Genesis 2: 4-17; Psalm 147:7-20

Genesis 2:4-17
Genesis 1 gave us the skeleton outline for the days of creation. Chapter 2 fills in the gaps and gives more detail. According to v. 7, "the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground." This indicates that our bodies are made from every day elements. Though our bodies are a miracle in a way, they are just a shell until "God breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person." It is the "breath of God" and the fact that we are made in the image of God that makes us special to God. And we are special to Him. Every human that ever lived was important to God.

We see in vv. 8-14 that the Garden of Eden was a real place, and it was perfect since sin had not yet entered the picture.

God gave the man work to do, v. 15, and He gave him (man) a free will. "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden--except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit,  you are sure to die." vv. 16-17   We have seen that God made man perfect, but He gave him freedom to make choices. This freedom to choose remains to this day. We do have a free will. God has not programmed us like some complex computer. The fact that evil is mentioned (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) tells us that evil was a possibility.

Psalm 147:7-20
"Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp." v. 7 God apparently loves music, and we should use it to praise Him.

Nature is a reflection of who God is. It shows His immensity. Remember that v. 4 told us "He counts the stars and calls them all by name"? Even modern science can't do that. They are still discovering "new" ones! Nature shows us His love and care. He sends the clouds with their life-giving rain. He "makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry."  We see His great power in that the seasons follow his orders. "He sends the snow...He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts."

Now notice vv. 10-11 "He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love." It's quite a thought that we can actually bring pleasure to our great and awesome God by fearing Him--honoring and respecting Him, and by trusting Him--putting our hope in His unfailing love. We can do this! And it brings pleasure to God.

"The Lord's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love." Psalm 147:11.