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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

19 January 2014




So how did Noah know which were the clean animals?  We don't have those details until later in the Bible so God must have given him those particulars.  Noah and his family go into the ark and the Lord shut them in. Then, they wait.  They wait for six days and on the seventh day it began to rain.  Do you see the connection to Genesis 1 in that pattern?  On the seventh day rain began to fall, seemingly for the first time, and on the seventh day.  God began destroying His creation on the seventh day.  That which He had created in six days He began killing on the seventh day.  He had created a separation between the waters in the heavens and earth and now that separation is being done away with for a time.  The passage then tells us that all geographic distinction was gone (the highest mountains were covered) and all life perished in the waters of the flood.  Only Noah, his family and the chosen animals were left behind.  All that was left of God's creation and generations of fruitfulness was in an ark floating on the waters.

The hope of all humankind is in this man, the one of whom the demons testify, "You are the Son of God."  He ordered them not to testify, the testimony of demons is not helpful.  They know the truth but is that where you want to get your information?  Jesus then appointed the twelve to preach and to cast out demons.  It would seem that prior to this there were others who were going about with them and now Jesus narrows down the field to the particular twelve who would be the ones into whom He would pour everything.  The hope of the church rests with these twelve men chosen by Jesus to carry the word and be faithful to the mission.  Thank goodness for the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit was given to us in order to make us one, to unite us into the image of Christ.  He is our Noah in that He has made a way for us to escape the coming judgment of God on all living flesh.  He is our righteousness.  While Noah was found righteous in his generation, we, like Noah's family, are saved by an alien righteousness.  We have the opportunity to proclaim Jesus now and we have been given the Spirit with which to present and re-present Him to the world in order that all who are chosen might be saved.  Today is a fantastic day to thank Him for the Holy Spirit.

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