The Truth in Print Vol.
30, Issue 2, March 2024
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Noah Got Drunk, But
That’s Not Me!
NOAH’S
DRUNKENNESS:
Gen
9:18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
And Ham was the father of Canaan.
Gen
9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was
populated.
Gen
9:20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.
Gen
9:21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
The
wicked had been cleansed from the earth (Gen 6:1-8; 7:23).
•Gen
6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
>
“intent” [H3336] thing framed, purposed.
•Gen
6:6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was
grieved in His heart.
>
“sorry” [H5162] …(unfavorably) to avenge (oneself); “grieved” [H6087]
pain or anger.
They
provoked God to destroy them:
•Gen
6:7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for
I am sorry that I have made them."
•Gen
6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Noah
was a just man.
•Gen
6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his
generations. Noah walked with God.
>
“just” [H6662] lawful, righteous; “perfect” [H8549] complete, entire
morally; “walked with God” i.e., he continued to walk with God.
•Gen
6:10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
•Gen
6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
>
“corrupt” [H7843] polluted morally; “violence” [H2555] malicious
violence, cruelty, injustice.
•Gen
7:23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground:
both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed
from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained
alive.
The
patience of God included a period along with Noah’s preaching.
•Gen
6:3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for
he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
•2Pe
2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell
and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
•2Pe
2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a
preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
•2Pe
2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to
reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
>
“temptations” G3986 adversities, afflictions.
Note:
God delivers without the godly becoming part of those who put God’s just
judgment (condemnation) to the test, and bring upon themselves eternal
destruction (Cf. Matt 25:46).
NOAH
TOOK GOD’S BLESSINGS, WAS NOT THANKFUL AS HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND USED THEM TO
SIN WITH.
•He
preached to such as lived a life of moral debauchery having not walked with
God.
•God
accepted his sacrifices offered upon leaving the ark to a different world (2
Pet 3:6 destroys “uniformitarianism”).
•God
gave the promises to never again destroy every living thing, to never again
destroy the earth with water, along with promise of the seasons (Gen 8:20-22;
9:11), with the covenant of the Rainbow, 9:12-17.
•God
blessed him and his sons (Gen 9:1).
•God’s
law for mankind spoke of the sanctity of human life (Gen 9:6 ties to Gen 1:26).
NOAH’S
DRUNKENNESS WAS SINFUL, CARELESS (NOT WATCHFUL), AND OUT OF CHARACTER.
Application:
•Ecc
7:20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.
•Ecc
10:1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a
foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. ---
NOAH WAS A FOOL HERE IN THIS SINFUL ACT.
Verses
to consider:
1Th
5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a
thief in the night.
1Th
5:3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes
upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not
escape.
1Th
5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake
you as a thief.
1Th
5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor
of darkness.
1Th
5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
sober.
1Th
5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at
night.
1Th
5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith
and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
1Th
5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th
5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with Him.
1Th
5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are
doing.
Some
important definitions:
>
“darkness” G4655
Thayer: Metaphorically 2a) of ignorance respecting divine things and human
duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their
consequent misery in hell.
1Th
5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
>
“sleep” G2518 Thayer: 2c) metaphorically to yield to sloth and sin, and
to be indifferent to one’s salvation.
>
“watch” G1127 Thayer: 2) metaphorically to watch i.e. give strict
attention to, be cautious, active: …; or lest one be led to forsake Christ,
Matt 26:40; or lest one fall into sin, I Th 5:6 …
>
“and be sober” G3525 NASEC be sober -- nēphō; a prim. word;
to be sober, to abstain from wine: — keep sober (1), sober (5).
>
“be sober” G3525 Strong’s: to abstain from wine (keep sober), that is,
(figuratively) be discreet: - be sober, watch.
>
“and be sober” G3525 JFB: be sober — refraining from carnal indulgence, mental
or sensual (1Pe 5:8).
1Th
5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at
night.
>
“sleep, sleep” G2518 Thayer: 2c) metaphorically to yield to sloth and
sin, and to be indifferent to one’s salvation.
>
“get drunk” G3182 Vines: 2. (an inceptive verb, marking the process of
the state expressed in 1. “to be drunk.”)
Note:
The Context indicates that “be sober” would be the primary meaning “to abstain
for wine.”
>
1Th 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
>
“of the day” G2250 Thayer: 1b) metaphorically, “the day” is regarded as
the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort
are perpetrated at night and in darkness.
Application:
In three verses you have all you need telling you not to drink, although
volumes have been written on this!
Drinking
Parties.
1Pe
4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also
with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from
sin,
1Pe
4:2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the
lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pe
4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the
Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking
parties, and abominable idolatries.
1Pe
4:4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in
the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
1Pe
4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and
the dead.
KJV
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will
of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine,
revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Note
these three:
· “drunkenness” or
“excess of wine” G3632.
· “revellings” G2970 “a
carousal (as if a letting loose): - revelling, rioting.”
· “drinking parties”
G4224 CWSD: G4224 .. from (G4095), to drink. A drinking match, a drunken bout
(1Pe_4:3). Deriv.: potízō (G4222), to let drink, to give to drink.
1Pe
4:4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in
the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. >B.L. This can apply
to acquaintances prior to becoming a Christian!
1Pe
4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the
dead.
A
Watch Note: When your child’s friend pulls up and asks them if they’re going
tonight, and you’re listening, and they have that sheepish look like they want
to end that conversation in a hurry—it’s in listening distance --- good chance
is they’re partying!
THAT’S
NOT ME BUT…
· That’s not me but I
wasn’t being watchful!
· That’s not me but I was
with my past worldly friends! (I Cor 15:33).
· That’s not me, BUT IT
WAS ME without heeding the edification and instruction on drinking parties,
drunkenness, and that past worldly friends are the ones who are to be ashamed
for reviling my good conduct --- rather than seeing me participating with them
in sinful conduct.
· That’s not me but there
is a lack of shame after the sin!
1Pe
3:16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those
who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
PETER:
· That wasn’t Peter when
converted afterwards, but it was Peter
without
strength having ignored the warning to watch and pray (Matt 26:33-41).
Application:
He expressed his desire (!) when he said, “Even if all are made to stumble
because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” -- BUT WHEN AFRAID (!!) AND
NOT FOLLOWING HIS INSTRUCTION HE DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES.
ABRAHAM:
· That wasn’t Abraham,
but it was Abraham with needless fear
lying
about Sarah to Pharoah in Egypt:
Gen
12:19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife.
Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way."
To
Abimelech king of Gerar:
Gen
20:2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And
Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Gen
20:5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said,
'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I
have done this."
ISAAC:
· That wasn’t Isaac, but
it was Isaac lying about Rebekah to
Abimelech
king of the Philistines, in Gerar, without trusting in God.
Gen
26:7 And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, "She is
my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because
he thought, "lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is
beautiful to behold."
Gen
26:9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, "Quite obviously she is your
wife; so how could you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him,
"Because I said, 'Lest I die on account of her.' "
DAVID
& BATHSHEBA:
· That wasn’t David, but
it was David with lustful eyes coveting
another
man’s wife, and she lusted after him.
2Sa
11:2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on
the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the
woman was very beautiful to behold.
2Sa
11:3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is
this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
2Sa
11:4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay
with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her
house.
BATHSHEBA:
· That wasn’t Bathsheba,
but here you see the mind of a soon to
be
adulteress going to where he told her to meet him!
· And then she’s going
back to her house where she belongs!
WE
CHRISTIANS CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THIS:
1Jn
1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God
is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
1Jn
1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie
and do not practice the truth.
1Jn
1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jn
1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us.
1Jn
1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn
1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not
in us.
WHAT
KIND OF PATIENCE IS NEEDED WHEN ONE SINS, AND IT IS OUT OF CHARACTER? WHEN
INSTRUCTING AND ADMONISHING BECAUSE OF SIN?
1Th
5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
PATIENCE:
It
is staying with what is right (scriptural), and condemning what is sinful. It
is not ignoring the sin or sins. It’s not looking the other way, or staying
away so you don’t have to hear or see it --- they might not want you to come
and talk, and that for you might be unpleasant. You let God do the identifying
of what is sinful, and let the New Testament tell the truthful consequences
that follow if it is not repented of. And be forgiving when confessed and
repented of!
Application:
Pro 25:26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring
and a polluted well.
Note:
Forgive verses: Matt 18:15-18; Matt 6:12-15; Matt 18:35.
WHEN
“THAT IS ME” SEPARATING MYSELF FROM MY BRETHREN:
Pro
18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth
with all wisdom.
>
“seeketh”
H1245 Strong’s: to strive after: - desire, enquire, get, make inquisition,
procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
>
“intermeddleth” H1566 Word Study: A verb meaning to … meddle with, be
obstinate. It expresses quarreling and being obstinate by insist on having
one's own way (Pro 17:14; Pro 20:3). It indicates separating oneself from
others to seek one's own wishes (Pro 18:1).
>
“wisdom” – God’s in His word, NKJV “rages against all wise judgment.”
This
leads to expressing his own heart in defiance of God’s word!
Pro
18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own
heart.
What
is the “Me” when brethren refuse the admonitions in God’s word, don’t want to
study the scriptures, or hear proper applications, have been separating
themselves for some time, and they finally separate themselves from their
brethren?
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com