Sermon Tone Analysis

First, let me be clear.

The big picture story here is not seen in these few verses.

The overall story that is being developed is much broader.

Eventually, God is going to command Israel to conquer the Canaanites and assume possession of their land ( the promised land).

There are several passages that will explain WHY the Canaanites need to be conquered.

This is the first of those references.

In tonight’s message, this will be made clear.

BUT AS I STUDIED this passage I couldn’t help but notice three reactions to Noah’s Drunkenness

Make Excuses

Now let me make this clear: There is no excuses made for Noah in the Biblical Story.

As a matter of fact the story itself doesn’t even seem to focus on Noah’s sin, but on the fallout from the responses to it.

When I say that one reaction is to make excuses, I am talking about people who have preached messages and written commentary, letting Noah off the hook completely by saying things “Noah didn’t know he would get drink if he drank the wine.”

The unwillingness some Christians have to acknowledging that Noah would have known about the intoxicating effects of fermented grape juice is comical.

Jesus is the only perfect hero of the Bible.

It presents its characters with all their natural flaws.

Every man or woman in the Bible is flawed in some way or the other.

Every single one of them needs redemption including David, a man after God’s own heart, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, and Noah, who found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

The folks who will put their leaders on pedastals are doing themselves and the leaders a great disservice.

Never say things like: My kid would never do that.

My pastor walks too close to the Lord to mess up.

I think this can also enter

Add Shame to Shame

Delighting in the failure of others.

Schadenfreude.

Ham revelled in his father's (Noah) failures.

When someone who has led well (like Noah) fails how do you respond?

Noah was not a novice but a godly and well seasoned man of faith when he "tied one on" and passed out drunk.

One son rejoiced in his father's folly.

Respond With Grace

Noah had committed a sin and lost control of himself.

The Bible has much to say about the sin of drunkeness.

And Noah was guilty.

But his older two sons, responded to Noah’s disgrace with grace.

Delighting in the failure of others.

Schadenfreude.

Ham revelled in his father's (Noah) failures.

When someone who has led well (like Noah) fails how do you respond?

Noah was not a novice but a godly and well seasoned man of faith when he "tied one on" and passed out drunk.

One son rejoiced in his father's folly.

Two others honored their father and covered his shame.

All three had been the blessed beneficiaries of their father's godly leadership.

caught doesn’t mean discovered but entangled ( literally surprised) like a net catches its prey.

wrongdoing transgression stumbling around.

Restore mend (This is the imperative verb) present active imperative plural

you who are spiritual.

It is not spiritual to stomp a person when they are down.

Its not godly to add shame to shame.

It is spiritual to mend a person with a gentle spirit.

We have much to learn.