“Jehovah Elohim took Man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to till it and to guard it” (Gen. 2:15 JND).
For his fourteenth birthday, we bought a bike for our oldest son. He had looked at many models and brands before finding just what he wanted: a 12-speed, silver French-built racer. He bore sole responsibility for its care and treatment. He promised to be diligent. Twenty-two years later the bike is still in excellent shape and has increased in value as a collector’s item.
Adam was given something of far greater value—the beautiful garden of Eden (meaning pleasure), planned and created by God. There he was to live in endless rest and delight, enjoying its beauty and fruit while experiencing the joy of fellowship with God.
God made him responsible for two things keep it in order (till it) and keep it from harm (guard it). Sadly, Adam failed in his responsibility, sinning against God and losing the privilege of dwelling there.
He evidently did not guard Eden, for the serpent gained entrance into its pristine sphere. Perhaps Satan, the highest of God’s created beings (though fallen; see Ezek. 28:12-19), disguised himself as “an angel of light” and thus fooled Eve. Maybe Adam felt no need to guard against anything so beautiful and harmless as the serpent must have appeared. But what awful sorrow has resulted from his failure and sin!
This has a solemn voice of warning to husbands and wives regarding the sacred garden of marriage. How easily those things which may appear innocent, beautiful and harmless (such as habits, recreations and personal interests) are allowed to enter and dominate marriages. If not controlled, they quickly steal the heart’s affections that belong only to the spouse!
Marriage pictures the union between Christ and His church (Eph. 5), and the enemy tirelessly seeks to gain entrance to spoil that beautiful institution of God. Notice how the bridegroom refers to his beloved bride in the Song of Songs: “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse” (ch. 4:12 JnD). She was his garden of delight, protected (enclosed) from all that might spoil the love and delight he had found in her.
Also, happy marriages, like healthy gardens, need constant tilling. Before marriage, two in love have no difficulty finding ways little and big to bring delight to their partner. Sadly, after marriage, couples too often forget that tilling of the heart’s affections requires continual daily effort a labor of love. Romance should never stop once marriage has begun!
Both partners (not just one) must till and guard against anything that takes the heart away from their spouse. Satan can easily destroy marriages where romance and love are no longer diligently tilled.
This visually oriented world quickly captures the sight (as it did with Lot; Gen. 13:10), ultimately stealing the heart’s affections (as Absalom did in 2 Samuel 15:6) from the one to whom love until death do us part has been pledged. Husbands and wives! We’re responsible before God to diligently guard and till our wonderful garden of marriage. May God stir us up! “Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes” (Song of Sol. 4:9).
Ed.