Good morning. Good to be with
you all again. Open your Bibles with me to Genesis
chapter 2. Genesis chapter 2. Back home, we're planning for
a wedding. Our niece, Lucy, she's going
to get married here pretty soon. And I confess that's been on
my mind quite a bit, and I guess pretty much everybody in our
family's mind. And I pray that the Lord has
used that to lead me to this text of Scripture for us here
this morning. What can we learn? What can we
learn from this passage of Scripture? It's the first recorded wedding
in Scripture. And I pray He'd enable us, our Lord
would enable us to look at this through through his word. We get, I confess, we get excited
about weddings. We look forward, it's such a
happy time. But in light of this scripture,
I want you to consider this. This is a true story. What we're
about to read, this actually, as amazing as it is, It actually
took place. It's a true story recorded in
God's word. It's a miraculous, it's truly
a miraculous story. To think that God took a rib
and he made a bride for Adam, isn't that miraculous? I believe if we can see it in
light of God's word, if we can look at this passage in light
of God's word, it'll be good instruction. It'll be good instruction
for husbands. It'll be good instruction for
wives. And we could use that, couldn't we? We could use some
good, I'm just confident everybody in this room could be a better
husband, could be a better wife. But you know, Above all this, if that's all
we see, if those few things are all we've seen, we've gathered
in vain. Because above all, we need to
see the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to see Him and His bride. And I pray that He would enable
us to do so here this morning. Let's start with verse 18, and
consider who's speaking here, okay? That's so important. Look at verse 18. And the Lord God said. Listen, these aren't the mere
words of a man. This is Almighty God speaking. Isn't that a reason to just sit
and listen with reverence? The Lord God said. And listen to what he said. He
said, it's not good that a man should be alone. It's not good. It's not pleasant. It's not agreeable to his nature.
It's not useful. It's not good that a man be alone. And he says, I'll make a helpmate
for him. A helpmate. Want to love. Want to love Him. Want to comfort. Want to comfort
Him. It's not good that a man be alone. You know, if we went through
this world alone, what would we enjoy anything with? I was thinking about this a few
weeks ago. I was traveling out west, out to Missouri to preach
to a small group out there, and I'd never been past St. Louis
before. Abby and I, we took the boys
to St. Louis years ago, but never had been past St. Louis. And
I'd see things after I passed it that I'd never seen before.
I'd look over to the passenger side, and Abby wouldn't be there,
and I'd think, I want to share that with her. It was a joy to
see those things, but truly what joy is it if you can't share
that with someone else? It's not good. He says it's not
good for a man to be alone. And Almighty God, listen, He
determined that Eve would be His bride before she was ever
formed. He determined that Adam would
have a helpmate before she was ever born. What about Christ's
bride? Consider what the scriptures
say about Christ's bride, His church. Ephesians 1 verse 4,
we read this, God chose us in Christ before the foundation
of the world. that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love. In love. Adam is going to have
a bride. And listen, the Lord Jesus Christ,
He's going to have His bride. Let's read on in our text here.
Genesis 2, beginning again with verse 18. The Lord God said,
it's not good that the man should be alone. I'll make a helpmeet
for him. And out of the ground the Lord
God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air
and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them.
And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the
name thereof. We drive out him, we pass by
farms. And you see those cattle grazing out on the hill. Why
are they cattle? Because Adam called them cattle.
God gave him that to do. Every animal, He gave it its
name. And look at verse 20 here. And
Adam gave names to the cattle, to the fowl of the air, to every
beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a help meat
for him. Let's read on in verse 21. And
the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept,
and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh thereof. He, God, Almighty God, took one
of those ribs out of Adam. And He closed up the place. And
from that rib, He made woman. He made a woman and He brought
her to the man. He took a rib, just a crooked
bone out of the side of man. He took a rib. A single rib. A particular rib. A bone from
which he is going to give life. A rib. A rib. You know the root
word for rib. I looked this up. And the word
from which that word rib is derived, it means limp. It means halt. That's just a worthless bone,
isn't it? A crooked, worthless bone from
Adam. And from that rib, he's going
to make Adam a bride. Mark, you said this in your prayer. That sounds impossible, doesn't
it? But is anything too hard for Almighty God? He read this
in Ezekiel. They're in that valley of dry
bones. It shouldn't be a really amazing
thing to think he took one rib and made life when he took a
whole valley of dead dry bones and raised up a mighty army when
he was pleased to breathe life into them. He gives life to his
bride. In Luke chapter 14, our Lord
told a parable of a certain man that had a great supper. And
those that were called, they had all kinds of excuses
for not going to that wedding feast. One said, I bought some
land. Another one said, I've taken
a wife. And they just went on and on
and on about reasons they couldn't come. And what did he say? He said, you go out. He said,
you go out and you gather together the poor. You gather together
the main. You gather together the halt. That's who God calls. That's
who God calls to himself. Ephesians chapter two, verse
one says, you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and
sin. He took that dead bone, and he's
gonna make a living soul. He takes a dead sinner, and he's
pleased to give life. Life to Adam's bride, that which
was halt. He gives life to his bride. He
took a rib. I'll say that a few times this
morning. He took a rib. Listen, not a
superior part. The rib's not a, it's not a head
bone, not something above him, not something to rule over him,
not something with power over him. He's the head, man's the
head. That's clear, that's clear in
Scripture. Ephesians 5.23 says this, the
husband is the head of the wife. Here's the most important part
of that, as Christ is the head of the church. But listen, that
rib wasn't taken from a superior part, but it wasn't taken from
an inferior part either. It wasn't taken from a foot,
it wasn't an ankle bone or a toe bone to be walked on all the
time. It wasn't there to trample on,
below Him. Look at 1 Peter. Turn there with
me. Hold your place in Genesis, but turn to 1 Peter 3. 1 Peter
3. Look beginning with verse 1. 1 Peter 3 verse 1, Likewise ye
wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey
not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation
of the wives. Why, they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be
that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or wearing of gold,
or putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the
heart. And that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the
sight of God, great price. For after this manner in old
time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own husband, even as Sarah obeyed
Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as
ye do well, are not afraid with any amazement, Verse seven, likewise,
ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving
honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs
together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. The wife is to be in subjection
to her husband. But you see that in verse seven,
likewise, Likewise, that means in the same manner, in the same
manner there's an honor, there's a respect, there's a recognition
to be given to the wife by her husband. He says this, he says, you're
joint heirs, joint heirs of the grace of God. You know, I can
think of a lot of things I'd like to be heir to, but could
there be anything greater? Not just to be an heir of the
grace of God, but to be joint heirs, joint heirs of the grace
of God. You know, you think about who
your bride is, especially if she's a daughter of the king.
To mistreat her? To abuse her? To treat her with
contempt? Oh no, oh no. To do so would
incur the wrath of the Father. Heirs together of the grace of
life. Well, back to our text here in
Genesis 2. Verse 21, he took a rib. He took a rib, not above him,
not below him, a rib, a rib that, listen, consider what's close
to those ribs. Heart, the heart, near the heart,
dear to him, loved by him, under his arm to care and protect and
keep, under his care and protection. Now that's great instruction
for husbands and wives. But consider his love, consider
God's love for his church, for his bride. Aren't these things
true of his love for his bride? Ephesians 5 verse 2, I'll just
read it to you. Walk in love. as Christ also
hath loved us. And does he protect and keep
his people? He gave his life. He laid down his life for his
bride. He hath given himself for us. Back there in Psalm 91 it says,
He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings
Shout out trust. Cared for, protected, and kept
under his wing. Consider, consider his love for
his bride. Christ loved his bride with a,
scripture says with an everlasting, with an everlasting love. He
loved us and he laid down his life for the sheep. He gave his
life for us. Scripture says, greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. And in return, we love him. We
love him. How's that possible? How is it
that we love him? Because he first loved us. And that woman, She was made. She was made for Adam. She was
made for the man. Christ's bride was made for His
church. And I was thinking about this
thing of near to the heart, and I think this picture breaks down
as far as maybe a picture of Christ and His church, but it's
still sound instruction. Think about what that rib does.
What's the purpose of the rib? It protects my most vital organs. It protects my heart. It protects
my lungs. Consider that responsibility,
wives, to protect your husband, his reputation. Protect him. I was thinking about this, and
this is both ways. I don't think there's anything
more discouraging than to hear a man talk ill of his wife, or
a wife talk ill of her husband. Scripture says we're heirs together,
heirs together, of the grace of God. He took a rib. Probably, I believe, one of the
most tender parts of the body. I had a broken rib. I say this
by experience. I had a broken rib once. And
I can tell you, I couldn't barely talk. I couldn't laugh. I couldn't
cough. I couldn't move without that
rib hurting. Is there something to be learned
there? When that rib hurts, the whole
body hurts. I've known husbands and wives,
I've known folks that when their spouse hurts, It just completely
shut them down. They couldn't function because
of their love for that spouse. But you know what's even a greater
thought? Consider Christ's love for His
church. Consider His compassion for His
bride. Does He know our suffering? Does
He know the suffering of His people? Does He know our infirmities? Turn to Hebrews chapter 4 with
me. Hebrews 4 verse 15. Hebrews 4 verse 15. For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." He's Almighty God, yet he's able
to sympathize with his people. He was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin. He understands our weakness.
He understands our pain, our tears. He understands our temptation. He is one. He is one with His
people. He knows our infirmities. That's
what Scripture says. Back to Genesis chapter 2. He
took a rib. He took a rib. You know in the process of taking
that rib, Adam's side had to be pierced. That rib can't come
out without there being a piercing of his side. Why was his side pierced? For
his bride. Can we see Christ in that? Our Lord's side was pierced. Why? I promise you it was more
than that soldier thinking I'm just going to do something mean
and terrible and pierce through the side of the Lord's. That
was prophesied back in the Old Testament. His side would be
pierced. Why? Why was it pierced? It's our substitute. as our substitute,
in our room instead. In John 19.34 we read this, one
of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith
came there out blood and water. That again, that which was prophesied
in the Old Testament. A soldier would pierce his side
as he hung there on the tree and out came water and blood. justification and sanctification. We sing that song, let the water
and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed be of sin the
double cure, save from wrath and make me pure. Christ died
on the cross. He laid down his life for his
bride. He was pierced. He died for our sins. That's
what scripture says. He died for our sins according
to the scriptures. Listen to God's word. God commendeth
his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners. What happened there? Christ died
for us. He died for our sins according
to the scriptures. Does that sound like we could
do anything to merit his love, to merit his mercy, to merit
his kindness, to earn salvation? No. Who did he die for? He died for
us. He said, I lay down my life for
the sheep. Nothing earned, nothing merited,
but by his free and sovereign grace. God took A rib. He took a rib. Adam's side was
pierced for his bride and Christ's side was pierced for his bride. We read that back there in Isaiah.
He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace
was upon him and by his stripes we're healed. Back to Genesis
2 here. I need to move on. Look at verse
22. And the rib, that rib, which the Lord God had taken from man,
He made a woman. A rib. With just a rib, God made
a woman. Does that not declare His sovereignty?
His sovereignty in all things? Isaiah 45 verse 5. Turn there
with me. Isaiah 45. We're almost finished here. Isaiah
45. Look at verse 5. I am the Lord. Is He sovereign? I am the Lord. There is none
else. There is no God beside Me. I girded thee though thou hast
not known Me. Let's read on here. Let's read
on. God made a woman and He brought
her. He brought her to the man. And listen, that's God's order. That may not be man's order.
That may not be what's popular in this world, but that's what
Scripture declares, that God made that woman and he brought
her, brought her to the man. Neither was the man created for
the woman, but the woman for the man. Well, turn with me one
more time here in Genesis 2. Genesis 2, look at verse 23. Adam said, this is now bone of
my bone, flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because
she was taken out of the man. Therefore shall man leave his
father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be
one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife,
and they were not ashamed. And let me just make a few brief
comments here. Look back there again at verse
23. He said he brought her to the man. Adam said, this is bone of my
bone. This is flesh of my flesh. He said, a man shall leave his
father and mother and shall cleave to his wife. All these things
speak to union. One, one. They're one. One in purpose,
one in heart, one in desire. Let me ask you a question. We've
seen division, right? We've seen division possibly
in our homes. We've seen division in the workplace.
We can even see examples of division in God's church. And when that
happens, when that happens, it's not good, is it? We must be united. We must be one. I remember Henry preaching a
wedding years ago and he looked at the bride and groom and he
said, he said, it's not what's best for you and it's not what's
best for you, it's what's best for us and our family. And as long as we're in this
flesh, I'm just confident there's gonna be division, but not in
Christ. We're united with him. That's the greatest picture of
it in Christ, in His Church, Christ and His Bride. One. One in Him. And in His time. In His time, He's going to bring
His chosen Bride to Himself. Just as he did here,
Adam, he brought Eve, right? He created Eve and he brought
her to the man. And in his time, he'll bring
his church, his bride, unto himself. And he'll do so by his effectual,
irresistible grace. There's no fight in it. God's gonna draw them to himself. By the power of his Spirit, he'll
bring them, bring them unto himself. And you think about this in closing. That marriage union is compared
to Christ's union with His church, with His bride. What did He do? He left. He left His Father's
house and He came for her. He loved her. She didn't just
walk by him one day and catch his eye. He loved her with an
everlasting, everlasting love. And they're united as one, as
one. And consider how he provides
for her. He provides for her, he protects
her, he gives her his name. Forever, forever. Isn't that reason to love and obey and honor and
be subject unto Him? Verse 25, they were both naked,
the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. His bride is covered,
covered in His perfect righteousness. Remember that infant cast out
in the open field? Why was she so beautiful? Because
He had clothed her. He had adorned her. Her beauty
was His beauty. Listen, He's put away our guilt.
He's put away our sin. He's put away our shame. Scripture
says this, that we are holy, unblameable, and unreprovable
in His sight. Has anybody ever said that to
anyone in this room? Individually? Think about that. We are holy, unblameable, and
unreprovable in His sight. And God's absolutely holy. He
can't look upon. He can't look upon sin. Well,
let me read in closing. Isaiah 54 verse 5 says this. He says, thy maker is thy husband. The Lord of hosts is his name,
and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of Israel. of the whole earth, he shall
be called." Well, again, I pray the Lord would be pleased to
teach us from His Word. That He'd show us something about
being husbands, about being wives. But above all, above all, that
He would teach us. Teach us of His Son. Teach us
of the Lord Jesus Christ and enable us to rest in Him. To rest completely in Him. Knowing,
knowing this, that He doeth all things well. Alright.