A Pleasant Paradise

A PLEASANT PARADISE

Scripture Reading : Gen 2:8-17; Songs of Solomon 4:12-16

In anticipation of man's arrival. God prepared a suitable abode for his reception. Into Eden, meaning "delightful"God planted a garden for Adam and Eve. It is interesting to note that the three heads of the three groups of beings are seen in conjunction with a a garden: Satan,"the Garden of God."(Ezek 28:13); Adam, "the Garden of Eden," (Gen 2:8); and Christ, "The Garden of Geth-semane," (John 18:1). This garden was place of both aesthetic beauty, and utilitarian satisfaction - "every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food."-

The Garden was Place of Habitation. "The Lord God planted a garden." In all the work of God in these chapters we see His sovereignty at work. Thus far man has hand nothing to do. The garden is a display of God's wisdom, power and love. So it will be in our heavenly home, a creation all of God and one of man. Here His measure. We do not know the location of Eden, but it may have been in the locality of the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Note the words "every" and "freely" in verse 16. God's provision was both gratuitous and abundant.

The Garden was also a Place of Vocation, -"to dress it and to keep it." Adam is first told to "capture," discover its secrets," and "to dress it," He was to lay hands up to the potential of the garden and bring them out to fruitful perfection. He was also to "keep it". this means literally "to hedge it about." Is God here warning Adam that an enemy is lurking near by? We think so! So man was told to work and to watch.

And we find that this garden was also a Place of Probation. He was not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, lest he die. Adam was created a moral being, with ability to choose. God had to put at least one restriction so Adam could exercise a choice. A garden is a place of seclusion  (songs of Solomon 4:12) and a place of service and satisfaction.