*Genesis 2:21-25, "So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

 

The marriage ceremony that took place in the first year reveals a covenant relationship which takes place when a man and woman become husband and wife. The binding together of two people in matrimony restores that which was separated as one. There was an interweaving of names in which the man incorporated her name with his own. The vow was established by the man confirming his allegiance and responsibility to his wife. The sign was in the flesh of the man at the place where God took the rib from his side. It was sealed by the blood which the man shed when the woman was formed from his rib. We also see that there was no shame in this covenant relationship. They stood holy and blameless before God.

It also reveals the covenant relationship we have with Jesus Christ. *Ephesians 5:22-33, "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the watering of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband."

 

Christ, our bridegroom, has laid down His life for us all that we might enter into a covenant relationship with God the Father through Him. He has vowed to the Father that we may be one with Him even as He is one with the Father. He bears the mark of the covenant in the palms of His hands and in His side. He has prepared us to be presented to God the Father as a bride adorned for the marriage ceremony.

 

*Revelation 19:7-9, "'Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.' And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he said to me, 'Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he said to me, 'These are true words of God'."

 

Enter His covenant relationship through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

*October 28, 2002