January 5, Day 5 – What Life Will Be Like in His Kingdom
- Dr. Eric Stricker
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
Today, in Genesis 8, we observe that, after the flood, “God remembered Noah and all the wild animals that were with him in the ark” (verse 1). Although God forgives and forgets our sin (cf., Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 10:17), He remembers us. He is fully mindful of all His creation. Many people today – if they believe in a flood at all – hold to the silly notion of a local flood. An even sillier belief is that God is an old, out-of-touch eccentric who dwells somewhere up there or way out in the universe and has no idea about what transpires with life in our world today. Just for a moment, consider the recorded numerical details of Genesis 7 and 8. Here, God not only reveals to us the truth of the event, but also its extent: that the flood actually did happen – how it proceeded, its duration, its recession – and its effects. God begins all these details with “God remembered.” Genesis 8 closes with this promise of God: “Never again will I destroy all living creatures … as long as the earth endures” (verses 21-22). God remembers and honors His promises.
Similar to Psalm 3, Psalm 4 was written by David. Today’s reading touches upon some of the same elements that we also see in Matthew’s gospel. Recognizing God’s righteousness, David calls on Him for relief from his enemies – those who attempt to “shame” him (verse 2). David states that we should “know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself,” and He will “hear us when we call upon Him” (verse 3). In effect, David is saying that if we belong to God, then our enemies are also Ged’s enemies. The Lord obligates Himself by His name, His promises, and His Word to hear our prayers and to act on our behalf. Notice that David says, “trust in the LORD” (verse 5). How hard is that? Yesterday we said that obedience is crucial; no debate or dispute is necessary. We simply need to do what God commands. David’s faith in God was so confident that – even in the face of his enemies – he could “lie down and sleep in peace,” knowing that “the LORD alone makes him to dwell in safety” (verse 8).
In Matthew 5:1-10, we see the first part of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount – the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes in the New Testament correspond to the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, both of which describe God’s plan for a life filled with blessings for those who keep them. Here, Jesus began His public ministry with blessings and preached these messages to “the crowds and to His disciples” (verses 1-2). In this passage, we read nine statements which begin with the word “blessed” (verses 3-12). The tenth statement begins with “rejoice and be glad” (verse 12). We can “rejoice and be glad” because we are blessed. Interestingly, later on, Jesus will close out His public ministry with eight denunciatory statements of “woe” to the “teachers of the law and to the Pharisees,” who represented all those who refuse to believe and obey Him (cf., Matthew 23:13-39). In verses 13-16, Jesus explains what we are to be in this world – “salt and light.” We are to add flavor to a tasteless world and increase the light of the gospel in a sin-darkened world. In verses 17-20, Jesus shows us the relationship between the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments – He did not “come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them” (verse 17). Jesus is the living Word of God, and in the same way that He could not be confined to the grave, the written Word of God can never by any means “disappear” (verse 18). In this sermon, Jesus describes what life will be like in His kingdom. God remembers His promises.
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