The Beginning of Marriage

Genesis 2:18–25 NIV

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Marriage is Good

Genesis 2:18 NIV

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

God has made a perfect world. Adam has everything he could possibly need, but there is one problem. He is alone and that is “not good.”

It’s not that Adam is bad without Eve. He is incomplete without her.

Implication

Sometimes when a marriage is unhealthy we may be tempted to think that marriage is not good.

Sociology: First divorce rose; then cohabitation rose.

The truth is: marriage is good!

Parents: Teach your children that marriage is good by having a good marriage!

A Note on Singleness

How do we get from “it is not good for man to be alone” to “I wish that all of you were [single] as I am”

The gospel changes singleness

In the OT, God’s chosen people grows primarily through reproduction

In the OT, the promised seed is coming through childbirth

In the NT, the seed has come and God’s chosen people grows through new birth.

The mission of the church is blessed by singleness

This is Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 7.

It is indeed not good to be alone, but this cannot mean that it is not good to be unmarried.

Does Gen 2 have anything for you?

If you feel grief in your singleness, Gen 2 affirms your grief. It’s okay to struggle with singleness.

We know what happens next, marriage does not actual fulfill all the needs Adam and Eve feel. They together are drawn to sin.

Gen 2 should push the single towards other relationships. It is not good to be alone, but there are other ways besides marriage to deal with being alone.

Singleness in the family of Christ ought not be the singleness of being alone.

Marriage Is Purposeful

Genesis 2:19–20 NIV

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

Marriage serves a purpose. It’s not a happy accident; it is a divinely ordained institution.

There is a reason it exists.

We know marriage is purposeful because work reveals the need for a wife

Adam’s exercises his responsibility to keep and care for the garden.

In the context of his work it is revealed that he is not complete.

This shows us that marriage supports our work

We know marriage is purposeful because the role of the wife is “suitable helper”

What is a suitable helper

Is it like “daddy’s little helper” Is this a demeaning role for women?

Most commonly the term refers to God himself

Specifically, as a an ally in battle

Psalm 121:1 NIV

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

Psalm 20:1–2 NIV

1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.

Reinforcements in a movie (Avengers Endgame, Han Solo fighting the Tie Fighters, The Ride of the Rohirim)

The wife as a helper does not demonstrate that she is less than the man, but that he is incomplete without her

Psalm 70:5 NIV

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.

Eve is a needed ally for Adam. She is one who is made to work alongside him to fulfill the task that God has given.

The Purpose of Marriage

The purpose of marriage is to help mankind accomplish the tasks God has given to it.

In the other account of the creation of man, the task of reproduction is given.

In this chapter, Adam’s job is to work and keep the garden.

Thinking back to last week, God has created a place for fellowship and worship. Adam is called to care for that place and he needs Eve to help him.

The triune God who exists in fellowship desires a servant who serves in fellowship.

Both of these tasks are ultimately about worship.

This means that your marriage is not about you

When it is hard, it’s not about you.

We endure and love in the hard times for the glory of God.

When it is great, it’s not about you.

When marriage is good, we are tempted towards idolatry, but it’s still not about you.

Marriage Unifies

The Unique Creation of Eve

God makes Adam a companion – just like the animals – but Adams companion comes directly from him. There is a unique unity between the man and the woman.

Adam’s first response to his introduction to Eve is a poem emphasizing the unity between the two of them.

United By Purpose

This unity is furthered by the shared purpose of man and woman

Unity is dependent on something that is held in common

Unity doesn’t mean

Sameness

Total agreement

Unity means

There is a shared goal

When our heart is aimed at God’s purpose for our marriage, we will have meaningful unity.

Both parties will be necessary.

Both parties will be satisfied.

Both parties will care for the other party.

Conflict will be placed in perspective.

Joy will be experienced but not idolized.

Conclusion

When God creates marriage he is trying to accomplish something. Our marriages will only be successful when they aim at fulfilling that purpose.

They might be pleasant without God’s purpose, but they will never truly be good.

We are created for worship.

We are created for community.

An understanding of these fundamental truths will enable us to be single or married to the glory of God.