New Instructions And Arrangements part 2 Discussion

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Deuteronomy 8:5 KJVS
[5] Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart
Frequently think of, and meditate upon, revolve in their thoughts, well weigh in their minds, and take into thorough and deliberate consideration in their hearts; it being a matter of great moment and importance to them for their peace and comfort and the glory of God, namely, what follows:

that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee;
that they stood in the same relation to God as a son to a father, and therefore happy and honourable; that all their afflictions came from God, were appointed, sent, directed, and overruled by him for his own glory and their good.

That these were the chastenings and corrections of a father, and were not done in wrath, but in love, and therefore should be patiently endured; and it became them to consider well from what hand they came, and in what manner, and for what ends and purposes, how they ought to behave under them, and what they should do, as follows.

Our topic today is:

NEW INSTRUCTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS part 2 Discussion

Verse 7 wraps up the section of blessings and commands by repeating the contents of verse 1: Noah, his sons, and all humanity to follow were charged with having more and more children and filling up the earth again.

Implied in the command is God's blessing to make it possible for humanity to continue to reproduce, to continue to receive the gift of children from God's hand through the process of human reproduction. God had wiped out humanity for its sinfulness, but God's intent is for humanity to thrive again under a new and reestablished relationship with Him.

The repeat of this command is also important in that it follows God's specific call for severe punishment in cases of murder. In verse 6, God institutes a requirement that any man or animal who murders a human being is to be put to death. The reason given was due to man's status as an image-bearer of God.

Here, by returning to the issue of expanding the human race, we see a second reason for God's harsh stance against murder. Rather than allow the kind of violence which had ruined the pre-flood world, God sets a new standard.

One difference of the post-flood era, beginning with chapter 9, is that God is speaking directly to Noah's sons, as well as to Noah. God is specifically including the next generation in His promises, commands, and blessings. In prior verses, God established some new details in man's relationship with animals, including the animal kingdom's fear of man and permission for humans to eat animal flesh.

Blood, however, is not to be eaten. Prior verses also established that instances of murder, whether by a man or an animal, would require the death penalty. As mankind are the image-bearers of God, God would not allow murder and violence to spread to the extent it did prior to the flood.

In this passage, God will establish a specific agreement with Noah and all of his descendants. This was foreshadowed by God prior to the flood (Genesis 6:18). This promise from God involves His vow to never again destroy all life on earth with a flood. The sign given to prove this covenant is God's bow, "set" in the clouds, rather than held ready for battle: the rainbow.

A "covenant" is a solemn agreement between two parties, where each side has certain obligations. Both parties in the covenant are bound to follow through on their end of the agreement. In some cases, those responsibilities are conditional. In such instances, the requirements are stated as "if this, then that."

In others, the mandates are expected no matter what the other party does. In Genesis 6:18, God promises to establish a covenant with