September 27: The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” –Genesis 11:4
These Babylonians know what they want: “Let’s make a name for ourselves.” But there’s only One in scripture who is allowed truly to make a name for himself, who makes his name great, and that is the Lord God. Of all the critical things we’re taught to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, the first is that God’s name be hallowed.
This is a big deal. In the next chapter of Genesis, one of the major promises to Abram was that God would make Abram’s name great. We must realize that name you make for yourself can never be as glorious as the name God makes for you. For those Babylonians in Genesis 11, God says balal (“let us confuse” [their language]), and then he gives them a name, babal (which sounds an awful lot like nabal, meaning “foolish”). When you make a name for yourself, you won’t like it. The only name you’ll ever have that’s worth having is the one the Lord makes for you: his own name that he puts on you at your baptism.
And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the Supper with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
Fairest Lord Jesus
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed Treasures) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!