Read Psalm 8. | |
In your opening prayer, name some things in Gods creation for which you are particularly thankful. |
If you had been in charge of the creation of the universe, what is something you might have not bothered to create? | |
The most beautiful place I have ever seen is... | |
What is the best thing you have made with your own hands? |
Read through Genesis 1.1-2.3 and:
|
For the time before creation and each day of creation write down or draw what happened on that day. (Use this printable table, if you want.) | |
1.1-2 - Be sure to note any footnotes your translation may have to these verses. Read John 1.1-2 to see the context within which we Christians make sense of creation. | |
1.5 - Note that it says, "And there was evening and there was morning..." The order of this wording explains why Israelites reckon days from sunset to sunset. | |
1.6-8 - The description of God separating the "waters that were under the dome" from the "waters that were above the dome" reflects the ancient understanding of a flat earth with the "firmament" or "dome" of the sky as something like a hard bell that separated the waters above from those below. (Cf. Job 37.18 and Isaiah 42.5.) |
1:26 - Who is the "us" when God says in verse 26, "Let us make humankind in our likeness..."? There are three possibilities. a) Traditionally in the Christian church the "us" has been understood as a reference to the Triune God which we confess: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. b) The "us" possibly reflects a grammatical circumlocution. That is, God does not say, "Let me make..." but instead God the Creator of all has made a decision that affects all creation. Speaking, therefore, on behalf of all who recognize him as King, God says, "Let us make..." c) Within the ancient Hebrew culture, it is more likely a reference to the heavenly court. (See #3c above and also 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6; Isaiah 6:1-3.) The text emphasizes the special attention with which God created humans (see 1:27 where "create" is used three times). But the text also wants to be clear that humans are not exactly the same as God. Not only are we created in the "image" of God, but it is also an image that we share more vaguely with all the heavenly beings. (See Psalm 8:5 and note the footnote to the verse.)
2.1-3 - Recall that this Sabbath day in Judaism is celebrated from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Why then do we now celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday? (Hint: Mark 16.2.) |
Bruce Cockburn's "Lord of the Starfields" from his 1976 album, In the Falling Dark - Click here for the lyrics. A commentary on Cockburn's spiritual journey is available here. | |
Steven Curtis Chapman's "King of the Jungle" from his album, Heaven in the Real World - Click here for the lyrics. A RealAudio clip is available here. |
Read and relate Psalm 33, Psalm 104, and/or John 1.1-14 to the Genesis 1.1-2.3 story. | |
For a devotional approach to the story of creation, read Psalm 148 or sing the hymn "Earth and All Stars" (LBW #558). | |
Make specific plans on how you will keep the Sabbath day holy. |