The Origin of Secular Society. Genesis 4:16-26

Introduction:

We have just read one of those passages of scripture that we often skim through or even just skip right over. When we read these kinds of passages it becomes really easy to think that there isn’t much for us to learn from them. In the first part of chapter 4 we saw the anger of Cain result in the murder of his brother Abel and the curse of God put on Cain. Cain never exhibits any remorse over killing his brother, self-pity is his only reaction. V.16 of our text tells us that after his conversation from God Cain left “the presence of the Lord to dwell in the land of Nod” on the est of Eden.

Nod-Wandering. This could potentially refer to not a specific place but the fact he wondered around for potentially decades.

We don’t know much about what happened to Cain once he left the area around Eden and went into Nod. What we do know is that Cain “prospered” in a sense and his offspring became the inventors of civilization. In this short lineage we see the meteoric rise of society into prosperity but also we see the meteoric decline of society into moral degradation. Culture simultaneously rose and fell.

What we will see together this morning is that secular culture, even in the pre-flood world, wasn't all that different than secular society is today. The lineage of cain was ungodly, restless, self absorbed, sex obsessed, greedy vengeful and lawless.

Notice with me this morning:

1.) The rise of secular society.

2.) The song of secular society.

3.) The contrast of secular and sacred society.

1.) The rise of secular society. (v.17-22)

Genesis 4:17 NKJV

17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.

This is it for the history of cain once leaving his family and God’s presence. He apparently wandered around for decades before settling down. We do not know if he was married before he murdered Abel or sometime after. We do know that would have married either his sister or one of Adams granddaughters. (Adam lived for 937 years and would likely have had numerous children)

(Make some comments about why this was ok at the time: it was God’s plan and purpose for society to grow. Because this was the very beginning of the human race, genetics were not polluted like they are today.)

After Cain’s son is born, v.17 tells us that Cain built a “city”. This was another willingly defiant act against God. The city was likely not what we think of today.

The Hebrew word for “city” can mean just a few houses enclosed by a wall. Essentially when Enoch was born, Cain tried to put down roots and make a permanent dwelling.

This “city” is the birthplace of civilization. Nothing else is said of the Culture of Cains descendants except for the listing of five generations up to a man named Lamech and his two wives.

in. v.18-19 we see the initial growth of civilization and it’s first moral decline with the institution of polygamy which was never a part of God’s design.

Genesis 2:24 NKJV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Here we see that as civilization advances it grows in rebellion of God and His word.

In v.20-22 the Godless line of Cain continues to achieve huge societal advances. Three sons and one daughter are born to Lamech from his two wives. (Likely much more than this, but these are the prominent ones that are mentioned.

Lamech’s first wife, Adah (ornament, apparently she was very beautiful, we might call her a “trophy wife”.) gives birth to two sons: Jabal and Jubal.

Jabal was a rancher who raised livestock. (More than just sheep, likely cattle, donkeys, camels etc). He was also was the discoverer of the nomadic tent. He wasn’t just wealthy, he was also famous. Notice it calls him “the father of those who dwell in tents”. He was the first tentmaker and cattle rancher. He was the first to develop animal husbandry.

Jubal was the inventor of music and musical instruments. (String instrument and reed pipe). Notice too that he became famous for this. He is called the “father of those who play the harp and flute”. He was the first to develop cultural arts.

Lamechs second wife, Zillah ( to resonate, ring, or tremble. Apparently she had a very lovely and sweet sounding voice and disposition), gives birth to a son who is named Tubal-cain. He was the inventor of metallurgy. He worked in brass and iron fashioning things like eating utensils, jewelry, decorative items, tools and weapons and taught others how to work in this as well. He also became famous for his abilities.

Zillah also gave birth to a girl and named her Naamah (Beautiful, attractive, pleasant.) It’s odd for a female to be mentioned in a lineage, seldom does this happen in scripture. However, Naamahs beauty was so striking that she apparently caught everyones attention and became famous for her looks.

Application:

Notice that in the lineage of Cain and the rise of secular society: there is nothing whatsoever, mentioned about God. The only things discussed are the things of the world …

• the world’s work and employment

• the world’s wealth and possessions

• the world’s culture and artistic interests

• the world’s tools, decorative items, and weapons

• the world’s fascination and lust for beauty and sex (the cult of beauty and sex)

All of these things—work, possessions, culture, art, tools or technology, beauty, and sex—are important, even necessary for society to survive and progress. But what about God? God is totally absent from the ungodly line of society. And the terrible tragedy is that God—the only living and true God—is still absent from secular society today. The ungodly seed and descendants march on forever building a society of people who seek to be famous, wealthy, powerful, and culturally gifted. But they build a people without God, a people without hope both in this life and in the life to come.

We learn from the rise of secular society through the line of Cain that we must be careful to overvalue culture. How many people today revel in the same worldly achievements as the descendants of Cain while their live spin more and more out of control?

2.) The song of secular society. (v.23-24)

When we come to vs.23-24 the picture of secular society gets even darker. In fact, it seems with each generation of the descendants of Cain the morals of secular society decline faster and faster.

v.23-24 are a poem (perhaps even the first poem/song ever composed by humanity) and is traditionally called “The song of the Sword.”

Genesis 4:23–24 NKJV

23 Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

This song glorifies violence like its a badge of honor and gives a glimpse into the decline of secular society up to this point. Not only had they already (within a few generations) devalued marriage but they had also devalued life.

Picture Lamech with a sword in his hand, maybe made by his son, waving it around loudly boasting that he could slay any man old or young or perhaps he’s bragging about an actual event where he murdered a young man for causing him injury.

Lamech was not a good person by any stretch.

Understand though, from this song of the sword by Lamech we get an idea of just how ungodly secular society had become to this point. Lamech has reached the crescendo of self-glory, pride, boasting, and self-obsession. He literally, in this song, declares himself stronger than God (v.24).

Application: This is a sad commentary on a society and civilization with no relationship or concern for God. Sadly, the same commentary has been pronounced upon every civilization and society down through the centuries. History has had only one declaration: a declaration of human revenge, murder, boasting, self-sufficiency, and lawlessness. (One need to look no further than American politics to see this.)

3.) The contrast of secular and sacred society. (v.25-26)

Genesis 4:25–26 NKJV

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.

This is the record of the birth of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. No doubt the birth of Seth was particularly special as Adam and Eve had lost a son to death and the other was essentially dead to them as well.

It was with Seth and his offspring that scripture tells us “men began to call on the name of the Lord.”

Cain’s and his descendants pioneered cities and civilized arts, but Seth and his descendants pioneer the worship of God.

The lineage of Cain worshipped themselves, while the lineage of Seth would worship God.

The lineage of Cain heaped praise upon human achievement, while the lineage of Seth would heap praise upon the name of the Lord. (Call means to proclaim in Hebrew)

When secular society descendant from Cain began to rise and worship abundance, art, technology, abuse, violence, vengeance, sex and self. Sacred society, formed by the descendants of Seth, rise and worship the name of the Lord and praise him for his goodness.

God’s people have always been known, even in primeval history, to be a people who proclaimed the name of the Lord and sing his praises.

Application: Our text here today provides us a paradigm to understand civilization and culture today and its ostensible rise with the increase in abundance, music, arts, and technology. It rises impressively, but in its rise there is demise because of sin. The only hope is to call upon the name of the Lord. This is the only hope for culture. This is the only hope for your soul. This is the only hope for the church—to call upon the name of the Lord, who is Jesus Christ.

Nothing and no one can save society from sin other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12 NKJV

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Conclusion:

Call the people back to a renewed focus of God and not on self.