MHCC 4: Goodness is True Greatness

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. (Prov. 10.7)

Speaking of the description of Shem, Matthew Henry writes succinctly on Gen. 10.21-32:

Goodness is true greatness.

On the heels of Scripture's memorial to honorable Shem, progenitor of the people of God, we have by way of contrast, the effort of those builders of the Tower of Babel to "make us a name" for themselves (Gen. 11.4).

Henry notes how vain it is to seek honor by means of sinful labors (Gen. 11.1-4):

They hoped hereby to make themselves a name; they would do something to be talked of now, and to give posterity to know that there had been such men as they in the world. Rather than die and leave no memorandum behind them, they would leave this monument of their pride, and ambition, and folly. Note, [1.] Affectation of honour and a name among men commonly inspires with a strange ardour for great and difficult undertakings, and often betrays to that which is evil and offensive to God. [2.] It is just with God to bury those names in the dust which are raised by sin. These Babel-builders put themselves to a great deal of foolish expense to make themselves a name; but they could not gain even this point, for we do not find in any history the name of so much as one of these Babel-builders. Philo Judæus [Philo of Alexandria] says, They engraved every one his name upon a brick, in perpetuam rei memoriam—as a perpetual memorial; yet neither did this serve their purpose.

And Henry on Gen. 11.5-9:

Those that aim at a great name commonly come off with a bad name.

As the Scriptures teach,

for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Sam. 2.30b)

Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4.6b)