All today’s readings provoked much thought. Psalm 7 is David’s plea for “refuge; save me from my pursuers and deliver me” (verse 1). But he also says, “if there is wrong in my hands … let the enemy … trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust” (verses 3,5). David knew God could see all things! This included how his mind worked, his real values and priorities in life; this is the reason he was so shattered after his sin with Bathsheba, God would not let him hide his sin.

Our thoughts then focused on Genesis and what God saw. “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (6:5). God sees two different qualities in humans – good or evil, righteousness or wickedness, love or hate! Ways of living tend in one or other of these two directions – wheat or tares growing to produce two types of harvest – and what a harvest of godlessness was surrounding Noah! Is it not the same today! We are going to be part of a harvest of one kind or another.

“And God saw the earth, and behold it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way …” (verse 12). We know when things are going bad, such as fruit we have bought. We see what can be saved to eat – and throw the bad away. Noah’s great grandfather Enoch “walked with God” and “God took him” (5:24). We are not told how – or where. If God chooses not to tell us, it is pointless to ask questions.

This happened just four years before Noah was born. The situation had now deteriorated; many “harsh things” had spoken against Enoch by ungodly sinners (Jude 14), “loud mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage” (verse 16). Does that sound like today? This is the result when God is pushed out of our thinking. “But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). God is all seeing. Do we find favour in the eyes of the LORD? David’s Psalms show he was conscious of the need for that to be so.

Returning to Psalm 7, David writes; “judge me, O LORD …. according to the integrity that is in me … you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God … who saves the upright in heart” (verses 8-10). May we all be “upright in heart”.