Methuselah
[Read Genesis 5:27]
Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.
Often people lament that life is too short. Even when blessed with a relatively long life, people feel it isn’t enough time.
In Genesis we read of Methuselah. He bore a son at the age of 187 years, and he lived another 782 years; this is a total of 969 years. He died in the year of the flood.
As noted in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, even the “longest liver must die at last.” Methuselah’s life might remind us that such a passing has long been considered a relief from struggle. Methuselah’s grandson is named Noah to signify rest, and his father complained of the “calamitous state of human life… Our whole life is spent in labor, and our time is filled up with continual toil.”
How true this is! We sometimes forget that no matter how good life is, it seems that it always includes struggles. They may be because of loved ones, or addictions, or poor choices, or politics of the day, but often it seems life is hard.
Our biblical teaching reminds us that there is relief from life. In the afterlife of course we will be with God in paradise, but even on this side of heaven we are comforted by Christ.
Our comfort comes from God through our faith. Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Our faith affords us the perspective to be in the world but not of it.
Even if we forget, Christ was born into life so that we might be freed from it. May we seek and find comforts in Christ.
Grace, peace, and every good in this blessed Advent season. Christ is with you.
Pastor Peter Mannoja
Tanum Forest Lutheran – Sturgeon Bay
Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.
Often people lament that life is too short. Even when blessed with a relatively long life, people feel it isn’t enough time.
In Genesis we read of Methuselah. He bore a son at the age of 187 years, and he lived another 782 years; this is a total of 969 years. He died in the year of the flood.
As noted in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, even the “longest liver must die at last.” Methuselah’s life might remind us that such a passing has long been considered a relief from struggle. Methuselah’s grandson is named Noah to signify rest, and his father complained of the “calamitous state of human life… Our whole life is spent in labor, and our time is filled up with continual toil.”
How true this is! We sometimes forget that no matter how good life is, it seems that it always includes struggles. They may be because of loved ones, or addictions, or poor choices, or politics of the day, but often it seems life is hard.
Our biblical teaching reminds us that there is relief from life. In the afterlife of course we will be with God in paradise, but even on this side of heaven we are comforted by Christ.
Our comfort comes from God through our faith. Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Our faith affords us the perspective to be in the world but not of it.
Even if we forget, Christ was born into life so that we might be freed from it. May we seek and find comforts in Christ.
Grace, peace, and every good in this blessed Advent season. Christ is with you.
Pastor Peter Mannoja
Tanum Forest Lutheran – Sturgeon Bay
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