From a Reader
First, please allow me to thank you for sending me “Beauties of the Truth.” I enjoy every issue, and look forward to its arrival.
I would like to comment on the May 1992 issue, which arrived a few days ago. In particular, I would like to make an observation on the article “Seventy Times Seven.” The third paragraph begins with the words, “The only other place in Scripture where this formula is found…” and continues to quote the prophecy of Daniel. May I suggest another, in fact the more significant, reference? To wit, Genesis 4:23-24 –
And 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. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
Commentators are not in complete agreement as to the meaning of this portion of Scripture. Here is one which I accept as most likely:
The words translated “I have” in the AV are in the “continuous present” tense. The Companion Bible tells us, “May be rendered thus: ‘I can kill a man for wounding me, And a young man for hurting me.”‘ This scripture, then, may be indicative of a presumptive attitude on the part of Lamech, a sense that he could exercise his own will beyond the leading of God and still be under God’s protection.
Lamech remembers Cain’s protection; he would be “avenged sevenfold.” Lamech, exalting himself above Cain, sees himself as protected even more surely, “seventy and sevenfold.”
The Good News Bible has an illuminating translation:
Lamech said to his wives, ‘Adah and Zillah, listen to me:
I have killed a young man because he struck me.
If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,
Seventy-seven will be taken if anyone kills me.’”
Admittedly, “seventy plus seven” is not the same formula as “seventy times seven.” But we can easily see the parallel. God’s forgiveness, and His call for us to be a forgiving people, is so much greater than Lamech’s presumption. Lamech was not willing to forgive. His goal was vengeance, not reconciliation. The Christian’s willingness to forgive must be so much greater than the sinner’s desire for vengeance.
I can’t help but think that our Lord had this very incident in mind when giving His instruction to the disciple.
One final note, of no importance but perhaps of some interest: And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years.- and he died. (Genesis 5:31) It is astonishing how many sevens figured in the life of Lamech!
What a beautiful lesson this is! How thankful we should be that God Himself gives us the gift of forgiving hearts and loving minds.
Thank you again for the paper. It is much appreciated. God bless you all.
– J.N., CA