Genesis 12:4-9; Psalm 9:13-20

Genesis 12:4-9
Here is a brief outline of Genesis to keep us from losing our way. Genesis is a long book, and it's easy to sort of lose track of the big picture.

Genesis 1-11 records 4 great events:

• Creation
• The Fall of Man
• The Great Flood
• The Tower of Babel (and the scattering of the nations)

Genesis 12-50 tells the stories of 4 great men:

• Abraham
• Isaac
• Jacob
• Joseph

And so we are beginning the life of Abram--later called Abraham.

In vv. 4-9 we read that Abram was obedient to the Lord's command. He departed with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and traveled toward the land of Canaan. They were apparently quite a caravan with all their possessions and people, and so this was no small project. v. 5 

God's promise to Abram is repeated in v. 7, "Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants, I will give this land.'' And Abram built an altar and worshiped the Lord "and called on the name of the LORD." v. 8

Psalm 9:13-20
Last time I said that this psalm is about praise and prayer. vv. 1-12 are about praise. The remainder of this psalm is about prayer. David prays for mercy in his time of trouble. This is what we all need! He promises to praise the Lord. We know that we can't really bargain with God. He doesn't show mercy because we promise to praise Him if he rescues us, but out of our grateful heart, we will indeed praise the Lord.

We see hope for the poor and needy in v. 18. "For the needy shall not always be forgotten; The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever."

"I will be gald and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:2