 Pastor Mark Hartley
The Definition of Marriage The definition of a word usually comes from the one who created it. The definition may change over time, but that doesn’t change the author’s original intent. Therefore, we need to look at the author’s definition of marriage in order to understand it. Who is the original author of marriage? According to the Scriptures, God is the divine author of marriage. If God is the Author, we need to look at His definition instead of the world’s. The world says all that is needed is love. God’s definition is found in Genesis 2:18-25. Many may view this simply as the creation of man and woman. But in God’s creation of man and woman, we find His definition for marriage and the reason for it. In verse 18, we see that man is alone in the garden. God has not created the woman as of yet. (Yes, in chapter 1 verse 27 we see both mentioned, but chapter 1 is an overview for all of creation and chapter 2 gives us a detail of the sixth day with emphasis on the pinnacle of creation, mankind.) God looks and says that it is not good for man to be alone. Up to this point all of creation had been good in God’s eyes. So God fixes man’s aloneness, but how? Let’s read the verses first. Genesis 2:18-25: 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 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. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and 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, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (NASB) First God creates the animals out of the ground and has them pass before Adam and he names them. After each of the animals has been named, notice the last statement of verse 20, “…but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.” Therefore the problem was not solved through animals. We may say that a dog is man’s best friend, but that is not the truth of Scripture. Gift wrapped in one package God presents to Adam the solution to his aloneness. There are three aspects to the present.
A man and woman are able to connect like no other part of creation. Yes they procreate like other parts of creation, but only a man and woman connect physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Verse 24-25 goes on to emphasis this connection by saying the man will leave his parents and be connected to his wife and there will be no shame. God gift wrapped in one package called a wife - a Completer, a Companion and a Connection. In verse 22 the word ‘fashioned’ literally means that He ‘built’ her especially for man. The animals were made from the ground, but the woman was made from man. Therefore, the Author of marriage furnishes us with the definition of marriage as one man and one woman fit together for life. They complete one another. They are each others companion and they connect with each other body, soul, and mind. They are ‘soul mates.’ God has not changed His mind concerning His definition. Who is the author of your definition of marriage? If it is not the Divine Author, then maybe you have been reading the wrong Book. P.S. We are able to see from how God brings this first marriage about that He never intended man to be with animals, another man or children. He created a woman for the man. They are equal, but each has a role to fulfill. Living for His Glory, © Copyright by Christian Civic League of Maine. All rights reserved. |