Marriage, Genesis to Revelation

Robert and Barbara will be married today. So what better time is there to review a few verses on that subject. The Bible has a lot to say about marriage and treats it with the utmost respect and reverence. In fact the Bible begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve and it ends with the marriage of the Lamb.

(Gen 2:22-25 NIV) 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} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. {25} The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

(Rev 19:7-8 NIV) Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. {8} Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Also, we know that the first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding.

(John 2:1-11 NIV) On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, {2} and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. {3} When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." {4} "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." {5} His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." {6} Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. {7} Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. {8} Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, {9} and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside {10} and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." {11} This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

So we see marriages appear prominently in the Bible. But there is much, much more. In fact there is an entire book written about the relationship between a man and a woman. It’s Solomon’s Song of Songs. This book is widely acclaimed as some of the most magnificent and sensuous poetry ever written and it’s entirely about the relationship between a woman and a man, the beloved and the lover interspersed with comments from friends. Here are a few samples for your enjoyment. It starts with the woman, the beloved.

(Song 1:1-4 NIV) Solomon's Song of Songs. {2} Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-- for your love is more delightful than wine. {3} Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you! {4} Take me away with you--let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.

At one point the friends declare the following.

(Song 1:8 NIV) If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.

And here is a sample of what the lover says to the beloved.

(Song 4:1-5 NIV) How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. {2} Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. {3} Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. {4} Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance ; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. {5} Your two breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.

Interestingly there is a thought that is repeated three times. It is found in 2:7, 3:5, and 8:4

(Song 2:7 NIV) Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

You can decide for yourself the meaning of this admonition, but I think it refers to waiting for the proper time and also to the spontaneity of true love.

Love and marriage are very much intertwined in the Bible. The Bible also gives us some practical advice about marriage. Here are just a few such examples.

(2 Cor 6:14 NIV) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

(Prov 18:22 NIV) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

(Prov 31:10 NIV) A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

(1 Th 4:3 NIV) It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

(Heb 13:4 NIV) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

(Eph 5:25 NIV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

(Col 3:18-19 NIV) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. {19} Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

(Eccl 9:9 RSV) Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life which he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Robert and Barbara will be married today. Let us pray that they will realize in their marriage all the joy, happiness, and love that God intends for them.