When the “world” is referred to in scripture, it is seldom speaking of the physical “cosmos” earth. It is usually speaking of "the world of mankind. Of course Elohim cherishes his creation. But do you cherish a bateria, a worm, a raccoon, a dog, an ape, a man? See the progression? Where is the dividing line?
I am back to the premise that the Bible is about relationships and not about material origins. You are anthropomorphizing the the “love” we have of animals. Yet that love is not (or should not) be at the same level of love for one person to another. “Greater love has no man…”
When John 3:16 SAYS “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD” HE WASN’T TALKING ABOUT THE EARTH!" and all that is in it. Salvation is for MANKIND.
(There is a Topic over in Homeschooling I read yesterday about this issue. I credit it for it being at the top of my mind this morning. Any have a link to it? It was discussed on the Open Forum.)
The use of the word “good” is also a constraint. Obviously I am coming from a belief system that death in the pre-adamic earth was part and parcel of the existence of life. There is no way life could exist without death unless you premising a YEC 24/7 creation, where nothing existed long enough to die before A&E.
If the death of animals is “good” it means that the mechanism of death, in the support of the food chain, and the recycling of organic materials was operating efficiently and properly. No morality was attached to death. We are back-reading that morality into history.
Yes, "I believe the “Fall” did change things. There is an abuse of death. Creation does “groan” (metaphorically) awaiting “the new creation”. The death of humans by other humans is an abuse, and animals that suffer for humans in the food chain (and for covenantal sacrifice, both coming from the same source) are innocent via “the Fall”. But prior? No!
Think about that in light of your presuppositions.
Please visit my post at A Prayer for what we do here.
In the garden, out of the garden, who cares?
Blessings to both! Ray 