Second Thursday of the Great Fast

Title

He Walked with God

Outline

What is God saying to us in these Lenten readings?

In the Proverbs reading we get helpful instruction on virtues in a memorable form. So long as one understands that the way one comes into the power of one’s neighbor (at the beginning) is through pledging surety for their loan, the whole is fairly straightforward and memorable.

But what is this about Genesis 5?

First it recounts that humanity differed from the rest of animate creation in that it was not the earth that brought them forth but God who created them, especially who breathed the breath of life into their nostrils.

Second, it notes that like the animals humanity was created male and female, the purpose of which was procreation, as the following genealogy indicates. It is as male and female that humanity is named ’Adam or man.

Third, it seems to recount God’s patience. The patrilineal line goes on without commenting either good or bad other than that they did what they were made for. They were born, they married and reproduced, with special note made of the firstborn, the link to the next generation, and they died - just like the first ’Adam (whose previous two children are left out because of their death by murder - exile). The age of the birth of the first child decreases (until Jared) but the pattern is similar.

Then comes Enoch, who does the usual thing until after the birth of his children when it cryptically states, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” This is not said about his great-grandson Noah, although there is hope of Noah’s breaking the cycle of birth - reproduction - death, for his father Lamech says, “Out of the ground which the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands.”

It is the one who walks with God, who is personally involved with God, who breaks the cycle, for “he walked with God . . . and God took him.” He does not die.

Brothers and sisters, there are two planes of life

The first is the natural plane in which we have our duty, indeed, but it is all within the level of entropy caused by sin. We do our duty and we die. [Cain tries to preserve his race and power through civilization, but to no effect.]

The second is the spiritual plane in which those who have lived their natural lives faithfully walk with God and they have a future beyond death, a future that the natural plane cannot describe, but in which is true meaning.

The New Testament will expand on this and call us to follow Jesus and thus walk with God and even be divinized. That, as 2 Peter points out, is where our meaningful future lies.

How long will God have to wait until he finds in us a New Testament Enoch, one whose life has transcendent meaning?

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 3-17-2022: Second Thursday of Great Lent

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis 5:1–24

5  This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

6 When Seth had lived a hundred and five years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Ma-halalel. 13 Kenan lived after the birth of Ma-halalel eight hundred and forty years, and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.

15 When Ma-halalel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared. 16 Ma-halalel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Ma-halalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.

18 When Jared had lived a hundred and sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24  Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 3-17-2022: Second Thursday of Great Lent

OLD TESTAMENT

Proverbs 6:3–20

3 then do this, my son, and save yourself,

for you have come into your neighbor’s power:

go, hasten, and importune your neighbor.

4 Give your eyes no sleep

and your eyelids no slumber;

5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter,

like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

7 Without having any chief,

officer or ruler,

8 she prepares her food in summer,

and gathers her sustenance in harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond,

and want like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

goes about with crooked speech,

13 winks with his eyes, scrapes

with his feet, points with his finger,

14 with perverted heart devises evil,

continually sowing discord;

15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16 There are six things which the LORD hates,

seven which are an abomination to him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil,

19 a false witness who breathes out lies,

and a man who sows discord among brothers.

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (3-10-2022: Second Thursday of Great Lent)

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 | TRIODION AND GREAT LENT

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 3-17-2022: Second Thursday of Great Lent

SECOND THURSDAY OF GREAT LENT

Dark Vestments

Old Testament Isaiah 6:1–12

Old Testament Genesis 5:1–24

Old Testament Proverbs 6:3–20