We don’t know when Lamech made the proclamation in this verse and the next. However, the important thing is, it was a sign of his arrogance. Hedecided that he was going to be the ruler of his domain, instead of God. He was going to set all the rules.
First, he deliberately puffs himself up while putting down his wives. What manner of person goes around referring to his wife as “You wife of mine”? God intended the marital union to be one of mutual love. However, even in the most male-dominant cultures, where woman are considered very subservient, they would be addressed by their first names. And yet, Moses, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, states their names right before, perhaps to emphasize that Lamech wouldn’t even do that. He simply referred to them as “ye wives of Lamech.”
Notice, too, what Lamech is boasting about. He uses the word “hearken,” which means that they should do more than just listen. They should be extra attentive, and and act according to what he said; in other words, his desire was to strike an unhealthy fear in them. If Naamah did turn from the wicked ways of Cain, and trust in God completely for salvation by faith, one can’t help but wonder if it was the utter terror of Lamech which caused her to consider just how different and wonderful things were under the unconditional love that was Noah’s house. We who know that love must be careful to always show a great example of Jesus Christ, and to tell others about Him. We never know what kind of situation someone else lives in or has lived in – and, we never know when they might be ready to cry out to Jesus Christ for salvation, if they only know about Him.
The words that inspired such terror follow. Lamech shows himself to be a very violent man with them. He would kill just for small wounds. Jesus Christ tells us to love our enemies, and bless those who persecute us. However, this goes beyond even the “eye for an eye” justice thatGod established in the Mosaic covenant, a covenant that was supposed to show people just they couldn’t keep the whole law, and draw them to Himself. Lamech’s law was that would kill anyone who got in his way. It was a law that put all the focus on himself.
When we put all the focus on ourselves, we wind up forgetting that God is in control,a nd has placed thigns in our lives to help us. Of course, sometimes others do evil things to us, but God can turn that evil around, and use it unto good, as Joseph told his brothers, for instance. (Gen. 50:20) God wants us to keep the focus totally on Him; to be filled (that is, controlled) by the Spirit at all times. (Eph. 5:18) That is impossible in our sinful state, of course, but this is why Christ’s shed blood is so important. We must never return slights with such evil. We must instead be willing to forgive others who sin differently than we do.
