Covering Shame: From Noah's Vineyard to the Cross of Christ

Introduction

Restoration artists follow a careful process when restoring old artwork. Here are 10 typical steps they might use:

Documentation: Thoroughly photograph and document the artwork's initial condition, including any damage or previous restoration attempts.

Analysis: Conduct scientific analysis to determine the materials used in the original artwork, often using techniques like X-ray fluorescence or infrared reflectography.

Cleaning test: Perform small cleaning tests to determine the most effective and safe cleaning methods for the specific artwork.

Surface cleaning: Gently remove surface dirt, dust, and grime using soft brushes, specialized sponges, or mild solvents.

Varnish removal: If necessary, carefully remove old, discolored varnish layers using appropriate solvents.

Consolidation: Stabilize fragile areas of paint or support material to prevent further deterioration.

Filling and retouching: Fill in areas of paint loss with a reversible filler material, then retouch these areas to match the surrounding original paint.

Structural repairs: Address any issues with the artwork's support, such as tears in canvas or cracks in wooden panels.

Revarnishing: Apply a new protective varnish layer to enhance colors and protect the restored surface.

Final documentation: Photograph and document the restored artwork, detailing all treatments performed and materials used for future reference.

This process requires great skill, patience, and a deep understanding of art history and conservation techniques. Restoration artists always aim to preserve as much of the original artwork as possible while making it stable and presentable for future generations.

Initially, the damage is visible and marring the beauty of the work. As skilled restorers work, they carefully clean, repair, and even repaint sections, ultimately revealing the original beauty. This is a picture of how God's love covers our sins and restores us. My hope is that we will see this as what our text points us to today as we look at God’s word.

If you have your Bibles or on your devices, you can turn to Genesis 9:18-29. If you are willing and able would you stand with me as I read God’s word this morning… this is the word of the Lord… let us pray… amen… you may be seated.

Stepping out

Protected, loved, still grappling with their sin nature

We have a over realized eschatology where sometimes we expect that what it will be is what it should be right now.

We are grateful for the experiences of heaven that we taste and see right now, but it’s not always that way.

After difficult times it is good to go back to what you know. Sometimes when we encounter things we don’t understand, it is good to fall back on things that we do know.

God is good

God is present

God’s word will guide me through and lead me to life

Noah planted a vineyard.

When the church in Ephesus had lost their way, John the Apostle wrote down Jesus’ words to them… turn back… return to your first love… do those things that you did at the beginning (or at first).

God protected, God provided, and God is sustaining them in this new beginning. Even while knowing their nature had not changed. Their proclivities were still going to war against their desires to please God.

He still saved them. He still found delight in them.

The alternative to that sometimes we don’t think about is our natural tendency to stay in what we know to be safe. They could have easily just wanted to stay in the ark because God kept them through worst disaster that has LITERALLY ever been experienced on Earth. We can’t step out… it’s dangerous out there than it is in here.

Psychological reasons for staying in a less-than-ideal situation:

a) Comfort zone: People tend to prefer familiar situations, even if they're not ideal, because they know how to navigate them.

b) Fear of the unknown: Venturing into a new situation can be intimidating, especially after a traumatic event.

c) Learned helplessness: After prolonged exposure to adverse conditions, people may believe they can't improve their situation.

d) Survival mode mindset: In crisis situations, the brain prioritizes immediate survival over long-term well-being.

e) Attachment to coping mechanisms: People may become attached to the strategies that helped them survive, even when they're no longer necessary.

Describing this feeling:

Several terms could be used to describe this phenomenon:

a) "Ark syndrome" (drawing from your Biblical example) b) Survival inertia c) Crisis anchoring d) Safe harbor fallacy e) Post-traumatic stagnation

Scientific evidence:

Several psychological theories and studies provide evidence for this behavior:

a) Status Quo Bias: This cognitive bias, studied by Samuelson and Zeckhauser (1988), shows that people tend to prefer the current state of affairs, even when change would be beneficial.

b) Prospect Theory: Developed by Kahneman and Tversky (1979), this theory suggests that people are more averse to potential losses than they are attracted to potential gains, which can lead to risk-averse behavior.

c) Stockholm Syndrome: While typically associated with captives, this psychological response can be seen in various situations where people form bonds with those who have power over them in stressful circumstances.

d) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Research on PTSD shows that people who have experienced trauma may continue to exhibit survival behaviors long after the threat has passed.

e) Neuroplasticity studies: Research in neuroscience shows that prolonged stress can reshape neural pathways, potentially making it harder to adapt to new, less stressful situations.

To move forward from such situations, individuals often need:

To hear and know the voice of God.

Feeling safe and secure in the new environment, gradually getting used to changes, having support systems and resources, rethinking old beliefs, and developing new coping skills suited to the new situation.

The temptation to stay in a familiar but less-than-ideal situation is a common human experience rooted in our psychology and neurobiology. Recognizing this tendency is the first step in overcoming it and adapting to positive change.

Stumbling in

We see echoes of Eden… Noah is planting a vineyard. Be fruitful, multiply, tend and cultivate.

Noah plants a vineyard and the propensity to consume for excess continues.

It’s shameful what Noah did.

We’re to see that the “only if…” situation doesn’t exist… if we could get one more chance… Noah is in a garden/vineyard and we find him drunk, naked, and his actions are shameful.

Sometimes we see faith crisis happen when those we see God use mightily reveal themselves to have clay feet. They are human, prone to human things, and in our age in which we exult people to god-like status, when they fall its a heavy fall.

We would do well to stay away from the personality cults that we are prone too. Our guy, our gal, this group, these people… oh man they’re God’s gift to the world.

Ham, whom God welcomed into the ark, who God also protected from His judgment, sought to exploit his father’s poor choices.

The spirit of Ham is still alive and well in our culture today. Some of termed it “failure porn”. We delight in seeing the downfall of public persona. We don’t just delight in it but we want to be the first ones that get it out there for everyone to see.

This only become more prevalent with cameras in our hands being able to take stills and videos in a moments notice as we see things happen. Then we can share it with literally the entire globe.

Shielding with

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Ham sought to exploit his father’s shame

The two older brothers didn’t excuse the shame, but they sought to order things in the way they ought to be.

These echoes of the garden continue…

We have the fruit and we have the shame of nakedness

Shem and Japheth operated in the heart and ways of God… covering their father just as God made coverings for the man and woman

Shem sought to expose his father’s shame/nakedness just as the serpent did

Our text is explicit in telling us what in what way we honor God and in what way we honor each other.

Dr. Gerry Breshears, mentor/friend/professor, said this recently at a conference when asked how do you respond to people who slander you in public or speak false things about you.

Our natural tendency is to react and fight fire with fire… or rather bring a napalm bomb to the fight to not just retaliate but crush your opponent.

But not so with the way of Jesus. You acknowledge was is true and what is false about their comments, but when talking about the person who is talking about you he said, “I look for the most Christ-like attribute about them and talk about that. I’m calling them to imitate Christ, to live into who they are as a follower of Jesus.” While their actions and behavior in totality do not reflect Jesus, when I have the opportunity to speak about them to others publicly, I’m looking for ways to call out of them the best of them (which is Jesus) and through that interaction, calling them to continue to follow Jesus in every aspect of their lives.

This is what hypocrisy is for the Christian. Christian hypocrisy is when we are bought, redeemed, paid for by the blood of Jesus and do those things that are contrary to our new nature. When we’re caught sinning or when we sin, it’s not to condemn and say, “oh shame on you, you were never good enough, are you even saved?”, etc. But it is to say, “This is not who you are. You are a new creation in Christ, the old has past away and God has made you new! Let’s live into our new identity!”

Accountability is a calling to be in obedience of our truest selves more than it is discrediting the work of God in the life of a follower of Jesus.

Saving through

What we see in love of one person for another and a covering over of sins is truly met in deepest sense through Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3 was representative of all of us… we all fall short… we’ve all gone our own way

So God promised he would crush the effects, works, and power of the enemy

That He Himself would come separate us from our sins as far as the East is from the West

That He would save us from the punishment of sin, saving us unto Himself; freeing us from the power of sin, and giving us a Spirit of power, love, and understanding; to one day deliver us from the presence of sin into the glorious presence of His light.

Jesus would walk among us, putting on flesh, and He is the light and the light is the life of humanity.

He would be righteous in all of His works going to the cross, spilling His blood, for our sake. Taking upon Himself the wrath of God (I would argue His own wrath) against sin.

He would die, be buried, and on the third day rise again according the Scriptures (prophetic word)

He would ascend into heaven after showing and revealing Himself to many people where He is preparing a place for you and for me.

He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell, empower, and be our seal of redemption until Jesus returns to rule and reign.

For God so loved the world that he showed us in this way, that He sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. That God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that it might be saved through Him.

The love of God has preserved me… there is less sin in the world because of Him in my life than there would be had He not loved me.

As we love well, as we love correctly, as we love in the way that Jesus loves, it is transformative and it brings life where sin brings death.

Shem and Japheth did not condone their Father’s actions, but they showed mercy, grace, kindness in covering their Fathers shame. May we not confuse love and condoning action… they are two independent things. Jesus can have a reputation of loving and being with tax collectors (treason) and sinners (immoral)… and not give license to sin but seek to show them a better way that leads to life.

Do we remember the art restoration… Initially, the damage is visible and marring the beauty of the work. As skilled restorers work, they carefully clean, repair, and even repaint sections, ultimately revealing the original beauty. This is a picture of how God's love covers our sins and restores us.

Ham sought to exploit and bring attention to the depravity and brokenness of their father. Let’s not be a Ham. Let’s tell the truth, let’s be accountable, let us be righteous and holy in our actions, but let us not look to exploit someones shame for our pleasure or for our gain. That is not the way of the follower of Jesus.

Conclusion

As we reflect on Noah's family emerging from the ark, we see a microcosm of our own journey as believers. We step out into a world where we're protected and loved by God, yet still grappling with our sin nature. We may stumble, revealing our human frailty, but we're called to shield one another with love, just as Shem and Japheth covered their father's shame. Ultimately, this story points us to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, who loves us so deeply that He gave His life to cover our multitude of sins. As we leave here today, let us remember that we are new creations in Christ, called to live into our new identity. May we choose to love as Jesus loves - not condoning sin, but showing mercy, grace, and kindness that transforms lives and brings light where darkness once reigned. In doing so, we become living testimonies to the power of God's love, which continues to preserve us and bring life where sin would bring death. Let us go forth, loving deeply, shielding with compassion, and pointing others to the ultimate demonstration of love found in Jesus Christ.