Enoch walked with God— This is fully explained by what is said of Noah in the 9th verse of the next chapter. See also ch. Genesis 17:1. To walk with or before God, signifies "to live, as if always in his presence."
And he was not— He ceased to appear among men: for God took him to heaven, as he afterwards did Elijah. See 2 Kings 2:3. So we read, Hebrews 11:5. By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death: and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. Enoch, it is plain, from Jude 1:14 was a prophet: and the heathens had some general traces of his history, under the name of Annacus, or Nannacus, who, they tell us, lived before Deucalion, and foretold the flood. Some have thought that there are traces of Enoch's prophetic spirit in the name of Methuselah, which he gave his son; for the first part of it, methu, says Bochart, evidently carries in it the name of death, being as much as he dies: and selah signifies the sending forth of water, as in Job 5:10. And therefore Methuselah imports as much as "when he is dead, shall ensue an emission or inundation of waters," to the destruction of the whole earth. Methuselah died in the very year of the deluge.
REFLECTIONS.—Observe, 1. How death passed upon all. Their lives were long indeed, but the burden of the tale is, and he died. Health, riches, wisdom, and, what is better, godliness, make no distinction here. 2. Their days are mentioned, to remind us that years and ages are but longer days; and when they are gone, will be like yesterday which is past. A sinner looks back with regret on these lives of ages, and wishes their return; a saint of God rejoices in his happier lot, that he is not left so long to groan in this tabernacle, being burdened.
From Adam to Enoch, nothing is said of the characters of those whose names are mentioned. The silence of the sacred writer bids us hope the best. But in Enoch God singles out one to be the imitation of future ages, as he was the glory of that in which he lived. Observe,
1. His conversation in the world. He walked with God.
(1.) His practice was agreeable to God's will; he maintained a happy communion with him: his soul was weaned from the vanities of the world, and fixed on God as his only portion. And indeed the life of every christian is walking with God. 1. As a reconciled sinner, through the blood of Christ. 2. As a restored soul, through the spirit of Christ. 3. As an obedient servant, according to the word of Christ. 4. As an observant worshipper in all ordinances, and an attentive improver of all providences. 5. As happy in the fellowship obtained with God, through his dear Song of Song of Solomon 6. As a constant expectant of God's appearing to take us to himself, that we may behold his glory.
(2.) His preaching. He not only himself lived for God, but he laboured for God, Jude 1:14 boldly rebuking sin, and encouraging the faithful in their adherence to God, from the prospect of the appearance of the Lord, to judge the ungodly, and to reward his saints.
(3.) His perseverance herein: to the end of his days. There seems no reason to apprehend he did not walk with God before; we are assured, however, after he begat Methuselah, he did three hundred years. Every true saint of God is known by his perseverance in the ways of God. It was a long while to live thus in a wicked world: but he walked by faith.
2. His translation from earth to heaven. It was his business and happiness to live for God: it was his reward to live with God. He was in the prime of life, when God took him; had not, according to general reckoning, lived out half his days: but surely he was a wonderful gainer by the exchange. He quitted a wicked world for a heavenly kingdom; a life of toil for a rest in glory; a scene of vanity for bliss eternal. May we not hence observe, that we ought not too much to lament for our dear friends that die in the Lord, lest our selfishness, rather than our affection, appear. Though the child be robbed from the tender parents, the pious husband from his weeping family, or the zealous minister from his desolate flock: the loss indeed is ours, the gain is theirs. They have lived enough, whom God takes to himself: the days which are cut off from the labours of time, shall be added to the rewards of eternity. Early deaths, and sudden deaths, are reckoned untimely; but who can think it untimely to go to the bosom of Jesus? Or who should grieve that:—
No painful agonies need to untie The soul that's ready to ascend on high, And mourns its exile from its native sky!
3. The manner of his translation. He was caught up, perhaps visibly, as Elijah afterwards, into heaven: his body changed in the twinkling of an eye from corruption to incorruption, from dishonour to glory; and his soul made meet for an inheritance among the saints in light. We may not hope for such a change, but we expect an equivalent; the arm of death, which snatches the believer from the earth, shall carry him to the place, whither Enoch is gone before.
4. The grand principle which influenced him to such a conduct, and brought him to such an end; faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah that was to come, the promised seed, Hebrews 11:5. For (1.) faith only can enable us to walk with God; (2.) and thus shall we please God; (3.) and God will testify his pleasure in such a walk by his witness in our hearts now, and by his approbation in the day of judgment. (4.) Eminent believers shall have singular honours, as one star differeth from another star in glory.