Babble. It's what babies do, as well as the insane. It's verbal gibberish, devoid of meaning. And, it's what another language sounds like to the untrained and unlearned. The legacy of babble is a place called Babel. Genesis 11.1 tells us, "Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words."
It's nearly impossible to imagine all the peoples of the world speaking the same language. Imagine going anywhere in the world and perfectly understanding what is being said. There would be no limit to what could be accomplished with this common communication and therein lies a problem:
"They said, 'Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11.4)
This human cooperation and ingenuity led to a project that placed humanity in radical opposition to its Creator. Whether this tower was an impressive skyscraper, or some type of astrological monument, is uncertain. The problem with it, however, is absolutely clear:
"The LORD said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them." (Genesis 11.6)
The language barriers that exist today as a result of the curse of Babel are lasting reminders of the legacy of human cooperation. Human cooperation has all too often led to creative evil rather than collective good. Such is the case with an end-time tyrant whose rise to power will be founded on worldwide human cooperation (Revelation 13.8,16-18).
The lessons of Babel are that human peer pressure often encourage evil rather than good. Personal integrity is the highest priority, and that which contributes to this important objective. The legacy of Babel, then, punctuates these words: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4.8-9)
May we carefully choose to participate together with others in that which contributes to ultimate good.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
It's nearly impossible to imagine all the peoples of the world speaking the same language. Imagine going anywhere in the world and perfectly understanding what is being said. There would be no limit to what could be accomplished with this common communication and therein lies a problem:
"They said, 'Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11.4)
This human cooperation and ingenuity led to a project that placed humanity in radical opposition to its Creator. Whether this tower was an impressive skyscraper, or some type of astrological monument, is uncertain. The problem with it, however, is absolutely clear:
"The LORD said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them." (Genesis 11.6)
The language barriers that exist today as a result of the curse of Babel are lasting reminders of the legacy of human cooperation. Human cooperation has all too often led to creative evil rather than collective good. Such is the case with an end-time tyrant whose rise to power will be founded on worldwide human cooperation (Revelation 13.8,16-18).
The lessons of Babel are that human peer pressure often encourage evil rather than good. Personal integrity is the highest priority, and that which contributes to this important objective. The legacy of Babel, then, punctuates these words: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4.8-9)
May we carefully choose to participate together with others in that which contributes to ultimate good.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:49 AM
1 Comments:
At 2:12 PM,
citygirlrv said…
Amen!! Thank you for explaining that to me! I never understood that part very well.
Bev
Post a Comment
<< Home