A New Covenant

Good afternoon from a sunny and still dry Panhandle. We are starting a new Chapter today. In Chapter Nine we see that Noah heads up the human race just as Adam did at the beginning. God gave Noah the same command that he gave Adam, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Something new is added, however. Animals become food for man (v. 3). Also an early version of the commandment “You shall not kill” is given (v. 6). Before the flood no one could touch Cain, now however murder is punishable by death. And God make a covenant never to destroy the earth by a flood again.

Both the world and the church were now again reduced to a family, the family of Noah. In the now cleansed world Noah continued the character and held the position of a second representative father of the human race. Since the providence of Divine intervention was from this time forth to be developed on a different plan from that of the antediluvian world, another covenant was made for the preservation of man in the new order of things. A new code of conduct was given to him, embodied in simple but fundamental laws, for the authoritative guidance of all future generations. This way of life, this new covenant was from God, Noah's Saviour and the Creator of all things.

CHAPTER 9 AT A GLANCE

God blesses Noah and his sons, v. 1.

The animals are to be subject to them through fear, v. 2.

The first grant of animal food, v. 3.

Eating of blood was forbidden, v. 4.

Cruelty to animals forbidden, v. 5.

A man-slayer to forfeit his life, v. 6.

The covenant of God established between him and Noah and the whole animal creation, v. 8-11.

The rainbow was given as the sign and pledge of this covenant, v. 12-17.

The three sons of Noah populate the entire earth, v. 18-19.

Noah plants a vineyard, drinks from the wine, is intoxicated, and lies exposed in his tent, v. 20-21.

The reprehensible conduct of Ham, v. 22.

The laudable comportment of Shem and Japheth, v. 23.

Noah prophetically declares the servitude of the posterity of Ham, v. 24-25.

The dignity and increase of Shem and Japheth, v. 26-27.

The age and death of Noah, v. 28-29.

(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Gen 9:1-4
9:1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

1. Noah and A New Beginning (vs. 1-4)

Noah and his family were saved from the deluge. He had found grace in the sight of the Lord, and now he and his family had been graciously accepted when they approached the Lord with burnt-offerings. And so in him, the race of man is to be begun anew. Accordingly, as at the beginning, the Lord proceeds to bless him. First. The grant of increase is the same as at

Adam, but expressed in ampler terms. Second. Dominion over the other animals is renewed. They are placed entirely at the disposal of man.

However fear and terror now replace the previous harmony between man and animals. God now sanctions an animal diet as long as man does eat it with the blood.

Up to this point, many think, mankind had been confined to eating only the products of the earth - fruits, herbs, and roots, and all sorts of corn and milk; so was the first grant, (Gen 1:29). But the flood having perhaps washed away much of the nutritional value of the plant life on the earth, and so rendered its fruits less pleasing and less nourishing, God now enlarged man’s diet, and allowed mankind to eat meat, which perhaps they had never thought of, until now that God directed them to it. But now mankind is allowed to eat meat, as freely and safely as the green herbs.

NOTE: The Jewish doctors speak so often of the seven precepts of Noah, or of the sons of Noah, which they say were to be observed by all nations, that it may not be amiss to set them down. The first against the worship of idols. The second against blasphemy, and requiring to bless the name of God. The third against murder. The fourth against incest and all uncleanness. The fifth against theft and rapine. The sixth requiring the administration of justice. The seventh against eating of flesh with the life. These the Jews required the observance of from the proselytes of the gate. But the precepts here given all concern the life of man. - (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by