Here is, 1. The ground dry (v. 13), that is, all the water carried off
it, which, upon the first day of the first month (a joyful
new-year's-day it was), Noah was himself an eye-witness of. He removed
the covering of the ark, not the whole covering, but so much as would
suffice to give him a prospect of the earth about it; and a most
comfortable prospect he had. For behold, behold and wonder, the face of
the ground was dry. Note, (1.) It is a great mercy to see ground about
us. Noah was more sensible of it than we are; for mercies restored are
much more affecting than mercies continued. (2.) The divine power which
now renewed the face of the earth can renew the face of an afflicted
troubled soul and of a distressed persecuted church. He can make dry
ground to appear even where it seemed to have been lost and forgotten,
Ps. xviii. 16. 2. The ground dried (v. 14), so as to be a fit
habitation for Noah. Observe, Though Noah saw the ground dry the first
day of the first month, yet God would not suffer him to go out of the
ark till the twenty-seventh day of the second month. Perhaps Noah,
being somewhat weary of his restraint, would have quitted the ark at
first; but God, in kindness to him, ordered him to stay so much longer.
Note, God consults our benefit rather than our desires; for he knows
what is good for us better than we do for ourselves, and how long it is
fit our restraints should continue and desired mercies should be
delayed. We would go out of the ark before the ground is dried: and
perhaps, if the door be shut, are ready to remove the covering, and to
climb up some other way; but we should be satisfied that God's time of
showing mercy is certainly the best time, when the mercy is ripe for us
and we are ready for it.