27.2 Hymn To The Creator

(Jeremiah 51: 15-19)

The Lord made the earth by his power;
by his wisdom he created the world
and stretched out the heavens.
At his command the waters above the sky roar;
he brings clouds from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning flash in the rain
and sends the wind from his storeroom.
At the sight of this, men feel stupid and senseless;
those who make idols are disillusioned
because the gods they make are false and lifeless.
They are worthless and should be despised;
they will be destroyed when the
Lord comes to deal with them.
The God of Jacob is not like them.
he is the one who made everything,
and he has chosen Israel to be his very own people.
The Lord Almighty is his name.

27.1 The Story Of Creation

Genesis 1:1-2, 26-31a)

In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the power of God was moving over the water.

Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.” So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all wild animals. I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food” –and it was done. God looked at everything he made, and he was very pleased.

26.5 In My Troubles, I Trust In God

(Psalm 56:1-4; 8-11)

Be merciful to me, O God,
because I am under attack;
my enemies persecute me all the time.
All day long my opponents attack me.
There are so many who fight against me.
When I am afraid, O Lord Almighty,
I put my trust in you.
I trust in God and am not afraid;
I praise him for what he has promised.
What can a mere human being do to me?

You know how troubled I am;
You have kept a record of my tears.
Aren’t they listed in your book?
The day I call to you,
my enemies will be turned back.
I know this: God is on my side—
The Lord, whose promises I praise.
In him I trust, and I will not be afraid.
What can a mere human being do to me?

26.4 Rejoice—We Share In Christ’s Suffering

(1 Peter 4:12-16)

My dear friend, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed. Happy are you if you are insulted because you are Christ’s followers; this means that the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is resting on you. If any of you suffers, it must not be because he is a murderer or a thief or a criminal or meddles in other people’s affairs. However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don’t be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ’s name.

26.3 Our Models: The Prophets

(James 5:10-11)

My brothers, remember the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Take them as examples of patient endurance under suffering. We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Jacob’s patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.