Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech,
For I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me;
If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.
~ Genesis 4:23, 24
I picture Lamech swaggering a bit, sword in hand, as he ascends a small mound to recite his verse. And why not? He’s got twowives! His son Jabal has made them exceedingly wealthy in livestock. Son Jubal has made them merry with his musical inventions. Son Tubal Cain has learned to forge implements of bronze and iron. (Think of the possibilities!) Indeed, daughter Naamah (“pleasant”) sums it all up: this family knew how to make life pleasant for itself!
So up the mound comes Lamech, brandishing the sword Tubal Cain has just made and musing to himself: Just think! With this weapon I’ll be invincible! That young man who struck me didn’t stand a chance. And who will even dare to avenge his death!? They’ll pay seventy-sevenfold if they come after me!
Lamech’s “sword song” gushes with pride and self-sufficiency. In the case of Cain it was God who had promised to protect Cain from revenge. But Lamech’s boast is that he himself will repel the avenger by the strength of his own arm and re-enforced by his son’s weapon! What staggering presumption and arrogance!
Do you suppose Christ was alluding to Lamech’s taunt in Matthew 18:21 when He called His followers to extraordinary forgiveness (seventy times seven) rather than revenge? Not only are we to be free from retaliation, we must embody a spirit of forgiveness.
Was it haughtiness such as Lamech’s that prompted the Lord to say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit… the meek… the merciful… the peacemakers…”?
Lord Jesus, I purpose to follow Your example of humility and forgiveness, and distance myself from Lamech’s swagger and revenge. But You know how easily I revert to the me-centered life. Oh, please! Let Your grace increase so my sin will not!
Blessings,
