Eve bears another son named Seth, Hebrew for "He appointed." She means this is the appointed heir of the promise God gave. She had thought originally that it would be Cain. She learned to her heartbreak and sorrow that he was not the crusher of the Serpent's head; he was in league with the Serpent. So with this birth, we begin to trace the Messianic line, the descent from Adam and Eve of the promised Seed. In every generation, there will be one line carrying the promised Seed forward.
Seth's son is named Enosh, and Cain's son is named Enoch. The similarities in names are attentional, and it indicates there are really two kinds of people going on here. Saint Augustine explains his great thesis: "We have two lines of succession: One descending from Cain and the other from the son who was born to Adam in order to be heir of Abel who was killed, and to whom Adam gave the name Seth. He is referred to in the words: 'God has given me another Seed for Abel whom Cain slew.' Thus it is the two series of generations that are kept so distinct. The one from Seth and the other from Cain symbolize the two cities which I am dealing with in this work. The heavenly city in exile on earth and the earthly city who only search and satisfaction are for and in the joys of earth."
These two cities are implacably opposed to each other. You can see why right? If you are determined to settle down here in this world, in this age, then anything that would direct you away from the present is regarded as an enemy, as a distraction, a pipedream. Similarly, when you know that in this age you don't have your true home and that you are really a people on pilgrimage well, then you long for the heavenly home where God is worshiped and seen and known. Then anything that distracts you from your journey to that home in obtaining it is the enemy. So between these two cities, there never will be peace. The one values what the other regards as worthless and even dangerous.
Pr. Will Weedon
No comments:
Post a Comment