
16 MAY
Fly to Jesus, the stronghold
‘And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.’ Genesis 8:11
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Genesis 7:24–8:12
Awful have been the effects of sin in every age and country. But never had death such a general triumph over sinners as in the days of Noah. When he and his family were safely shut up, in that very day, the sentence long before denounced was executed, and all mankind, having corrupted their ways before God, were swept away with a flood. What heart can conceive the horror and dismay when destruction presented itself in every quarter, and the ark, which before they had slighted, and which was the only possible way of escape, was shut against them. This is an emblem of a still severer day of vengeance when the wicked shall be destroyed, not by water, but by a deluge of wrath and fire. O think of it in time and fly to Jesus, the stronghold, as prisoners of hope [Zechariah 9:12].
FOR MEDITATION:
Saved by blood, I live to tell
Shame and wonder, joy and love,
What the love of CHRIST hath done;
All at once possessed my heart;
He redeemed my soul from hell,
Can I hope thy grace to prove,
Of a rebel made a son:
After acting such a part?
Oh, I tremble still, to think
‘Thou hast greatly sinned,’ he said,
How secure I lived in sin;
‘But I freely all forgive;
Sporting on destruction’s brink,
I myself thy debt have paid,
Yet preserved from falling in.
Now I bid thee rise and live.’
In his own appointed hour,
Come, my fellow-sinners, try,
To my heart the Saviour spoke,
JESUS’ heart is full of love;
Touched me by his Spirit’s power,
Oh that you, as well as I,
And my dangerous slumber broke.
May his wondrous mercy prove!
Then I saw and owned my guilt,
He has sent me to declare,
Soon my gracious LORD replied;
All is ready, all is free;
‘Fear not, I my blood have spilt,
Why should any soul despair,
’Twas for such as thee I died.’
When he saved a wretch like me?
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 18 [1/3], GENESIS 8:11