(1) About Noah
Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries
(NET)=The Hebrew term תָּמִים (tamim, “blameless”) is used of men in Gen 17:1 (associated with the idiom “walk before,” which means “maintain a proper relationship with,” see 24:40); Deut 18:13 (where it means “blameless” in the sense of not guilty of the idolatrous practices listed before this; see Josh 24:14); Pss 18:23, 26 (“blameless” in the sense of not having violated God’s commands); 37:18 (in contrast to the wicked); 101:2, 6 (in contrast to proud, deceitful slanderers; see 15:2); Prov 2:21; 11:5 (in contrast to the wicked); 28:10; Job 12:4.
He walked with God
(NET) Based on the use in 1 Sam 25:15, the expression seems to mean “live in close proximity to,” which may, by metonymy, mean “maintain cordial relations with.”
(EBC)
The Flood account begins in v.9 with the description of Noah’s righteousness. It seems clear from the way the author begins the account that the main purpose of the story of the Flood is not to show why God sent a flood but rather to show why God saved Noah. In this opening section Noah’s “righteousness” is contrasted with the “violence” of “all flesh.” The message of the narrative is quite straightforward. The reason God saved Noah was that he “walked with God” and did not “corrupt” God’s way (v.12)... The point is clear enough: God delivers those who “walk with” him and who do not “corrupt his way.”
In the following section, however, the author allows the reader to peer much closer into the nature of Noah’s righteousness. We are allowed to see him at work. The picture of Noah (nōaḥ) that emerges from the Flood story thus becomes a model of the kind of life that finds grace (ḥēn) in the sight of God. It is a picture of simple obedience to God’s commands and trust in his provision.
Summary: The account of the salvation of Noah's family from the disaster starts with the character of Noah. He was totally different than the rest of his generation. He was obedient to God. Therefore, God told him to make an ark as a means to be saved.
Reflection: How am I different than the rest of my generation. Will I be obedient to God and have difference than other people in wickedness, deceitful, prideful?
Was it difficult for Noah to live among people who were not like him?
Did I rub shoulder with God every day? Or live in close proximity to God every day?
(2) about the earth
11 The earth was ruined in the sight of God; the earth was filled with violence. 12 God saw the earth, and indeed it was ruined, for all living creatures on the earth were sinful.
Repeated phrases:
(1) the earth was ruined, v.11, 12= In this case humankind’s sin is viewed has having an adverse effect upon the earth.
(2) Violent v.11, 13=The Hebrew word translated “violence” refers elsewhere to a broad range of crimes, including unjust treatment (Gen 16:5; Amos 3:10), injurious legal testimony (Deut 19:16), deadly assault (Gen 49:5), murder (Judg 9:24), and rape (Jer 13:22).
Summary: In creation, God filled the earth with things good to mankind. Now, man ruined our surroundings by our own sins. The earth now was filled with violence, crimes, unjustice, injurious, deadly assault, murder, and rape.
Reflection: We are away from the purpose of God so far off. The things around us are no longer "good," but ruined. How could we live a life that is according to God's purpose? It will be much harder.
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