“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ’Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ And God said, ’This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth’" (Genesis 9:8-17, ESV).
We praise one who has accomplished what is good. We praise him, especially if he did something different from the ordinary.
In our present time, we would admire and vote a particular political candidate, because he or she did something praiseworthy. In fact, others praise someone just for the nice things he said. They praise even for the promise made, which they believe are doable, helpful and for the common good.
However, in Psalm 112:1, we read: “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!”
We need to praise Him more than anyone else. As the Psalmist also declared, “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” (Ps. 113:5).
There is no one like Him. Even the promises He made are so different from what we are accustomed to hear in this world.
Just for His promise, we could praise Him.
So, this time let’s examine a particular promise He made. By uncovering its gem, we would appreciate His other promises. Not only that, we would be motivated more to praise Him, as we explore our topic: PRAISE GOD FOR HIS PROMISE, as we focus on our text (Gen. 9:8-17).
Aside from considering who He is and His marvelous works, why praise God for His promise? What could we see in it that we could praise Him?
In previous seven verses of chapter 9, we cited the blessings of God that we could be thankful for. We could be thankful for His command. We could be thankful for His decree. And we could be thankful for His judgement.
Now, in our text we could point out the blessing of His word of promise. Not only we could be thankful for it, but we could also truly praise Him.
Now, what could we observe in His promise that we could praise God?
I – PRAISE GOD FOR HIS SOVEREIGN PROMISE (vv. 8-11).
We read verses 8-11, “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’"
God is Sovereign. He is in Authority. He rules and controls. And His Sovereign rule is not just in a particular or limited sphere. He rules over all. His Sovereign Will is absolute. So, His Sovereign Authority reigns over all any existing authorities.
Thus, His promise is so different from what man makes. When we say, God’s promise is Sovereign, we mean it is lofty, majestic, excellent, effectual or efficacious.
Notice verse 11, God said: “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
A “covenant” is a contract or agreement. One party or two parties promised to do something – a unilateral or a bilateral agreement. In this case, it’s unilateral. Only one party made the promise – God. It implied that He is in control of the flood waters, not only during that time but even in the future, when He said, “never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
His promise does not depend on man or anything. It shows His infinite competence. It underlines our helplessness and incompetence. And it reminds us of a very important truth. The One who rules over all can do anything to us and to all His creation – even it offends our human reason or ethical standard.
Today, the general thinking of man about God is so different. Because of our sinful nature, our tendency is to suppress the truth about Him. Adam started it. He wanted to be like god. Followed by those who looked upon the sun, or moon, or star as their god. Then, those who made god or gods out of wood or stone. Some worshiped angels, or whatever spirits. When I was young, the concept that there is no God was brewing. When I was in college, the idea that God is dead was being entertained.
Now, the majority believe in God, but they live as if there is none. And that is happening even in the so-called Christian community. Many believe that God is Sovereign, but His influence is limited or confined in some areas only. Some pastors and theologians would reason out that human will or desire is not under the direction of the One who rules over all.
And so, they do not take God’s Word, decree, or promise with the necessary weight that it has. They do not regard His Word or promise with the exact value it imparts. Thy just feel that God’s promise is only like the declaration of any limited, finite, erroneous human being.
So, believers or lovers of Christ, are we different from them, for we could feel the worth of God’s promise? Could we praise Him just for His promise?
Remember, when God promises, only He alone can do it. Do we believe that?
And His promise does not depend on us. He does not need our approval. He does not need our participation. It does not depend on any anything. It does not depend on any situation. It is absolutely, purely, sovereignly unilateral.
How should it impact us? Praise Him for His Sovereign promise!
And would you like to praise Him more? Discover more of His promises. Be familiar with them. So, spend more time in His Word.
What else could we see in His promise for us to praise Him?
II – PRAISE GOD FOR HIS CONFIRMED PROMISE (vv. 12-15).
We read verses 12-15, “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.’”
Notice again verses 12-13, “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
God did not just make a promise. He confirmed it. He gave a sign. He set a bow, a divine guarantee to man that God would honor His words.
He made a guarantee, not because He was unreliable. But because He knew that man was filled with doubt, his heart was depraved, unworthy of the favor. Noah and his sons had just experienced how wicked men could be. And they deserved to be punished.
So, God gave them the assurance, the confirmation that “never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
In Psalm 119:38, the Psalmist prayed: “Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.”
And what do you mean “confirm”?
One of the definitions given by Merriam Webster: “to make (something) stronger or more certain: to cause (someone) to believe (something) more strongly.
As God gave Noah and his sons the guarantee – God causing them to believe His promise more strongly, Christians are also given the confirmation of God’s promises.
The resurrection of Christ from the dead showed that other declarations of God will also happen.
Also, the first coming of Christ was a fulfillment of God’s promise in the Old Testament. But it was not only a confirmation in that sense that it happened. It’s also a confirmation for us today that His promise to come for the second time will also happen.
So, believers and lovers of Christ, what do you feel that God confirmed His promise? How do you react that His promise to you is guaranteed to happen?
Realize that when God made His promise it is as good as done.
The Psalmist did not just ask God to fulfill His promise. He asked Him to confirm it. Why? “… that you may be feared”! – that he could feel the reverential fear, the awesome respect, enjoyment of giving praise to God!
Would you like also to have the confirmation of God’s promises?
As we discover His promises in His Word, we could also experience His confirmation in the same source.
So, spend more time in His Word.
What’s the final point that we praise God for His promise?
III – PRAISE GOD FOR HIS EVERLASTING PROMISE (vv. 16-17).
We read verses 16-17, “’When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’"
The word “remember” does not refer to mental recall, but according to Hebrew scholar, an expression indicating an action of the previous commitment.
But what is noteworthy is that God defined His covenant as “everlasting.”
He is good. And so His word is good – meaning His command, His judgement, or His promise is also good.
God is Everlasting. And He Himself called His promise “everlasting.” As God does not fade, does not cease to be Loving, Sovereign, Holy, Merciful, Faithful, His promise will not at any point of time falter, fade or loss its effectivity. His promise is firm. Time will not lessen the force of its enforceability. It has no expiry date.
How many times that my own promises expired? I could no longer recall. But God declared in Jeremiah 32:39-40:
“I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”
God’s promise is everlasting. And He promised His chosen ones to give them a heart that they may fear Him.
So, to fear God is a gift. It’s a gift for the good of His people and of their children. They will have a very high regard for God, their great respect for Him will be of reverential fear and their pleasure to be with Him will overflow of praising Him. Thus, turning from God will never come even in their subconscious mind.
And that gift is promised by God to His chosen people, not only in the time of Noah, not only in the time of Abraham, not only in the time of Moses, not only in the time David, not only in the time of the Apostles, not only in the time of Augustine, not only in the time of Luther, not only in our time, but for all time – for all ages. It is an everlasting promise.
Believers or lovers of Christ, did you receive something as a gift during the during the past days?
Be grateful and praise God for it. But never forget the great value of the gift of godly fear. Few people are enjoying it. If you have it, as we learned in Psalm 119:39-40, we will fear to displease our Heavenly Father. And we will long for to have the blessings of His Word.
If anyone of us does not have that kind of gift, ask God for it. You can be sure to have it. For it is in accord with His Will. And it is His everlasting promise to give it to His people.
And though we do not know what challenges we are facing during the coming days, together we can praise God for His everlasting promises!
Jesus declared in three instances in the Gospel, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35; Mk. 13:31; Lk. 21:33).
The Psalmist proclaimed, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
God’s word of promise will not pass away. It is forever. Let’s continue to spend our time in His Word of promise.
CONCLUSION:
In the early 20’s a co-employee and I would attend a seminar of the Department of Finance held in Davao.
When we reached Manila to board in our plane to Davao, the flight was canceled. There was a typhoon. Thankfully, my co-employee has a daughter in Manila. We stayed overnight in her place. When morning came, flights resumed, but because many flights before had been canceled, the airport was packed with chance passengers, like my co-employee and myself. After lunch or toward the end of the day, we had to stand like match sticks as we pressed on to approach the counter for the validation of our ticket or be issued another ticket for the flight.
My companion who was several years older than me said that we just need to return to Legazpi. I was already to tempted to give up as well. Patience is not my virtue. But my desire to reach the place and to share a xerox copy of the first Christian book I read to a pastor in Davao triumphed. So, I got the ticket of my companion, so he just find a seat and relax. I suffered the burden of waiting and to process our tickets. Ultimately, we boarded an evening flight and enjoyed several unforgettable experiences in Davao. But most of all, I was able to locate the house of the pastor and joyfully saw his face gladdened to have the book.
As you make your spiritual travel in reading through the Bible, you will be tempted to give up as you encounter the genealogies or measurements in the building of the temple or whatever spiritual typhoons that will discourage you to continue. Let your desire to reach the New Heaven and New Earth (Book of Revelation) to motivate you to press on.
Also, be motivated to find many sovereign, confirmed and everlasting promises of God. So, you can praise Him more.
