Dwelling in the Tent of Shem
9.27.15
Gen 9:20-29
Noah began to be a man
of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.
He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two
brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth
took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and
covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and
they did not see their father's nakedness.24 When Noah awoke from his wine and
knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan; a
servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." 26 He also said,
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant.27
May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan
be his servant."28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. All the days of
Noah were 950 years, and he died.
It was shocking/sad to hear about Tullian Tchividjian.
· Past godliness doesn’t guarantee
future godliness.
Noah walked with God in very evil times, was saved from
judgment, yet later gets drunk & disgracefully uncovered himself in his
tent. Gen 9:20-21, 1
Cor. 10:12, Rom
14:20-23
· Sin existed before flood & is
still a problem afterward.
· Noah’s sin was not that he had one
drink but that he got drunk & exposed himself.
This does not excuse Noah’s sin but the primary focus is on the
sin of Ham. Gen 9:22, Ex 20:12
· Ham’s sin was not in discovering
Noah but how he responded to the
discovery.
· “saw” = gazed with satisfaction. “told” = to boldly announce with delight.
o
He
was amused, not appalled, by Noah’s sin, and gossiped to his brothers & probably
others. It was not done in a spirit of grief or concern, but with flippancy
& disrespect.
· Long before the 5th
Commandment, Ham breaks the principle that lies behind it.
o
Ham
did nothing to honor his father & preserve his dignity.
§ Parent lesson: We usually take
children with us when we fall.
· Noah’s failures and sin was not a license
for Ham to sin.
o
Be careful not react to a spouse/family
member’s sin with sin of your own!
o
How
we respond to sin and embarrassment of others is indication of own character. 1 Pet. 4:8, Eph 4:31-32 & 6:1,4, Gal 6:1, Col 3:12-14, Gen
9:23
§ Follow Seth and Japheth’s example: treat
those in authority/parents who’ve fallen with honor and respect even when there
is no compelling reason to do so.
Noah did not react in anger (not lash out at Ham) but speaks
prophetically.Gen 9:18, 24-27
· There was no power in himself to affect curses/blessings
upon anyone.
o
Under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he predicts the course of nations, not
individuals.
Ham’s son, Canaan’s descendants, would serve descendants of
Shem & Japheth.
· Canaanites were the 1st nation
identified as being cursed by God.
o
This
was not due to Ham’s sin but in anticipation of their own sin.
§ Ham’s descendants were some of
Israel’s most bitter enemies: Canaanites, Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians,
and Babylonians.
Japheth had two blessings: enlarge (Japheth = “enlarge”) descendants
numerous.
· generally: Japhethites are Gentiles
& include Europe & America
· The 2nd blessing in the picture
of 1 person taking shelter with another. Gen 12:3
o
To
an extent/degree Japheth aligns with Shem he will share in blessing Shem
received.
Shem’s blessing is God
Himself – Jesus the Messiah is in the line of Shem.
· The blessing of the Gospel came to the
“Jew first” but did not remain exclusively
with the Jews.
o
This
is a beautiful illustration of God’s grace; that Gentiles would be blessed by
God through Shem’s descendant: Jesus Christ . Rom 11:17-18, Eph 2:10-13, 3:6, Gal 3:28-29
§ The 1st glimmer of a New
covenant promise that extended blessings to all the Gentiles who would “dwell
in the tents of Shem” by believing in Israel’s Messiah….Jesus Christ.
· Are you “dwelling” in Shem’s tent?
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