is universal and perpetual, and knows no limits, either of time or place; it follows, therefore, that every nation and every age to which these sacred writings are transmitted are bound to receive them with the same veneration and pious regard that they commanded at their first entrance. We have before us that part of the Old Testament which we call the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, that servant of the Lord who excelled all the other prophets, and typified the great prophet. They then were accountable for no more light than they had; and we now are accountable for that greater light which we have in the gospel, by the help of which we may find much more of Christ in the Old Testament than they could. 14:13; 65:9, 10. The earth still remains under the efficacy of this command, to bring forth grass, and herbs, and its annual products; and though, being according to the common course of nature, these are not standing miracles, yet they are standing instances of the unwearied power and unexhausted goodness of the world’s great Maker and Master. 16:2, 3. 31:35. God has, in the firmament of his power, chambers, store-chambers, whence he watereth the earth, Ps. (3.) Whether you are just beginning to read Scripture or have been studying the Bible daily, commentaries offer greater understanding with background information on authorship, history, setting, and theme of the Gospel. 2. As to the practical observations, I have not obliged myself to raise doctrines out of every verse or paragraph, but only have endeavoured to mix with the exposition such hints or remarks as I thought profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, aiming in all to promote practical godliness, and carefully avoiding matters of doubtful disputation and strifes of words. Chapter 6. We are sure there is not an idle word in the Bible. 3:16) and that holy men spake and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, (2 Pt. We are not to think but that God could have made the world in an instant. Access the Download Library 33:14), yet here we find the earth bearing a great abundance of fruit, probable ripe fruit, before the sun and moon were made. The world of God (that is, his will and the good pleasure of it) is quick and powerful. Every part was good, but all together very good. When the stone is rolled from the well’s mouth by a critical explication of the text, still there are those who would both drink themselves and water their flocks? However, we are sure these books are the most ancient writings now extant, and therefore best able to give us a satisfactory account of the most ancient things. 8:12. Study Genesis 2 using Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise) to better understand Scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Genesis 6:10 "And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth." IV. When the top-stone is brought forth we shall cry, Grace, grace, unto it, Zec. 1. Divine revelations, when first given, were confirmed by visions, miracles, and prophecy; but they were to be transmitted to distant regions and future ages, with their proofs and evidences, by writing, the surest way of conveyance, and by which the knowledge of other memorable things is preserved and propagated. He is a great housekeeper, a very rich and bountiful one, that satisfies the desire of every living thing. 5. The book of Genesis, Γενεσις, has its name from the title it bears in the Septuagint, βιβλος Γενεσεως, (Genesis 2:4), which signifies the book of the Generation; but it is called in Hebrew בראשית Bereshith, "In the beginning," from its initial word. The lights of heaven are made to serve us, and they do it faithfully, and shine in their season, without fail: but we are set as lights in this world to serve God; and do we in like manner answer the end of our creation? These and other annotations which are referred to the particular words and clauses they are designed to explain are most easy to be consulted upon occasion; but the exposition which (like this) is put into a continued discourse, digested under proper heads, is much more easy and ready to be read through for one’s own or others’ instruction. Being fully persuaded therefore of these things, I conclude that whatever help is offered to good Christians in searching the scriptures is real service done to the glory of God, and to the interests of his kingdom among men; and it is this that hath drawn me into this undertaking, which I have gone about in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling (1 Co. 2:3), lest I should be found exercising myself in things to high for me, and so laudable an undertaking should suffer damage by an unskilful management. The subject of the holy scripture is universal and perpetual, and therefore of common concern. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth, must be put together in him, and he must be allied to both worlds. Mr. Pool’s English Annotations (which, having had so many impressions, we may suppose, have got into most hands) are of admirable use, especially for the explaining of scripture-phrases, opening the sense, referring to parallel scriptures, and the clearing of difficulties that occur. The histories of the Old Testament were written for our admonition and direction (1 Co. 10:11), and not barely for the information and entertainment of the curious. In addition to these text commentaries, you can review the available audio and video commentaries. Genesis 26:1-35.SOJOURN IN GERAR. IV. The earth, it seems, was in being before; but it was of no use, because it was under water. Semper habet aliquid relegentibus—However frequently we read it, we shall always meet with something new. 2. Such as these stand in the posts of honour, and their praise is in all the churches: yet the labours of the vine-dressers and the husbandmen (2 Ki. I. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry. Let him rule man who said, Let us make man. 14:26), that thus we may have some good word or other at hand for our use in our addresses to God and in our converse with men, in our resistance of Satan and in communing with our own hearts, and may be able, with the good householder, to bring out of this treasury things new and old, for the entertainment and edification both of ourselves and others. No, we do not, our light does not shine before God as his lights shine before us, Mt. The author was not merely collecting ancient stories. 139:1–16. While I was thus employing myself came out Mr. Burkitt’s Exposition, of the Gospels first, and afterwards of the Act and the Epistles, which met with very good acceptance among serious people, and no doubt, by the blessing of God, will continue to do great service to the church. As ministers would hardly be believed without Bibles to back them, so Bibles would hardly be understood without ministers to explain them; but if, having both, we perish in ignorance and unbelief, our blood will be upon our own head. To expound the term "beginning", of Christ, is altogether frivolous. Of the creation of the lights of heaven we have an account. The rational soul, since it received that fatal shock by the fall, cannot have or maintain that just regard to the great author of its being, that observance of him, and expectation from him, which are both its duty and felicity, without some supernatural discovery made by himself of himself, and of his mind and will. That celebrated translation of the Old Testament in the Greek tongue by the Seventy, between 200 and 300 years before the birth of Christ, was to the nations a happy preparative for the entertainment of the gospel, by spreading the knowledge of the law; for as the New Testament expounds and completes the Old, and thereby makes it more serviceable to us now than it was to the Jewish church, so the Old Testament confirms and illustrates the New, and shows us Jesus Christ the same yesterday that he is to-day and will be for ever.