Eastward In Eden

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
[Genesis 2:8 NKJV]

We have been moving from garden to garden these last few days, checking that all is well in one for a friend who has been away for a few months but now returning; my parents Kintyre garden has needed a hefty dose of loving care, and of course, our own garden is being remodelled. Gardens are hard work, but give enormous pleasure, and so it was with God when He planted His ‘garden eastward in Eden’.

The words translated in this way have an interesting derivation, which reveals the care put in and the pleasure experienced by Father God in creating this garden.

Garden is a place contrived to defend protect and surround and I find myself recalling the verse in Song of Solomon ‘a garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. A secret or hidden garden perhaps.
Eastward has only an indirect connection with place or compass point, but instead has a root meaning to project oneself, to precede or be in front of or before something. Thus the sun precedes the day and rises in the east, and God is eternal (preceding all things as the Creator of Creation) and has projected Himself into this garden.
Eden is a word expressing the idea of pleasure or delight.

We get a real sense when delving behind the words that this creative work gave and gives Him tremendous joy, seeing each newly formed man finding His beautiful garden and forming a relationship with the eternal Father.

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“Creator of Creation” — Eden’s Bridge

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OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Monday 10th August 2020
The self-expenditure of the love of God exhibited in the life and death of our Lord becomes a bridge over the gulf of sin; human love can be imbued by Divine love, the love that never fails.

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