Bible Readings 365 YLT January 3rd

When you read the Bible, often something in particular will be of note to you. Take note of it and consider and reflect on its meaning. Sometimes you will have more understanding of this at the time and sometimes you notice it but do not understand it and then you should wait, for God will reveal it to you in due course. In these two chapters of Genesis, I noticed that the years that each generation was living was, with one or two exceptions, becoming gradually less. Then we come to Noah who is the only one in the list who is presented with a comment from his father, Lamech. "This one doth comfort us concerning our work and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed."I noticed that Lamech knew of Jehovah and he knew that the ground had been cursed by him. This teaching had continued from generation to generation.In chapter 6 we have a terrible description of what was happening on the earth.The 'sons of God' are in this case, the angels which fell to earth in the rebellion against God in heaven led by Lucifer, the angel who challenged God to take his throne. [Ezekiel 28: 14-17] A third of the stars of heaven were thrown down to earth with Lucifer [Revelation 12:4] Jesus speaks of witnessing this, where Lucifer is now called Satan, meaning 'deceiver' [Luke 10:18]This is another significant truth in our experience of reading the Bible : the Bible explains itself. So when we don't understand something, hold that lack of understanding patiently and continue reading the Bible. Many times the explanation comes in another place. The only other thing I would like to comment on, is God's grief in seeing the deterioration in humankind until every imagination of the thoughts of their heart is evil. Hearts are where evil thoughts sit. Jesus says: 'out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" [Luke 6:45]Beware of our tongues! [Psalm 34:13} It is a restless evil full of deadly poison [James 3:6]From evil thoughts come evil actions. To prevent this we must fill our hearts with good things. What we read, hear, watch, encounter, even what we say ourselves which we hear ourselves saying, will make the soil of our heart what it is. God's grief is so deep and so hurting to see the thoughts of our hearts when they are evil. It is out of grief that God acts in the time of Noah.