Monday 21 September 2026

Psalm 122

Background
For the rest of this week we will be considering the first and third chapters of the book of Genesis – the first book of the Christian Bible and the first book of the Torah in the Hebrew Scriptures. Genesis 1 is one of the most read and most discussed passages of scripture ever. It is hotly debated today, both by atheists and God-believers of many faiths, and by different schools of thought in the Christian Church. Even the first verse raises questions for us about how it should be translated. However, if we get too deep into these debates, we might miss the very purpose of Genesis.

Here’s one way of looking at how it all came about.

Around the 6th century BC, God’s people (then known as the people of Judah) found themselves in exile in Babylon. They had a rich and fascinating history, based on their belief and worship of the One True God, known to them as Yahweh. This God had set them apart, meant them to be holy people, and rescued them dramatically while they were slaves in Egypt. The stories and songs of Yahweh’s people would have been recited and remembered week by week, year by year, from generation to generation, in the family home and in the place of worship. But they were in exile for a reason, so the prophets had said, because they had been led astray (many times) to worship other gods, forgetting the One True God and his covenant with them.

Exile was distressing for many reasons. But during that period, certain Jews decided that they must never forget again. They were immersed in a foreign country, under pressure to bow down to other lords, surrounded by many competing stories of faith, and in danger of never returning to their homeland. They needed to be encouraged, they needed to remember their God, and they needed to worship. So they started to collect together their history and faith, and write things down as holy scripture.Who are we? Where did we come from?  Who is our God? How can we worship and stay connected? These were all important questions. They needed to remember the answers, or risk being lost forever.

When we read Genesis 1, we might be feeling in a similarly difficult place. Life might seem dark, confusing, or chaotic at times. But look around! Look at this world: the earth beneath our feet, the sun, moon and stars in the sky, the beauty of the land, the refreshing waters, the trees and the plants that give us oxygen and food. This is real and this is good. And where did it come from? The One True God who made heaven and earth; the one who can bring light out of darkness and order from chaos. 

Yes, there will always be many questions about this passage, but it was never written as a science book or an instruction manual: it is a starting point for faith, a pillar of reassurance, a voice of hope, and it should lead us to worship.

To Ponder:

• What does the creation story mean to you?  How important is it to your faith? (Or does it pose a problem for you in today’s scientific world?)
• Do you feel (or have you ever felt) in a dark, confusing or chaotic place? Think about God’s people through the centuries who have found hope and encouragement from remembering the creation story and the God who made it all. In prayer or meditation, bring your worries or needs to this same God.
• Find somewhere to sit where you can observe some of this wonderful world (a garden, a park, a beach, a hillside, a window…), feel the earth beneath your feet, think about the stars millions of miles away, think about how you came to be and remember it is GOOD. Lift up your worship and praise to God.

Bible notes author: The Revd Andrew Murphy
Andrew is a Methodist presbyter in the East Mercia Circuit, and currently the minister of the churches of Market Harborough, Kibworth and Rothwell, and part of the ministry team at St Giles, Desborough. He is married to Emily, with two children. He has been in the ministry for 18 years, previously serving in the Hinckley Circuit. He trained at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham, is a published hymn writer, supports Newcastle United FC, and is proud of his roots in Consett, County Durham.