Genesis:2

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* Verse 1-3 - After six days , God ceased from all works of creation . In miracles , he has overruled nature , but never changed its settled course , or added to it . God did not rest as one weary , but as one well pleased . Notice the beginning of the kingdom of grace , in the sanctification , or keeping holy , of the sabbath day . The solemn observing of one day in seven as a day of holy rest and holy work , to God 's honour , is the duty of all to whom God has made known his holy sabbaths . At this time none of the human race were in being but our first parents . For them the sabbath was appointed ; and clearly for all succeeding generations also . The Christian sabbath , which we observe , is a seventh day , and in it we celebrate the rest of God the Son , and the finishing the work of our redemption . * Verse 4-7 - Here is a name given to the Creator , "Jehovah ." Where the word "LORD " is printed in capital letters in our English Bibles , in the original it is "Jehovah ." Jehovah is that name of God , which denotes that he alone has his being of himself , and that he gives being to all creatures and things . Further notice is taken of plants and herbs , because they were made and appointed to be food for man . The earth did not bring forth its fruits of itself : this was done by Almighty power . Thus grace in the soul grows not of itself in nature 's soil , but is the work of God . Rain also is the gift of God ; it came not till the Lord God caused it . Though God works by means , yet when he pleases he can do his own work without them ; and though we must not tempt God in the neglect of means , we must trust God , both in the use and in the want of means . Some way or other , God will water the plants of his own planting . Divine grace comes down like the dew , and waters the church without noise . Man was made of the small dust , such as is on the surface of the earth . The soul was not made of the earth , as the body : pity then that it should cleave to the earth , and mind earthly things . To God we must shortly give an account , how we have employed these souls ; and if it be found that we have lost them , though it were to gain the world , we are undone for ever ! Fools despise their own souls , by caring for their bodies before their souls . * Verse 8-14 - The place fixed upon for Adam to dwell in , was not a palace , but a garden . The better we take up with plain things , and the less we seek things to gratify pride and luxury , the nearer we approach to innocency . Nature is content with a little , and that which is most natural ; grace with less ; but lust craves every thing , and is content with nothing . No delights can be satisfying to the soul , but those which God himself has provided and appointed for it . Eden signifies delight and pleasure . Wherever it was , it had all desirable conveniences , without any inconvenience , though no other house or garden on earth ever was so . It was adorned with every tree pleasant to the sight , and enriched with every tree that yielded fruit grateful to the taste and good for food . God , as a tender Father , desired not only Adam 's profit , but his pleasure ; for there is pleasure with innocency , nay there is true pleasure only in innocency . When Providence puts us in a place of plenty and pleasure , we ought to serve God with gladness of heart in the good things he gives us . Eden had two trees peculiar to itself . 1 . There was the tree of life in the midst of the garden . Of this man might eat and live . Christ is now to us the Tree of life , Revelation strkjv @2:7 . strkjv @22:2 . and the Bread of life , John strkjv @6:48 ,51 . 2 . There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil , so called because there was a positive revelation of the will of God about this tree , so that by it man might know moral good and evil . What is good ? It is good not to eat of this tree . What is evil ? It is evil to eat of this tree . In these two trees God set before Adam good and evil , the blessing and the curse . * Verse 15 - After God had formed Adam , he put him in the garden . All boasting was thereby shut out . Only he that made us can make us happy ; he that is the Former of our bodies , and the Father of our spirits , and none but he , can fully provide for the happiness of both . Even in paradise itself man had to work . None of us were sent into the world to be idle . He that made our souls and bodies , has given us something to work with ; and he that gave us this earth for our habitation , has made us something to work upon . The sons and heirs of heaven , while in this world , have something to do about this earth , which must have its share of their time and thoughts ; and if they do it with an eye to God , they as truly serve him in it , as when they are upon their knees . Observe that the husbandman 's calling is an ancient and honourable calling ; it was needful even in paradise . Also , there is true pleasure in the business God calls us to , and employs us in . Adam could not have been happy if he had been idle : it is still God 's law , He that will not work has no right to eat , 2Thessalonians strkjv @3:10 . mhcc @Genesis:2:16 ,17 @ Verse 16 ,17 - Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God . There was not only liberty allowed to man , in taking the fruits of paradise , but everlasting life made sure to him upon his obedience . There was a trial appointed of his obedience . By transgression he would forfeit his Maker 's favour , and deserve his displeasure , with all its awful effects ; so that he would become liable to pain , disease , and death . Worse than that , he would lose the holy image of God , and all the comfort of his favour ; and feel the torment of sinful passions , and the terror of his Maker 's vengeance , which must endure for ever with his never dying soul . The forbidding to eat of the fruit of a particular tree was wisely suited to the state of our first parents . In their state of innocence , and separated from any others , what opportunity or what temptation had they to break any of the ten commandments ? The event proves that the whole human race were concerned in the trial and fall of our first parents . To argue against these things is to strive against stubborn facts , as well as Divine revelation ; for man is sinful , and shows by his first actions , and his conduct ever afterwards , that he is ready to do evil . He is under the Divine displeasure , exposed to sufferings and death . The Scriptures always speak of man as of this sinful character , and in this miserable state ; and these things are true of men in all ages , and of all nations . * Verse 18-25 - Power over the creatures was given to man , and as a proof of this he named them all . It also shows his insight into the works of God . But though he was lord of the creatures , yet nothing in this world was a help meet for man . From God are all our helpers . If we rest in God , he will work all for good . God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam ; while he knows no sin , God will take care that he shall feel no pain . God , as her Father , brought the woman to the man , as his second self , and a help meet for him . That wife , who is of God 's making by special grace , and of God 's bringing by special providence , is likely to prove a help meet for a man . See what need there is , both of prudence and prayer in the choice of this relation , which is so near and so lasting . That had need to be well done , which is to be done for life . Our first parents needed no clothes for covering against cold or heat , for neither could hurt them : they needed none for ornament . Thus easy , thus happy , was man in his state of innocency . How good was God to him ! How many favours did he load him with ! How easy were the laws given to him ! Yet man , being in honour , understood not his own interest , but soon became as the beasts that perish . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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