Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Speechless Praise!”

“…babbling fools fall flat on their faces…” – Proverbs 10:8b (NLT)

Babble: “To utter sounds imperfectly, indistinctly, or without meaning. To talk idly, irrationally, excessively, or foolishly.” I was expecting to see the word politician somewhere in this definition but apparently we are supposed to take that for granted.

The word “babble” is an interesting one and it goes back a long ways. From almost the beginning of civilization we have encountered this phenomenon. But it wasn’t always that way. Consider the following:
,br /> At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”
In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.” – Genesis 11:1-9 (NLT)

In my opinion—the “babbling” began long before they started stacking bricks. It was when they made the decision to be their own gods. That is the true essence of this account in Genesis—they wanted to make a name for themselves—be bigger than what they were. What they discovered was a very humbling and life-changing experience. I’ve noticed over the years that those who attempt to prove their intelligence do so at the risk of actually proving themselves otherwise. Mostly, they make the conversation about them—what they know—what they can do—what they have done—so on and so forth. And what does their “babbling” accomplish? In the end it falls flat. And so will they.
This is where “praise” comes in. Not our own but our praise of God. The psalmist reminds us that God “inhabits the praise of His people.” (22:3) Meaning, He will be where His name is revered and respected. Talk about Him, and your words (and actions) will carry purpose and direction. You want to build a tower? Then make certain you are doing it for all the right reasons! Those seeking positions in the right way know the right things to say and the right ways to go about it. They are not self-seeking and in return will be rewarded. On the other hand, those seeking to fulfill selfish and ungodly ambitions may for a while find success—but in the end will discover their efforts were misguided and wrong. The Psalmist gives some good insight here:

This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. – Psalm 73:12-17,br />
Giving a speech anytime soon? Choose your words and subject very carefully. In fact, the Apostle Paul gives us the perfect recipe here: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1st Thessalonians 5:18, NLT),br /> This will keep you humble! And will prevent you from falling flat on your face. In fact, a good way to think of it may be this: If you want to build a tower, build a tower of praise. And let the “babblers” go their own way.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.