‏ Genesis 5

* Adam and Seth. (1-5) The patriarchs from Seth to Enoch. (6-20)

Enoch. (21-24) Methuselah to Noah. (25-32)

1-5 Adam was made in the image of God; but when fallen he begat

a son in his own image, sinful and defiled, frail, wretched, and

mortal, like himself. Not only a man like himself, consisting of

body and soul, but a sinner like himself. This was the reverse

of that Divine likeness in which Adam was made; having lost it,

he could not convey it to his seed. Adam lived, in all, 930

years; and then died, according to the sentence passed upon him,

"To dust thou shalt return." Though he did not die in the day he

ate forbidden fruit, yet in that very day he became mortal. Then

he began to die; his whole life after was but a reprieve, a

forfeited, condemned life; it was a wasting, dying life. Man's

life is but dying by degrees. 6-20 Concerning each of these, except Enoch, it is said, "and

he died." It is well to observe the deaths of others. They all

lived very long; not one of them died till he had seen almost

eight hundred years, and some of them lived much longer; a great

while for an immortal soul to be prisoned in a house of clay.

The present life surely was not to them such a burden as it

commonly is now, else they would have been weary of it. Nor was

the future life so clearly revealed then, as it now under the

gospel, else they would have been urgent to remove to it. All

the patriarchs that lived before the flood, except Noah, were

born before Adam died. From him they might receive a full

account of the creation, the fall, the promise, and the Divine

precepts about religious worship and a religious life. Thus God

kept up in his church the knowledge of his will. 21-24 Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking

with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk

together except they be agreed, #Am 3:3|. It includes all the

parts of a godly, righteous, and sober life. To walk with God,

is to set God always before us, to act as always under his eye.

It is constantly to care, in all things to please God, and in

nothing to offend him. It is to be followers of him as dear

children. The Holy Spirit, instead of saying, Enoch lived, says,

Enoch walked with God. This was his constant care and work;

while others lived to themselves and the world, he lived to God.

It was the joy of his life. Enoch was removed to a better world.

As he did not live like the rest of mankind, so he did not leave

the world by death as they did. He was not found, because God

had translated him, #Heb 11:5|. He had lived but 365 years,

which, as men's ages were then, was but the midst of a man's

days. God often takes those soonest whom he loves best; the time

they lose on earth, is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable

advantage. See how Enoch's removal is expressed: he was not, for

God took him. He was not any longer in this world; he was

changed, as the saints shall be, who are alive at Christ's

second coming. Those who begin to walk with God when young, may

expect to walk with him long, comfortably, and usefully. The

true christian's steady walk in holiness, through many a year,

till God takes him, will best recommend that religion which many

oppose and many abuse. And walking with God well agrees with the

cares, comforts, and duties of life. 25-32 Methuselah signifies, 'he dies, there is a dart,' 'a

sending forth,' namely, of the deluge, which came the year that

Methuselah died. He lived 969 years, the longest that any man

ever lived on earth; but the longest liver must die at last.

Noah signifies rest; his parents gave him that name, with a

prospect of his being a great blessing to his generation.

Observe his father's complaint of the calamitous state of human

life, by the entrance of sin, and the curse of sin. Our whole

life is spent in labour, and our time filled up with continual

toil. God having cursed the ground, it is as much as some can

do, with the utmost care and pains, to get a hard livelihood out

comfort us." It signifies not only that desire and expectation

which parents generally have about their children, that they

will be comforts to them and helpers, though they often prove

otherwise; but it signifies also a prospect of something more.

Is Christ ours? Is heaven ours? We need better comforters under

our toil and sorrow, than the dearest relations and the most

promising offspring; may we seek and find comforts in Christ.