The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 330

Ver. 5.-The character and the translatim of Enoch. "By faith Enoch was trans- lated that he should not see death," etc. That Enoch should immediately su~eed Abel in this record of the ancient heroes of faith is not a little significant. How remarkable is "the contrast between the fate of Abel and Enoch I The one was crushed to the earth by the hand of a brutal and ferocious murderer; the other was conveyed to heaven, most likely by the ministry of some benevolent intelli,~ence. The one met death in its most repulsive form, and will probably be the longest tenant in the sepulchre; the other entirely escaped it, and was the first to possess the happiness of perfect and immortal humanity. There is something instructive in these characters being placed side by side on the page of revelation. 'l'he contrast seems to furnish an ,llustration of the mysterious diversities of fact and circumstance, which a.re per- petually occurring in the moral government of God." 1 Our text brings before us- I. THE CHARACTER OF E~ocH's LIFE UPON EARTH. " Before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." It is a great and blessed thing that it is possible ior man to please God. We know that we have grieved him by our many and heinous sins; and it is a fact full of encouragement that we may so live a.s to yield him positive satisfaction. In his infinite condescension he is so interested in us that our character and conduct are viewed by him either with delight or with sorrow. That man should please God implies : 1. A revelation of his will. Enoch had no portion ot' the sacred Scriptures. His revelation of God was small and dim as compared with ours. But evidently he believed in the existence of the Supreme Being, was convinced "that he is," and he knew something of his holy will. We live in the clear and full light of Divine revelation. "God ha.th spoken unto us in his Son." We know without any uncertainty what to do and what not to do, if we would please God. 2. Personal, sympathy with him. The moral separation which sin ea.uses between the soul and God had been removed in the case of Enoch. The consciousness of the Divine presence was not painful to him, but blessed. "Enoch walked with God." 'l'he will of God must have appeared to him not tyrannical or harsh, but reasonable and gracious; for otherwise his life could not have been brought into such relations with it as would please God. And still moral sympathy with him is an indispensable condition of plea.sing him. While we regard him with suspicion or distrust, while we esteem his commandments as grievous, our lives cannot be viewed by him with complacency. As a first step towards plea.sing God we must heartily "receive the reconciliation" which he offers to us in Jesus Christ (Rom. v. 10, 11). 3. Sincere effort to do his will. To know and approve the will of God without cordial and continuous effort to conform to it cannot be pleasing to him. Enoch embodied his reli~ious knowledge in his practical life; he translated his convictions into actions. And so must every one who would please God (cf. John xiv. 21-24; Jas. i. 25). It was by faith that Enoch pleased God. He walked by faith, not by sight. The Lonl Jesus Christ presents to us the supreme and perfect example of plea.sin~ God. His joy was to do the will of him who sent him. Twice the Father testi6ed of him from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him." Him the Father ever viewed with infinite complacency. He is also the Reconciler of man unto God. Moreover, "he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength," that they may please God in their lives. Let us trust him, accept him, imitate him. II. 'l'HE NATURE OF ENOOH'S REMOVAL PROM EARTH. cc By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him." Notice two points. 1. The nature of this translation. W~ have no means of satisfying all the inquiries which curiosity may make as to ~ow this _man of God was translated; but we may bring together a little of the light which the Scriptures shed upon it. It is certain that he did not pass from earth by the sam_e wa:,r as other men; th11t he entered heaven without passing through "the gi,tcs of utath." 1 Binney's • Practical Power of Faith.' y lii-:DUEWII. 322 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [ou. XI, 1-40,