READ: Gen. 4:17-26
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD – Gen. 4:26
After the death of Abel, Cain, despite his grave offense, is allowed by God to continue living, even receiving God’s protection. His family expands, and he builds a city. We read about cultural development among his descendants and a violent atmosphere. Thus, the seed of the serpent gains room to expand on the earth, whereas it seems that the line of the seed of the woman has come to an end with Abel’s death.
But then, Eve gives birth to another son. She names him Seth, which may mean substitute. God continues His work with His church, and Seth finds a place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the fulfiller of the mother promise (Luke 3:38). The same applies to his son, Enosh.
Enosh means fragile, mortal man. Where independence and violence find a place in the line of the seed of the serpent, the seed of the woman focuses on dependence on God and their own weakness. When it seemed like the church was at a dead end after Abel’s death, God provides a way out through the line of Seth and Enosh!
This realization manifests in the lives of these church members: they begin to call upon the name of the LORD! They recognize their dependence on their faithful Covenant God, who fulfills His covenant promises to weak people.
The specifics of this public worship are not mentioned. Certainly, there would have been prayers and songs offered to God. There would have been room for God’s words to Adam and Eve. They could reflect on God’s great acts of creation in six days, their life task as bearers of God’s image. But they could also consider the misery they had fallen into due to the fall into sin and the guilt of sin that was also present in them. At the same time, they could strengthen their hope of redemption through the mother promise given by the LORD. Thus, there was fellowship between the LORD and His church in a situation of antithesis and enmity.
Why do we need worship services?
Singing: Ps. 79:3