Read Genesis 6:1-7
Verse 1-7 -
The most remarkable thing concerning the old world, is the
destroying of it by the deluge, or flood. We are told of the
abounding iniquity of that wicked world: God's just wrath, and his
holy resolution to punish it. In all ages there has been a peculiar
curse of God upon marriages between professors of true religion and
its avowed enemies. The evil example of the ungodly party corrupts
or greatly hurts the other. Family religion is put an end to, and
the children are trained up according to the worldly maxims of that
parent who is without the fear of God. If we profess to be the sons
and daughters of the Lord Almighty, we must not marry without his
consent. He will never give his blessing, if we prefer beauty, wit,
wealth, or worldly honours, to faith and holiness. The Spirit of God
strove with men, by sending Enoch, Noah, and perhaps others, to
preach to them; by waiting to be gracious, notwithstanding their
rebellions; and by exciting alarm and convictions in their
consciences. But the Lord declared that his Spirit should not thus
strive with men always; he would leave them to be hardened in sin,
and ripened for destruction. This he determined on, because man was
flesh: not only frail and feeble, but carnal and depraved; having
misused the noble powers of his soul to gratify his corrupt
inclinations. God sees all the wickedness that is among the children
of men; it cannot be hid from him now; and if it be not repented of,
it shall be made known by him shortly. The wickedness of a people is
great indeed, when noted sinners are men renowned among them. Very
much sin was committed in all places, by all sorts of people. Any
one might see that the wickedness of man was great: but God saw that
every imagination, or purpose, of the thoughts of man's heart, was
only evil continually. This was the bitter root, the corrupt spring.
The heart was deceitful and desperately wicked; the principles were
corrupt; the habits and dispositions evil. Their designs and devices
were wicked. They did evil deliberately, contriving how to do
mischief. There was no good among them. God saw man's wickedness as
one injured and wronged by it. He saw it as a tender father sees the
folly and stubbornness of a rebellious and disobedient child, which
grieves him, and makes him wish he had been childless. The words
here used are remarkable; they are used after the manner of men, and
do not mean that God can change, or be unhappy. Does God thus hate
our sin? And shall not we be grieved to the heart for it? Oh that we
may look on Him whom we have grieved, and mourn! God repented that
he had made man; but we never find him repent that he redeemed man.
God resolves to destroy man: the original word is very striking, 'I
will wipe off man from the earth,' as dirt or filth is wiped off
from a place which should be clean, and is thrown to the dunghill,
the proper place for it. God speaks of man as his own creature, when
he resolves upon his punishment. Those forfeit their lives who do
not answer the end of their living. God speaks of resolution
concerning men, after his Spirit had been long striving with them in
vain. None are punished by the justice of God, but those who hate to
be reformed by the grace of God.
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