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I. As the first acceptable worshipper of God was Abel, so the first acceptable walker with God was Enoch, in Scripture record. Here are two remarks upon Enoch recorded in Scripture. The first is, his appearance in the world. The second is, his disappearance from the world.

1. His appearance is attended with sundry considerable circumstances. As

(1)  his name.

(2)  His time.

(3)  His Age.

(4)  His office or employ. Concerning his name Enoch, which has a double signification.Enoch signifies "dedicated"; his father Jared (which signifies "meek") being a lowly and a holy man, did dedicate this son to God, as soon as he had received him from God.

II. Enoch signifies "catechized" or "instructed"; well knowing, also, that the care of the means was committed to the father, though he had committed the care of the end to the Lord. The paternal instruction must promote the dedication. As Jared had marred him by propagation (begetting a son in his own, the fallen image), so he must mend him by instruction. God is so exact in Scripture record, stating him the seventh patriarch, not only to declare the genealogy of Christ in a more distinct chronology of succession than can be found in any of the best human histories, but also to show both His great care of His Church and His great delight in His Church.

1. His great care of it in upholding it by seven descents of holy patriarchs.

2. His great delight in His Church above all other His concerns in the world, being only, all of them, in order to His Church.

3. The age of life that Enoch lived. The years that he lived in this lower world were exactly answerable to the days of a year, to wit, 365. What he wanted in the silver of a life natural, he had well paid him in the gold of a life eternal; so that not only the shortness of the father's life was made up in the long life of his son, but also, God took him from a worse place to plant him into a better. His translation was but transplantation, as it were, out of God's kitchen garden into His heavenly paradise. Thus we see here on earth, those northern plants which are transplanted out of their cold climate into a warmer southern soil, find no detriment, but advantage thereby, and thrive the better. How much more was it no loss, but gain, to Enoch to be translated out of the vale of tears into God's garden of celestial pleasures! There are many talkers and but few walkers; many talkers of God, few walkers with God. Their lives give the lie to their lips or tongues, as not running relatively in parallel lines together with the heart. A man's conversation is the most conspicuous comment upon all that the heart believeth and the mouth expresseth (Romans 10:9, 10).

I. WHAT IS THIS WALKING WITH GOD?

1. Negatively. It is not as if a man should desert the society of mankind, and run into a desert or cloister; or as if a man should depart out of the world, and fly up into heaven. Neither does this phrase import only Enoch's public capacity, as if it were proper solely to such as serve God in some high office. There are three Scripture phrases —

(1)  Walking with God, as here.

(2)  Walking before God (Genesis 17:1).

(3)  Walking after God (Deuteronomy 13:4).

2. Showing what it is to walk with God positively; that is, he did serve God in his generation according to his will, as is said of David (Acts 42:3, 6).

II. HOW THIS WALKING WITH GOD IS MAN'S DUTY. Upon a threefold respect.

1. It is the principal end why God created man, that man should wall. with God his Creator.

2. It is the creature's homage and fealty to his creator, God, to walk with Him, not with Satan, or with sin and sinners.

3. This walking with God is the very badge and character whereby saints are distinguished from sinners, believers from unbelievers, and the children of God from the children of the World.

III. HOW THIS WALKING WITH GOD IS MAN'S DIGNITY AS WELL AS DUTY. It is not only man's homage, but it is also his honour to walk with God. It is accounted honour. able to be but a follower of a mortal king. Inferences hence are —

1. It is our duty to walk with God, though the whole world walk contrary to God. The worse that times are, the better should we be, that the times may not be worse, but better by us. We should all strive to be the most holy persons, even in the most unholy times.

2. Therefore we should all strive to walk with God, upon these three following motives; besides the reasons of the duty, as also of the dignity.

(1)  Safety.

(2)  Solace.

(3)  Satiety.Having done with Enoch's first grand concern, to wit, concerning his appearance in the world — all which he managed in a constant walking with God — I come now to discourse upon his second grand concern, concerning his DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE WORLD; to wit, his translation from earth to heaven.

(C. Ness.)

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KJV: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

WEB: Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.