WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.540 I'm going to invite one of our members, Sam McPherson, to come and to read to us from the scriptures from Genesis chapter 4. 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:07.540 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.859 My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:42.700 I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me. 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:49.100 Then the Lord said to him, Not so. If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.579 And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.980 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.979 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:07.700 When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:16.060 To Enoch was born Arad, and Arad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:21.340 And Lamech took two wives. The name of one was Ada, and the name of the other, Zillah. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:26.039 Ada bore Jabal. He was a father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:31.000 His brother's name was Jubal. He was a father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:36.000 Zillah also bore Jubal Cain. He was a forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. 00:01:36.520 --> 00:01:38.320 The sister of Jubal Cain was Nema. 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:42.780 Lamech said to his wives, Ada and Zillah, hear my voice. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:45.320 You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say. 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:49.040 I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:53.580 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:58.259 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called him Seth. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:03.859 For she said, God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.060 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:13.819 At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. Amen. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:23.840 We started a new series last week for the autumn term from Genesis 4 to 11, right through November, called Grace Amid the Ruins. 00:02:24.359 --> 00:02:30.939 And really, these stories in these chapters are fleshing out Genesis 3 and answering the question, 00:02:31.299 --> 00:02:33.340 what is wrong with us? What is wrong with humanity? 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:35.819 What happened, and how did it go so bad? 00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:40.099 And in every one of the stories we saw last week, I think you'll see again this week, 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:48.680 God's grace always runs further and faster than human sin seems to fall into more and more ruin. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:53.159 That we keep going down, down, down, but God keeps going further and more excessive 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:55.859 in how much grace He's willing to give humanity. 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:59.959 And that means that this section of stories, they're false stories. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:00.799 They're decline stories. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.240 They are about sin. 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:07.860 And so the first time the word sin ever shows up in the Bible is in Genesis 4. 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:13.280 And the first time the word fall, the fall, ever shows up in the Bible is Genesis 4. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.680 And it's in the story of Cain. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:16.960 This is Cain's story. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.380 We just read the second half of it, and it really is all about sin. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:26.880 We said last week, sin is a power in the heart that wants to hide itself from you. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.400 Sin wants to dominate you, like a serpent coiled up on your doorstep. 00:03:32.519 --> 00:03:36.340 It wants to strike you before you ever know it's there, before you ever see it. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:40.479 It wants you to believe that it's not there, that there's nothing wrong, that there's no sin. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:46.219 It's more, you know, we might use words as modern people, like the weight of trauma, 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.819 the weight of dysfunction, maladaptive behavior, these kind of terms that are trying to describe 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:54.620 sociologically, psychologically, what's wrong with us. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:59.700 But none of them actually find meaning and make sense unless they're dropped into the bucket 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:06.719 of the theological meaning of the word sin, which is that all sin, all of the problems we have 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:12.200 are the product of moral corruption before God, that our problem really is theological before 00:04:12.200 --> 00:04:13.120 it is anything else. 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:15.480 It's the condition we stand in before the Lord. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:21.680 And so last week, if you were here, we saw in Cain's life that sin becomes this force, 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:26.519 this power, this state of being, this condition. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:30.220 And it is, it's words and thoughts and deeds. 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:31.740 It's things that we do. 00:04:31.900 --> 00:04:33.340 It's things that we fail to do. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:39.759 And the Bible says ultimately that this power, this force poisons everything, every motive 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:41.759 we actually have, even in the good things that we do. 00:04:42.159 --> 00:04:43.099 It's that deep. 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:43.979 It's that serious. 00:04:44.099 --> 00:04:44.679 It's that big. 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:51.620 And so we saw last week, I'm trying to stop myself from re-preaching last week, but just 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:56.599 to say it in a few seconds that Cain is a classic elder brother. 00:04:56.839 --> 00:04:58.000 He was the first elder brother. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.699 And he, on the one hand, is very religious. 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:03.100 He will give his offering. 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:09.300 But he, even his name, Cain in Hebrew, means gain or accumulation. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:13.720 And so we get the sense that though he is religious, he lives life for himself. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.420 He's cold towards God. 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:17.319 He doesn't want communion with God. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:26.240 And when he sees God favor his brother and show regard to him, it creates loss, competition 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:27.939 in his heart, envy, hatred. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:33.819 And eventually that predator, he pets it like it's a friend. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.539 And it leads to murder. 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:37.899 It leads to utter destruction in his life. 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:39.519 It's the first murder ever committed. 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:46.699 Today we see in the second half of the passage that he goes on into exile and he builds a city. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:48.420 And that is ominous. 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:51.860 That is a bad sign, not a good thing. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:57.980 Now, before I dig into it a little bit more, last week, just a side note. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:04.600 Last week I mentioned that when Cain is exiled from Eden, he says, everybody's going to kill me. 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:10.600 And I briefly noted, who are these other people that are living outside the Garden of Eden, outside of Eden? 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:13.360 And then today we see that Cain has a wife. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:18.300 And you say, if you're just kind of a thoughtful reader of the text, you say, where did Cain get a wife? 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:29.139 And the incredibly disappointing answer I want to give to that is that the Bible, like ancient Near Eastern literature, 00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:33.420 and in God's inspiration of it, is incredibly selective. 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:36.879 So there is so much we don't know. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:42.600 And there is so much more that happened in the history of Revelation, what the Bible records, 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:45.680 that we won't know until we meet with the Lord. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:50.100 And that's to say, God has given us as much as he wants to tell us. 00:06:50.660 --> 00:06:54.800 And so, incredibly disappointing answer, but that's to say, we don't know exactly. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:58.300 And there's so many things to say about that, but I'll just leave it there. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:03.840 Instead, there was a French sociologist in the 20th century named Jacques Ellul. 00:07:04.020 --> 00:07:10.660 He wrote some really important books that were prized by academics in the 20th century especially. 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:13.060 One of them was The Technological Society. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.160 You may have come across that. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.540 The other is being revisited a lot right now in the face of AI. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:22.080 The other book that Jacques Ellul wrote that was very famous was called The Meaning of the City. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:30.620 And in both of those books, he launched from the back half of Genesis 4 and sort of made his argument around what's wrong with humanity, 00:07:30.919 --> 00:07:35.919 what's wrong with the city, what's wrong with technological society, all from this passage. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:41.860 And so, you may have noticed in the bulletin, I've stolen his book title as the sermon title, The Meaning of the City. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:44.740 What is the meaning of Cain's city? 00:07:45.039 --> 00:07:46.819 That's the question of the passage. 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:51.779 And you might not be surprised to know that it has three meanings. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.680 Three things that it tells us. 00:07:53.759 --> 00:08:00.639 Number one, the meaning of Cain's city is the ruin of Cain, the fall of Cain, really the fall of humanity deeper. 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:05.759 And secondly, it's the fall not only of Cain, but of culture, of civilization. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:11.000 And then lastly, it also points us to the fall of the city reversed. 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:20.459 So first, the fall of Cain here, the existence of his city represents really the deeper fall of humanity. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:27.419 Now, we started, Sam read for us from verse 10, but if you back up to verse 7, God comes to Cain and he says, 00:08:27.779 --> 00:08:29.779 Will you not be accepted if you do well? 00:08:30.419 --> 00:08:36.759 And he wasn't saying there, we learned last week, he wasn't saying there, if you perform better, if you are better at religion, you'll be accepted. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:42.720 No, he was saying, we know from Hebrews 11, if you come by faith like Abel, I will give you grace. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:49.879 He was being given what we would call now a free offer of the gospel by sheer mercy to come back into God's presence. 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:56.460 But the word, will you not be accepted, can also be translated, it's the Hebrew word for exaltation. 00:08:57.160 --> 00:09:00.139 So another way to read it is, will you not be exalted? 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:00.779 Exalted. 00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:03.740 And you have to say, exalted unto what? 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:09.740 And remember, they are not outside of Eden, Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, they're in Eden. 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:12.340 So we think of them as being all the way out of Eden. 00:09:12.439 --> 00:09:14.139 No, they're in Eden in this story. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:17.759 They're exiled from the garden of Eden, but not Eden itself. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:23.100 And so when God says, if you come by faith through grace, will you not be exalted? 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:28.340 He's saying, will you not have access back to the garden again? 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:32.740 That's the real problem of humanity, is that our sin got us kicked out of the garden of Eden, 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:34.720 and we want to be at home with God. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:42.480 And so I don't know if you've ever seen one of the versions of the Sistine Chapel that was painted by Raphael. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:50.560 And Raphael's painting has all these little chubby red-cheeked babies that are supposed to be cherubim. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:58.599 But in Genesis 3, 24, the cherub that's put at the gate of the garden is not a little chubby red-cheeked baby. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:09:59.939 It's a warrior. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:06.619 It's a soldier that's saying, you cannot come back into the presence of the garden of God because of your sin. 00:10:07.359 --> 00:10:08.859 And that is what is before Cain. 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:10.959 And so the rest of this passage is a test. 00:10:11.459 --> 00:10:13.819 Will Cain take the free offer of God's grace? 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:17.100 And God comes to him as a counselor in verse 6 and 7. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.940 God comes to him after he murders his brother and says, where's your brother? 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:24.060 It's an opportunity for Cain to confess and repent. 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:27.840 God is so gracious and merciful to him multiple times. 00:10:28.280 --> 00:10:29.360 And so this is a test. 00:10:29.520 --> 00:10:31.620 Will Cain accept this offer? 00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:35.520 And we learn here exactly what Cain chooses. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:42.019 God says, the blood of your brother cries out to me from the ground when Cain murders Abel. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.179 And that is the language of justice. 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:46.500 Justice is required. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:51.539 The blood of your brother, his dead body, cries out from the ground demanding justice. 00:10:52.319 --> 00:10:58.259 And here there's this important, subtle, little reversal of language from Genesis 3. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:03.279 In Genesis 3, when Adam sinned, God came to Adam and said, 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.199 the ground is cursed because of you. 00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:09.620 Meaning the Garden of Eden, you can't be in here anymore. 00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:11.059 The ground is cursed. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:12.919 Your work is not going to be easy anymore. 00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:15.539 But it wasn't as much as he could have said. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:21.579 But now in Genesis 4 verse 11, after murder, after the desecration of the image, 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:25.279 after this wicked deed, the language has changed. 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.980 God says to Cain, cursed are you because of the ground. 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:32.000 In Genesis 3, it was cursed is the ground because of you, Adam. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.899 But now it's cursed are you because of the ground. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.179 Meaning you have to leave Eden altogether. 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:40.899 Full exile because of this wicked deed you've done. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.799 In other words, there's a descent story going on here. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:47.080 A desecration story that people are getting worse. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:49.740 They're embracing that predator within them more and more. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:52.879 And it's causing them to be further and further away from God. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:12:00.059 And yet, at the same time, at the same time, God marks Cain so that nobody can kill him. 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.320 He preserves his life. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.439 What he's doing when he sends him into exile is he's saying, 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:08.379 there is a way back, even for a murderer, into God's full presence. 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:12.779 And you see, he says to him, 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:15.399 And the blood of Abel cries from the ground, 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.639 Justice is required here, and yet I do still love you. 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:25.459 And it's so important to see that because the real God is not a God of all love, no justice. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.720 And the real God is not a God of all justice, no love. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:34.919 And instead, the God of the Bible, the real God is a God who says yes to justice, 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.500 yes to saying things are bad, 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:39.259 to saying there really is sin, there really is a problem. 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:42.819 And yet, in the way of love and the way of mercy, God is saying to him from the get-go, 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:44.059 I'm going to make a way for you. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.259 I'm going to give you an opportunity, a free offer to come back into my presence. 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:54.120 And here we learn in the main idea, the first point, what Cain does with this. 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:59.460 He says, oh Cain, representative of all human civilization here, Cain, 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:02.819 two great miseries he plunges himself into. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.759 In verse 13, he turns to God and says, 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.340 My punishment is too great for me to bear. 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:15.279 And, you know, this is like when you try to, you know, you discipline a young child. 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.939 I've had an experience like this before. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:24.580 You punish a child, and you know that as they go to their room for timeout, 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:27.600 they are not sorry for what they did, right? 00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:30.879 No, they are, but they are upset at the consequences. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:34.740 They're upset for the price that they are now having to pay for it. 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:40.080 But it sounds, this sounds, what Cain says here to God sounds like the modern celebrity PR statement. 00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:43.539 When on Twitter, on Instagram, someone says, 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:47.779 I apologize if you were offended by my actions, right? 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:52.560 Cain here is being given the chance to repent, and instead he says, 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:54.740 Woe is me, my punishment is too much to bear. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.340 Where is the language? 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:58.920 Cain, you murdered your brother. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.180 And you say, 00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:03.560 Exile? 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:04.759 That seems rather harsh. 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:07.040 And that's, you see, that's what he's saying. 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:09.360 And this is a half apology. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:13.220 This is an apology completely centered in self-centeredness. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:18.120 And it's pointing toward Paul in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 7-10, 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:22.300 when Paul contrasts godly sorrow with worldly sorrow. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.800 And he says, 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:23.740 What is true repentance? 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.440 True repentance is godly sorrow. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:26.360 It's saying, 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:29.360 I am grieved for what I did against God, 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.080 and what this has cost other people. 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:33.200 And Cain here has no care in the world, 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:36.340 except that I don't like the punishment I've been given. 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:37.419 And you see this, 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:43.519 last week we learned that sin is a predatorial force within you that wants to destroy you. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:46.919 It wants to stay quiet until it's completely taken over your life. 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.320 And here, one of the signs of that, 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.320 that we're gripped by sin in our lives, 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.879 is the inability to repent. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.299 And one of the questions that you have to ask is, 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.799 Are my apologies half-hearted? 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.899 You know, when I do confess my sins and come to another person, 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.500 is it in the language of, 00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.740 I hate the consequences? 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.159 Instead of the language, 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.860 think about David, 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.240 Psalm 51. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.240 Like Cain, 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.159 David was a murderer, remember? 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.840 And in Psalm 51, 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.679 what does David say? 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.779 The murderer, David, 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.539 like Cain, 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:18.399 but David says, 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.159 Lord, 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.639 against you and against you only have I sinned. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.419 And the difference in Cain and David is subtle. 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.879 Is there a way back for a murder? 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:29.240 And the way back is true repentance. 00:15:29.439 --> 00:15:29.819 And instead, 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.219 Cain chooses a half-hearted apology. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.480 And we see here that true repentance doesn't ask, 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.919 true repentance does not ask, 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:37.000 what will this cost me? 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:37.419 It asks, 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:39.199 what have I done against you, 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:39.419 Lord? 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:44.379 What have I done to grieve the moral order that you've brought me into? 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.899 That's the nature of true repentance. 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:49.959 The second great misery that Cain falls into here is he builds a city. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.699 So in verse 17, 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.639 he goes to the land of Nod, 00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:56.240 and Nod means wandering. 00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:03.179 And so the irony here is that he settles and builds a city in the land that's name is to be unsettled, 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:03.819 or to wander. 00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:05.459 And why? 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:08.579 This is a direct violation of what God has told him to do. 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.720 God said, 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.560 your punishment is to go into exile, 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.480 and to be a fugitive, 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.080 and a wanderer, 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.680 and to be restless. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.379 Why? 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.180 That's a mercy. 00:16:17.160 --> 00:16:18.560 Cain owes his life, 00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:20.600 life for life for what he's done to Abel. 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.040 And instead, 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:24.620 he's being given what Psalm 118 will kind of point us toward, 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:26.860 a chastisement that would bring us to repentance. 00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.060 In other words, 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.600 God's saying, 00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:30.160 you need to wander, 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.420 you need to be homeless, 00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:36.600 because your homelessness needs to help you feel a sense that you will not be home until you repent. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.220 And instead, 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:39.540 you get down, 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.379 and it just, 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.680 so the text just says, 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.040 it just so happened, 00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:44.980 Cain at some point built a city. 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:46.000 And it's telling you, 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:51.600 Cain was in direct obstinance to the exile that was to lead him to repentance. 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.340 He directly violated God's commands. 00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:57.899 And instead of wandering and wrestling with his heart, 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.779 he chose self-sufficiency. 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:03.420 He chose to build roots that would stand ultimately against God. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:06.099 And that's where we learn sin. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.480 Every story, 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.079 we're learning a little bit more about sin. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.659 Sin here, 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:12.000 sin here is self-centeredness. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:14.200 It is building walls against God. 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:16.039 It is saying to God, 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.639 I can make my own way. 00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.059 I can be my own person. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.119 I'll build my life without you. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.220 Did, 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:22.579 did, 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.119 look, 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.539 did Cain believe in God? 00:17:24.899 --> 00:17:25.039 Was, 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.819 was Cain struggling with atheism? 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.559 No. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.399 Was Cain an agnostic? 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.259 No. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.059 He prayed. 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:34.579 And that's telling you the depths of sin. 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.079 Sin can get so rooted, 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:37.640 a predator in the soul, 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.019 that you can absolutely believe in God and still say, 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:44.059 and I'm going to live my life building walls against you, 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.559 and building a city apart from you, 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:47.980 and building a culture apart from you. 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.960 Jacques Alou puts it like this. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.400 The first city that was ever built was built by a murderer 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.160 on the premise of defiance against God. 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:03.380 And that means that human civilization did not have a good start. 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.560 This is the first civilization. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.600 This is the first establishment of culture, 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:09.000 and it didn't, 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.040 it didn't start off well. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.700 So secondly, 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.220 let's see the fall of, 00:18:12.780 --> 00:18:15.220 not only of humanity into deeper depths of sin, 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:17.060 but also the fall of culture, 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:17.900 of civilization. 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:19.780 Now, 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:22.240 you might turn to your neighbor after the service. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.720 You might be tempted and say, 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.759 especially if you're new here, 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.460 you've just moved to the city maybe, 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.240 you might say, 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:28.839 you see, 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.200 cities are bad. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.900 I told you we should have stayed in North Uist. 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.180 You know, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.720 I told you we should have stayed in, 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.339 we should move back to Harris. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.120 But that would be a mistake, 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.440 because it's not, 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:44.920 it's not talking here about cities like Edinburgh or London. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.779 Instead, 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.000 in the ancient world, 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.140 a city is what we would call a village. 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:53.480 It's a place of society. 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:55.460 It's a gathering of civilization. 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.100 If you build a wall, 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.820 you've got a city. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.740 If you've got multiple homes, 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:01.100 you've got a city in the ancient mind. 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.320 Here, 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:03.640 he's talking about the fall of civilization. 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:05.380 Look at how badly it starts. 00:19:06.040 --> 00:19:06.480 Augustine, 00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:07.660 St. Augustine said, 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:10.020 he called this the city of man. 00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.320 And what he meant by that 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:14.220 was any civilization we build as human beings 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:17.420 is built on the premise from Genesis 4 on 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:20.279 that we are doing so in obstinance against God. 00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:20.440 You know, 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.480 we don't wake up every day and think, 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:22.680 you know, 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.740 I'm going to build my life 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.080 and I'm going to do it against God. 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.880 But instead, 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:28.900 the subtle lack of recognition of God, 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.279 of even sin, 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.360 of the predator within, 00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:34.100 is a way of building your life, 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.900 of building a city, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.779 of building a culture, 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.860 of building whatever it is God's given you 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.680 to build in this world 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.240 in opposition to God 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.200 for lack of acknowledgement of him. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:44.259 And that is the natural condition of humanity. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.019 And so what we have here is this, 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.200 I guess it's not surprising at all 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:50.619 because when you get down to this genealogy of Cain, 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.539 Cain has a baby, 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.859 a little boy Enoch, 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.720 and he names the city after Enoch. 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.319 Press pause on Enoch. 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:59.779 We'll come back to the two Enochs next week. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:02.619 And then there's this long line of names. 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:04.240 Sam did so well reading them. 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:07.500 And eventually we see down in verse 20 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:10.119 that Jabal, born to Ada, 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:13.599 is the father of those who dwell in tents. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.879 And have livestock. 00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.399 And then his brother, Jubal, 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.839 is the father of all who play the lyre and the pipe. 00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:22.019 And then Zillah's son, Tubal Cain, 00:20:22.219 --> 00:20:24.799 is the father, the forger of all instruments 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:26.199 of bronze and iron. 00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:28.259 In other words, it's not surprising at all 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:30.619 that as soon as civilization arises, 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.299 what do you have? 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.959 You have the beginning of metallurgy, 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.799 stonemasonry, music, 00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:38.259 all these different arts and sciences 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.480 begin to get cultivated. 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:42.259 You see humanity here embracing culture. 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.660 And what is culture? 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:46.339 Culture is Genesis 1. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.640 It's that we were made by God to be gardeners, 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.240 to be sub-creators like him, 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:54.180 to take the raw materials of creation 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:56.180 and cultivate them into civilization. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.039 But if you take Genesis 1 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.160 and you say plus Genesis 3, 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.259 you get Genesis 4. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.619 And that works out mathematically 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:06.599 as well as in the logic of the text. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:10.199 Genesis 1 is you were made to be a culture maker, 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.279 a gardener like God, 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.759 taking the raw materials of beauty in the world 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.359 and making art, 00:21:14.459 --> 00:21:16.779 taking metal and producing sciences. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:19.000 That's exactly what you were made for, 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.259 to be like God in that way. 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:22.399 And yet when you mix that with Genesis 3, 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.699 you get Genesis 4. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:28.659 And that's that these first fathers of culture, 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:30.879 civilization, are doing so, 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.539 doing exactly what God made them to do, 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:34.159 but they're doing it in what we call, 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.759 the theologians call antithesis against God. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:39.139 If God has given you a thesis for life, 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.940 be like me, make culture, 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.859 the antithesis is saying, 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.920 I will do it, 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:46.519 but I will do it against your thesis, antithesis. 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.700 I'll do it against the way 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.720 that you made me ultimately to do it. 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:51.539 And we see here the fall 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.379 of the first human civilization 00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:55.259 and the first culture. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:58.859 Human culture, in other words, is good. 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:00.559 It is right to build. 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.819 It is, cities aren't bad. 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.720 Cities are wonderful. 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.879 It's so right to build these beautiful places 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:08.480 and do the work that so many of you are doing in the city. 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:12.859 And yet they are thoroughly corrupted, right? 00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:14.639 So in other words, we've got the right structure, 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.759 but because of Genesis 3, 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.000 now we've got the wrong direction. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:19.419 We're doing the wrong things 00:22:19.419 --> 00:22:22.079 with the calling we've been given in life to build cities. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.819 And the genealogy of Cain 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:27.759 takes us further and further into that descent story. 00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:29.419 And by the time you get, 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.639 if you were to count, 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:35.220 you'll find that the seventh son of Cain is Lamech. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.500 And of course, seven is seven for a reason. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.259 It's saying fullness. 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.740 When it came to the fullness of Lamech, 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.340 of Cain's genealogy, 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:47.980 the fullness of descent had finally arisen. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:52.180 And humanity had taken this good calling from God 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:54.240 to be gardeners of his world 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.220 and used it so maximally against him 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.980 that Lamech, 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:00.079 Lamech's story we have here. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:02.319 So you'll see Lamech's little tune, 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.599 a little song that he sings. 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.980 Ada and Zillah, he says, 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.339 hear my voice. 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.960 So first, 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.120 first Lamech 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:12.440 has two wives. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.059 The presence of polygamy in the Bible 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:17.240 is not positive for polygamy, 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:19.480 as it has sometimes been mistakenly argued. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.940 If you read, 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.559 anybody who has more than one spouse in Genesis 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:25.539 is always in a decline story, 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.680 always in a fall story. 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.640 And so if you think back to Genesis 1, 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.759 God said, 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.779 be like me, 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.019 cultivate the land, 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.960 be a sub-creator, 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.900 and families are good. 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.300 And man, 00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:38.860 it's not good that man would be without woman. 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.140 And so God gives marriage. 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.480 But what do we see? 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:43.700 As soon as Genesis 1 plus 3 equals 4, 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:45.140 the reversal of that, 00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:48.420 that human civilization bent in sin 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.460 corrupts marriage. 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:52.160 And so polygamy begins to come. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.000 And then right after that, 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.580 the next thing, 00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.180 unsurprisingly, 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.540 he says, 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.140 hear my voice, 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.840 my wives. 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.440 Listen to what I say. 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:00.720 I've killed a man for wounding me, 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:03.100 a young man for striking me. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:06.099 And the Hebrew scholars are so helpful here 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.059 because they say that 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:09.759 when he says young man, 00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:11.219 it's like saying lad 00:24:11.219 --> 00:24:13.219 or young teen, boy. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:16.639 And when he says for striking me, 00:24:16.719 --> 00:24:17.819 that's one of the same words 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:19.179 that's already been used in the Bible 00:24:19.179 --> 00:24:22.559 for something like wounded or bruised 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.799 or even scratched. 00:24:24.199 --> 00:24:26.839 And so you got to hear how extreme this is. 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:30.559 He's saying a young boy bruised me, 00:24:30.699 --> 00:24:31.159 punched me, 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.899 scratched me, 00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.939 and I killed him. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:35.480 I murdered him. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.039 And he said, 00:24:36.439 --> 00:24:38.459 if God protected Cain 00:24:38.459 --> 00:24:40.219 so that nobody could harm him, 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.740 know that I will turn around 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.539 and kill at the same level 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.559 of his protection. 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:46.159 In other words, 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.859 as one commentator put it, 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.699 sin drives humanity 00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:52.740 to take the goods of civilization. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:56.500 But if we don't repent, 00:24:57.740 --> 00:25:00.199 we can be driven down, down, down, down, down, 00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:00.919 further and further 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:02.679 all the way into the domain of the beast. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.920 Where you seven generations in, 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:09.039 the complete fulfillment of Cain's story is Lamech. 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:11.660 And he glories in murder. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.220 He loves it. 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:15.140 And he glories in corrupting 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:18.220 the two great things God gave in Genesis 1, 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:21.519 which is family and cultivation. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.120 And he takes them both 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:25.019 and turns them into a monstrosity. 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.580 And that means that we learn here 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:29.060 that we are called to see something very important. 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.960 And I have to move on to the finish. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.759 Despite all this, 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:38.839 God continues to grant humanity 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:41.819 the gifts of metalworking 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.879 and smithing 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:44.799 and music making 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.259 and architecture 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:48.799 and all the vocations in this room 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.539 that are represented. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.319 Common grace gifts, 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.539 we call them. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.139 God, 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.200 this is the first moment 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.859 we see in the Bible 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.000 where God is actively 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:59.240 pouring His common grace 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.599 to everybody 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.920 no matter what. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.119 And it is the people 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.539 that are in the lineage of Cain 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:08.279 that are running so far from God 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.879 in obstinance 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:10.039 that are making beautiful music. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:12.119 And that means that you as a Christian 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.639 have to hold two things together. 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.099 One, 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:17.099 that God made us 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.279 to create culture 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.980 and that 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.480 that is happening 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.779 all around you 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:23.339 in ways that are beautiful. 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.920 In ways that are good 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.619 that people are making music 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.099 all the time 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.819 and it's wonderful 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:29.240 no matter what they believe in. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.299 It's like, 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.240 I've heard it said, 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:31.680 it's like 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.279 a master musician 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.420 stealing a piano. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:34.899 You know, 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.480 on the one hand 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.940 the direction was wrong. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.960 They stole the piano 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:39.960 but then you hear the master play. 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.680 And that's exactly 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.180 what's happening 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.220 with human culture here. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.859 And it's all because 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:46.700 of God's excessive grace 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.119 to people 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.319 who do not deserve it. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.319 Not for a second. 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.039 And that means that 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.659 the Christian church 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.519 has to look at the city 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.339 in the same way. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.059 We have to love the city 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.459 as much as Jesus loved us, 00:26:56.479 --> 00:26:57.799 as much as God loves us here. 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.459 And that's to say 00:26:58.459 --> 00:27:00.000 the direction is wrong 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.599 but the structures were right. 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.359 And Christ looks out 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:03.739 at the city 00:27:03.739 --> 00:27:04.659 and weeps for her. 00:27:04.719 --> 00:27:05.579 He wants her back. 00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:06.259 He wants her 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.819 to be turned back around. 00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.879 And so that leads us 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.559 to finally 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.619 the reversal. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.699 We have here shadows 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:13.059 of the reversal 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.500 of the broken city, 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.359 of the broken culture. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:17.359 And that's what we're 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.399 at the last week 00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:18.799 I said 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.619 as we wrap up 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.439 I said 00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:22.359 the overarching question 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.179 of this section 00:27:23.179 --> 00:27:25.059 comes from Genesis 3.15 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:27.779 when humanity fell 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.879 and God said 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.519 one day 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.619 there would be 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.519 a seed 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.859 a seed of the woman 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.559 a seed of Eve 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.299 a son of Eve 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.319 who would crush 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:36.099 the head of the serpent. 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.039 And that is 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.259 the controlling question 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.619 of Genesis 4.11 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.759 who's it going to be? 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.199 And at the end 00:27:42.199 --> 00:27:42.799 of this passage 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.079 you have this 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.899 it's abrupt even 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.899 I mean this transition 00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:48.419 from 24 to 25 00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:50.539 Lamech is celebrating 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.899 murder 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:53.919 and then all of a sudden 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:55.079 and yet Adam 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.039 and Eve had a son 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.000 and they called 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.039 his name Seth 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.919 and the word Seth 00:28:00.919 --> 00:28:02.299 means appointed one. 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:05.119 And so just notice 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:07.819 notice Eve's faith. 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.919 I think that's subtle 00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:10.480 but striking. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:12.860 she has lost her son 00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:14.779 to murder Abel 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.680 and then she's lost 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.360 her other son 00:28:16.360 --> 00:28:17.000 to exile 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.900 and she cries out 00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.220 and says 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.960 yet God has given us 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.019 one appointed 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:25.339 and so she is thinking there 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:26.519 of the promise 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.559 of Genesis 3.15 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:29.160 and names her son 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.240 according to that promise 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.420 that there is still 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.339 one that's appointed 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.740 that would crush 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.559 the head of the serpent. 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:37.740 And then in verse 26 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.500 people begin to call 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.380 upon the name of the Lord. 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:40.859 Now listen 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:42.799 what is the city of Cain? 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.819 The city of Cain 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:45.720 is proto-Babel. 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.960 The city of Cain 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:49.000 will grow in its demise 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.539 all the way to Genesis 11 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.559 where we will have 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.839 the first Babylon 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.599 and then Babylon 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.339 will become 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.240 the grand theme 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.140 of the whole Bible 00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.380 of all that's wrong 00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:58.880 with the city. 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.539 And what was the 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:01.160 chorus line of Babel? 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.299 Let us make a name 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.000 for ourselves. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:06.640 And it's embracing 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.680 the truth of the power 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.700 of the predator of sin 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.400 to say 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:11.160 I am fully self-sufficient 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.440 I do not need the creator 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.779 I can build my own cities. 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.799 It's rejecting God 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.420 and obstinacy 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.099 but here at the end 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.579 of the passage 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.700 it says that 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.500 all of a sudden 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:21.099 people weren't saying 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.759 let us make a name 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.279 for ourselves 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.460 they were saying 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.059 it was saying 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.359 we are calling upon 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.420 the name of the Lord again. 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.019 And that means that 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.460 the just subtle reversal 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.940 in the passage 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.880 is that there was 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.400 a community 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.100 who said 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.380 we will not build 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:33.900 civilization 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.180 on the basis 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.360 of Cain's city 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.700 of self-sufficiency 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.960 we will worship 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.580 and pray 00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:40.300 and build 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.340 a new city 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:42.900 upon the name 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.360 of the Lord. 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.860 And that was 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.840 through the lineage 00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.560 of Seth 00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.500 the one that had been 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.220 appointed. 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:51.040 Now that's a little 00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:51.540 reversal 00:29:51.540 --> 00:29:53.060 of all that went wrong 00:29:53.060 --> 00:29:53.820 in Genesis 4 00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.900 and it points to 00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:56.460 a far greater reversal 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.160 and it's this 00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:00.779 when you jump 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.640 to Matthew 18 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.820 Jesus is asked 00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:06.400 how many times 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.120 should we forgive 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:08.160 and Jesus 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:08.840 what does he say? 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.960 He says 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.820 70 times 7 00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:14.500 and do you know 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:14.940 that that's 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.800 that's the exact 00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:16.300 language 00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:17.180 that's taken 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:18.019 directly from 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.759 Genesis 4 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.880 when Lamech says 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.080 my revenge 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.500 is 70 times 7 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:23.880 in Hebrew 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.380 it just says 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:25.240 7 7s 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.000 just like 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.900 in the New Testament 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.660 in Matthew 18 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.359 you see 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.579 Jesus is taking 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.259 the language 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.980 of Lamech 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.859 and saying 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.859 if human culture 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.500 at the beginning 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.140 was built 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.180 on vengeance 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.599 and murder 00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:38.160 and never being 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.859 willing to forgive 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.220 anyone 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.359 I'm telling you 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:40.920 I'm building 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.700 a new city 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.660 and that city 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.460 is going to be built 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.740 on the exact opposite 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.900 on forgiveness 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:47.400 70 times 7 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:49.880 and even more 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.140 than that 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.799 what was Cain's 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.240 punishment? 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.240 Cain's punishment 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.180 was the punishment 00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:54.019 of humanity 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.640 yet bathed in mercy 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:56.040 you know 00:30:56.040 --> 00:30:56.520 Cain was 00:30:56.520 --> 00:30:57.300 exiled 00:30:57.300 --> 00:30:57.920 from the garden 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.840 he was exiled 00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.600 even from the presence 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:00.259 of God in Eden 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:02.540 and he should have 00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:03.480 lost his life 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.220 for what he did 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.580 but he 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.759 he was stayed 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.500 that justice 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.580 was stayed 00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:09.500 and Jesus Christ 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.259 he came into the world 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.060 and what did he get? 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.780 he said 00:31:12.780 --> 00:31:14.780 foxes have 00:31:14.780 --> 00:31:15.960 dens 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.400 you know 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.300 birds have holes 00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:19.200 I've got nowhere 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.960 to lay my head 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.820 Jesus Christ 00:31:20.820 --> 00:31:21.440 came into the world 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:21.960 as what? 00:31:22.040 --> 00:31:23.620 as a wanderer 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.220 restless 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.160 without a home 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:27.440 and Cain 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.279 deserved death 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.779 and humanity 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.539 deserved death 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.559 but what did Jesus get? 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.640 Cain didn't get it 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.539 Jesus got it 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.920 he got death 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.660 you see in other words 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.680 Jesus Christ 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.000 got exactly 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.559 the justice 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.200 that humanity 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.620 deserves 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.420 that human civilization 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.140 deserves 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.380 and he said 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:44.120 I will take this 00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:44.720 into me 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.380 so that I can 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.380 give you the power 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:48.319 to build a new city 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.940 to build a better city 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.400 and how do you 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:50.940 enter into that? 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.240 how do you 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.799 enter into that? 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.779 how do you 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.759 prevent your life 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.619 today from falling 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.419 deeper and deeper 00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:56.720 from ruin? 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.579 what's the story 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:57.980 telling us? 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.680 it's by way 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.200 of repentance 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.659 it's doing exactly 00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.159 the opposite 00:32:02.159 --> 00:32:02.759 of what Cain did 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.279 and saying 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.259 against you 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.519 Lord 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.079 against you 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:06.519 only have I sinned 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.819 it's not saying 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:09.159 I hate the consequences 00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.539 it's saying 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.539 I hate my sin 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.460 and turning 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:11.859 and saying 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.759 in other words 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.379 what's the passage 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.099 calling you to see? 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.319 we are little Cains 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.919 we are city builders 00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:18.639 that are doing it 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.799 forgetting about God 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.799 taking his common 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.519 grace gifts 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:23.180 and using stone masonry 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.200 to slap him in the face 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:27.460 and the way out 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.659 the way from ruin 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.619 is repentance 00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:31.559 and Christ 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:31.819 you know 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.839 the Bible doesn't end there 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:34.259 it ends in Revelation 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:36.039 19 through 20 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.839 by telling us 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.839 that we are not 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.839 merely returning 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.599 to a garden 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.339 the garden of Eden 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.200 we are returning 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.700 to what? 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:42.980 a city 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:44.980 you see that great reversal 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:46.159 that God takes 00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:47.480 what humanity ruined 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.279 the city 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:50.079 and turns it around 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.000 to make the city 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.759 the ultimate hope 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.279 of humanity 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.899 and if you want 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.259 to be a part 00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:55.680 of that city 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.119 if you want to see 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.519 a little reversal 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.480 even in your life 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.119 of witnessing 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:00.819 toward the city 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.639 that is to come 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.700 then live a life 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.240 of repentance 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.000 that knows 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.399 you know 00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:04.960 I don't have to 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.319 build a name 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.180 for myself anymore 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.799 I don't have to 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.619 make my city great 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.660 my life great 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:09.960 no 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.019 in baptism 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.200 Christ has put 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.119 his name on me 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.160 in faith 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.779 Christ has put 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.440 his name on you 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.940 so you don't need 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.340 to make a name 00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:16.860 for yourself 00:33:16.860 --> 00:33:18.299 and you can go 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.100 out into the city 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:20.740 and witness 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.920 in all you do 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.340 to the city 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:24.200 that is to come 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:25.860 the better city 00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:27.700 let's pray 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.000 Father 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.820 teach us to be 00:33:29.820 --> 00:33:30.480 witnesses to the 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.640 great eternal city 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:32.860 the new Jerusalem 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:34.220 the great reversal 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.200 of the city of Cain 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.580 and Lord help us 00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:36.940 today 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.559 this week 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.299 even as Christians 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.100 in our work 00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:39.740 in our lives 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.519 in our vocations 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:42.420 to witness to that end 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.700 in all the details 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.580 of how we live 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:46.119 and we pray now 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.679 even for hearts 00:33:46.679 --> 00:33:47.159 of repentance 00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:48.179 as we close our time 00:33:48.179 --> 00:33:48.659 with singing 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:50.379 in Christ's name 00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:51.559 Amen