In chapter 9 begins the
history of the new earth. God blesses the earth more than
before; and the answer to the sweet savour of the
sacrifice assures the world that a universal deluge will
never recur. God makes a covenant [1] with the creation to this effect.
Government is established in the hand of man, and death
begins to furnish him with nourishment. It does not
appear to me that, before this, there had been either
government or idolatry. There had been sin against God,
violence without restraint against one another, and
corruption; the two perpetual characters of sin, amongst
men, and even in Satan as far as may be [2]. God cared for His creation in
mercy; but with Noah new principles were brought out. The
sacrifice of Christ (in figure) becomes a ground of
dealing with the earth, not alone of accepting man, as in
Abel; and on this a covenant is founded. That is, God
binds Himself in grace, so that faith has a sure ground
to go upon, that on which it can count.
Government in the
hand of man
Another very important
principle introduced was the second referred
to—government in the hand of man. Covenant was sure,
for God is faithful when He binds Himself. Government was
entrusted to the hands of men. Alas! this new trial soon
has the same result as before. The government confided to
Noah loses immediately its honour. The earth, under
mercy, relieved (as Lamech had announced) by agricultural
care, becomes in its fruits a snare to Noah, who becomes
intoxicated, and his own son dishonours him; on whose
race consequently the curse falls. This is given in view
of the people opposed to Israel, the centre of God's
earthly government, and of the relationship of God with
that family.
A beginning on new
principles
In these chapters then we
have the old earth closed and the new begun on new
principles. This lasts till the judgment by fire. Man's
failure in the old world is set forth, and God's judgment
thereon, in Adam and Cain. Now the special judgment and
the special blessing in connection with Israel begins to
shew itself, for we are yet on the earth here. The
historical course of Noah's family is brought out in
connection with these two points, the blessing and the
curse in Shem and Ham. This is God's survey of the new
world, in its three heads Shem, Ham, and Japheth, in a
brief declaration of what characterised their position in
the earth. Its whole history is stated in a few words.
How mighty in everything is the word! He who knows all
can state all briefly and surely. We begin afresh with
chapter 10 with the generation or history of Noah's sons.
We have thus the
establishment of the new earth and its whole general
prophetic history, as this earth, in the first account of
Noah, and God's communications with him; Shem being owned
as the root of God's family in it, allied to the name of
Jehovah, with special judgment on Canaan, whose place, we
know, Israel took.
[1]
Covenant, when used in connection with the Lord, is
always, it seems to me, some order established by God and
announced to man, according to the terms of which He
enters into relationship with man, or according to which
man is to approach Him.
[2] There are three characters of
sin—violence, falsehood and corruption. The two
first are directly ascribed to Satan; alas, man follows
him in them, the third is more properly man's. All three
are noticed in Colossians 3: 5-9. In fact we get these
three characters at the close—the false prophet, the
beast, and Babylon.
Genesis 9 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
In chapter 9 begins the history of the new earth. God blesses the earth more than before; and the answer to the sweet savour of the sacrifice assures the world that a universal deluge will never recur. God makes a covenant [1] with the creation to this effect. Government is established in the hand of man, and death begins to furnish him with nourishment. It does not appear to me that, before this, there had been either government or idolatry. There had been sin against God, violence without restraint against one another, and corruption; the two perpetual characters of sin, amongst men, and even in Satan as far as may be [2]. God cared for His creation in mercy; but with Noah new principles were brought out. The sacrifice of Christ (in figure) becomes a ground of dealing with the earth, not alone of accepting man, as in Abel; and on this a covenant is founded. That is, God binds Himself in grace, so that faith has a sure ground to go upon, that on which it can count.
Government in the hand of man
Another very important principle introduced was the second referred to—government in the hand of man. Covenant was sure, for God is faithful when He binds Himself. Government was entrusted to the hands of men. Alas! this new trial soon has the same result as before. The government confided to Noah loses immediately its honour. The earth, under mercy, relieved (as Lamech had announced) by agricultural care, becomes in its fruits a snare to Noah, who becomes intoxicated, and his own son dishonours him; on whose race consequently the curse falls. This is given in view of the people opposed to Israel, the centre of God's earthly government, and of the relationship of God with that family.
A beginning on new principles
In these chapters then we have the old earth closed and the new begun on new principles. This lasts till the judgment by fire. Man's failure in the old world is set forth, and God's judgment thereon, in Adam and Cain. Now the special judgment and the special blessing in connection with Israel begins to shew itself, for we are yet on the earth here. The historical course of Noah's family is brought out in connection with these two points, the blessing and the curse in Shem and Ham. This is God's survey of the new world, in its three heads Shem, Ham, and Japheth, in a brief declaration of what characterised their position in the earth. Its whole history is stated in a few words. How mighty in everything is the word! He who knows all can state all briefly and surely. We begin afresh with chapter 10 with the generation or history of Noah's sons.
We have thus the establishment of the new earth and its whole general prophetic history, as this earth, in the first account of Noah, and God's communications with him; Shem being owned as the root of God's family in it, allied to the name of Jehovah, with special judgment on Canaan, whose place, we know, Israel took.
[1] Covenant, when used in connection with the Lord, is always, it seems to me, some order established by God and announced to man, according to the terms of which He enters into relationship with man, or according to which man is to approach Him.
[2] There are three characters of sin—violence, falsehood and corruption. The two first are directly ascribed to Satan; alas, man follows him in them, the third is more properly man's. All three are noticed in Colossians 3: 5-9. In fact we get these three characters at the close—the false prophet, the beast, and Babylon.