Lesson of Babel tower (Gen11:1~9)

Lesson of Babel tower  (Gen11:1~9)

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. ³ Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. ⁴ And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

⁵ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ⁷ Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ⁸ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

 

Intro)

1. In 1998 there was a movie called Titanic came into Korea. At that time Titanic movie was famous over the world.

 

This movie was made based on true story of 1912. There was a British empire was described as a country that sun does not set. British Empire had proud of British and built a best ship at that time and that was Titanic. People was proud of ship Titanic, because they thought it was the strongest, biggest, fastest, and ship owner said even God cant sink my ship. Later on when Titanic sailed for the first time ship owner told them to sail faster and then dumped into iceberg and sank. 1513 people out of 2,208 people on the ship died with ship. This is why we have to be humble front of God.

 (Today's main text is about what happened after Noah's flood.)

 

body)

A)Castel and Tower of Babel built on Shinar plain.

1. After Noah's flood his three sons spread their future generation in great number. They seeks for better place to live, and they arrive in Shinar. Shinar means two rives meaning river Euphrates and Tigris (Mesopotamia).

 

Shinar plain was good place for farming. People developed a skill on Shinar plain which was cooking brick to build a house. Nowadays concrete and iron frame are developed so not much of difficulty in building 100 floors, but in old days building 2-3rd floors were miracle.

 

2. Goos' son Nimrod was on charge to build Babel tower. However, Nimrod was a tyrant who controls people forcefully, so in bible he is called as a hunter.

According to archaeologists' research Babel tower is 7 stories tall and stair cases of tower that has diameter of 90 meters and has 50 meters for height. Outside of the building was touched with pitch (raw material of asphalt) to add waterproof effect.

 

3. Why they built Babel tower? there are few purposes.

a. To rule people collectively.
  b. and to spread their names to world.
  c. next is stopping dispersion and build their own strong country.

They built for human's glory and not for God. At that time period there was only one language in their society, which makes everything simple and smooth.

 

B) Characteristic of Humanism

1. Human's tragic happens when we try to do something without God. What is most ignorant life in this world? the life that is against and ignores God.

David said in Psalm 14:1-3 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

² The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
³ They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one

 

 However, people who built Babel tower said it to each other like this ' let's make this tower to touch the sky'. which means lets be like God.

 

2. Also they said let's spread our names. This means get rid of God and human's name will now receive glory, and show the world that we can live well without God.

 

3. And they said lets avoid separation.

They said let's stay in the castle and show human's strength . Lets enjoy safety and happiness, but God told us to  ' Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it' Which means they are against to this word? Sometimes spreading means God's will. Especially gospel is like that. God ordered us to spread Jesus Christ's gospel. So, what is yesteryear Korean church's watch word was ' Let's pray when we are together and spread gospel when we are apart.

  

After Babel tower built there was many odd things happened, so God came down to see (verse5)

 

4. Humanism is philosophy that creates communism in political and atheism in religious

 

Therefore, Soviet union astronaut Yurii Alekseevich Gagarin in 1961went to the moon for the first time and said 'I couldn't find God over there'

On the other hand, Neal Armstrong on Apollo 11 said "Earth and Space that God created are so beautiful'

 

Philosopher Nietzsche said ' God is dead' and later he said " no, we have to kill him, so we human can be free. His health got worse as time goes. he retired at his college due to losing eye sight, and went into metal hospital in 1889 and 10 years later he died in 1900 as 56 years old

 

c) Result of humanism 

1.Humanism seemed good at the beginning, but it fails at the end. According to today's text (verse 7) God makes their language complicated. Today's languages are mainly divided as 2000, as detail 6000 of different languages exist.

 

 

 

After more languages are created now people could not understood each other, so many confusing and fights were created at the end, therefore the construction for Babel tower stopped.

 

People started to group for who uses same language and separated from original group.

Therefore, symbol of Human's arrogance Babel tower's construction stopped naturally.

 

2. U.S's last Civil war took place in Battle of Five Forks Virginia.

General Grant led North won against Robert. e Lee who led South, congress suggested something to commemorate this victory, which was any general who made contribution in war their name will be recorded on congress' wall to commemorate them for forever.

 

Minister Stanton disagreed saying 'No, that shouldn't happen. We didn't win the war, but God helped us to win the war, so put bible verse on the wall. Therefore, they put bible verse psalm 118:23 on congress'  wall ' This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.'

Minister Stanton knew he didn't won the war by themselves, but with God's help. Stanton thought their name shouldn't be record on the wall, but God's word.

 

 

 

con)

This kinds of Humanism is still out there. There are many people who live satisfying life without God, but without God how many things we achieved in our lives would be vain and our victories will turn into defeats.

 

Like God watched people building Babel tower God always watch us even nowadays. If we depends on materials and replace God with any other things to challenge God, God will say 'Okay let's go down and separate them all

We have to live our lives like Saint Paul's word 'Either we eat or drink everything is to reveal God's grace. When we apply this to our lives I believe God will make our lives happy, successful, and glorious. Hallelujah

 

The order  of  sacrament

A. Notice; The Holy communion is only extended to those who have accepted Jesus Christ.

 * If there are any sins you have not yet repented or anything bothering your

conscience, It’s advised you exempt yourself this time around.

 

From now, I’ll read the scripture about the bread & wine.

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B-1 Reading scripture for bread:

 

[mar] 14:22

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

 

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B-2 Reading scripture for wine;[mar] 14:23-25

 

	23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.   24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.   25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

 

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C. Let’s Give Thanks to Our God for wine & bread

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D. Sharing bread & Wine

Let’s sing hymnal 281 while we have Wine & Bread. You may eat them as soon as you receive them.

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E. During my reading Matthew 28:18-20, we’ll collect empty cups.

 

18.	And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

 

 

19.	Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

 

 

20.	Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

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F. Closing hymnal; let’s stand up & sing hymnal 307

G. Benediction; I’ll do Benediction