“Cain... builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch” (Gen. 4:17).
Enoch, the first city built by man, was no doubt very different from our modern-day cities with their skyscrapers, subways, airports, freeways and shopping malls. But the moral characteristics of that city and all built since are the same, for it was built after Cain willingly left the presence of God. Apart from God, man brought into his city all that might afford his heart happiness in separation from his Creator.
However, the moral character of the city Enoch built begins and ends with two awful, solemn qualities—lust and violence. In verse 19 we read of Lamech, who tried to remedy his ungratified desire by marrying two wives. This excess, born of lust, seemed to produce pleasant, harmless and useful fruit: agriculture, commerce, the arts and sciences (see ch. 4:20-22).
But his two wives didn’t produce peace for Lamech, who had rejected God’s order (“for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife”) violence and death mark his life. “Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt” (Gen. 4:23).
No matter how pleasant marriage circumstances may seem, when a husband and wife allow divided affections towards one another, the result will be sorrows, wounds and devastation.
Consider the life of dear Jacob or Solomon to see how divided affections ruin marriage joy. Jacob’s wife Leah knew she was hated by Jacob (Gen. 29:31), but more solemnly, God knew it and restrained, for the time being, fruit from Rachel, the wife Jacob loved. As we follow dear Jacob’s history, it is to read a sad record of strife, deceit, jealousy and violence among the sons born of his two wives and his two concubines. What sorrow and dishonor!
Solomon, the wisest man who lived (apart from the blessed Son of God as man), is perhaps the most sorrowful case recorded. As king he was clearly not to multiply wives to himself (Deut. 17:17), yet he took “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines,” and his “wives turned away his heart” from the Lord (1 Kings 11:3).
Oh! for simplicity of heart to obey the precious Word of God in order that we might enjoy happy, fruitful, satisfying marriages a union God desires one man and one woman to delight in all their life.
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord” (Prov. 18:22).
“Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe.... Be thou ravished always with her love” (Prov. 5:18-19).
“I sat down under his shadow with great de-light.... His fruit was sweet.... He brought me to the banqueting house.... His banner over me was love” (Song of Sol. 2:3-4).
“Let each have his own wife” (1 Cor. 7:2 JnD).
“Husbands, love your wives” (Eph. 5:25).
Ed.