THE KING’S BUSINESS
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Jehovah smelled the sweet savor," —a strong “anthropomorphism,” or man-like expression. As a fragrant odor gives a sense of delightful satisfaction, so this act of Noah was pleasing to God. For the murderous blood that Cain shed it repented Him that He had made man (Gen. 6:6); but for the atoning blood that Noah shed it delighted Him that he spared some; and He was reminded of Him of Whom it should yet be said, “He gave Himself an offering and a sacri fice for a sweet smelling savor unto God” (Eph. 5:2); even “His dear Son,” whose blood is the preservative of this age, and the consecrating ottering of that which is to come. (2) How did God show His acceptance? No doubt as we saw in the last lesson by consuming fire from heaven; and by an audible Voice as (Acts 22:7-9; Gen. 3:8; Exod. 19:19). 2. The Lord’s response. (1) “I will not again curse the ground,” etc. Again we are reminded that “It is the blood that maketh reconciliation” (Lev. 17:11), and how it said, “When I see the blood” (Exod. 12:13). It was the Cross of Christ “towering o’er the wrecks of time” that'became the center round which the worlds and seasons unremittingly re volve. Wonderful cross! (Col. 1:19,20; Acts 14:17). (2) “For that the imagina tion of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Here the Lord seems to spare men for the same reason for which He had destroyed them (Gen. 6:5). But there He looks at man’s incorrigible wickedness; while here, BESIDE THE ATONING ALTAR He considers the piti able fallen nature of which mankind are the sorrowful heirs. There He spoke of judgment, here of merey, for He is “touched with the feeling of our infirm ities” (Heb. 4:15). IV. THE NOACHIC COVENANT 1. The new age. To aid man’s com prehension of His plans; apprehension of His grace; and confidence in His promise, God has, not figuratively, but in reality, entered into contract, or “cov enant,” to perform certain redeeming and crowning acts toward man (Heb. 6:17, 18). As we said in our last lesson each dispensation in His unfolding purpose has its covenant. Here a new age opens with the new covenant. It is the age of monarchy, once and once only has the whole race been under one monarch, (Nimrod, Gen. 10:9-12), and tried under the restraint of one common civil au thority it failed, as it had under the anarchic condition of the former age. This third dispensation was bounded by,
him in tile Ark, so, unhappily, he had brought the “old man” and the “new” (Eph. 4:22-24) with him in his heart, and became the type of all who emerge from the baptismal waters (I Pet. 3:19- 21), for it is impossible that a deluge of literal water should cleanse a world or a soul. So the two lines, the two seeds, the flesh and the spirit still run their course, side by side, (and inside, even of the believer and of the Church) in the world. 2. The exit. But Noah was a right eous man, justified by faith (Heb. 11:7; Gen. 7:1; II Pet. 2:5. He waited patient ly for the Lord.” He did not run ahead of God. When Adam hid himself among,, the trees of the garden he was afraid of the Voice (Gen. 3:8-10), hut those whom God has hidden “till the indignation be overpast” (Isa. 26:20) wait for the Voice and the uplifted cloud (Exod. 40:36,37). “And God spake .. . Go forth,” —VGien the Lord shut Him in He said, “Come thou,” (7:1), He led the way, and He abode with him, as He says, “When thou passest through the waters i will be with thee” (Isa. 43:2). Now He says, “Go,” not “Come,” as if He Himself were with out (Isa. 52:12). So “the Lord shall pre serve thy going out and thy coming in. (Ps. 121:8). III. CONSECRATING THE NEW EARTH 1. Noah’s offering. The first act of the new head of the race, and Lord of creation, was to rear and altar to JE HOVAH; for man began and continued to this time a monotheist, and the cov enant keeping God of redemption and providence, JEHOVAH was his Lord of all. Noah’s offering was (1) an ex pression of gratitude, thanksgiving to God for his deliverance and for the fruit ful earth, his vast estate, which lay be fore him; (2) an acknowledgment that “the earth and fulness thereof" was the LORD’S (JEHOVAH’S); (3) a confes sion of his own dependence on his Maker and Preserver; and (4) a Godappointed atonement for himself and his house, confessed sinner’s redeemed by the Blood, the type of which was that of “the clean” beasts which he shed. In all this our father Noah—a. set an example —tb. entailed an obligation,—c. trans mitted a privilege, and,—d. bequeathed a hope to all his descendants of more value than the whole world preserved to us through faith but not esteemed today so much as the sod and stones cleansed and again given up to man’s pollution. 2. The Lord's acceptance. (1) “And
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