At Last

God’s WORLD; God’s MAN; God’s GARDEN; God’s UNION; God’s Worldview - If marriage is foundational to a strong spiritual society then is it no wonder society is struggling so? Psalm 11:3Scripture Reading: Mt. 22:23-33I. The Union - 2:18-251. God acts - vv. 18-222. Adam reacts - v. 23• At last• Same body (bone/flesh)• Same root name 3. Moses speaks - vv. 24-25II. The Break Up - 3:1-131. From bliss to blame 2. Covering our own sin 3. Consequences of sin 4. In Christ reconciliation and healing is possible - Love God more than spouse; Love even your enemies (like ex’s)5. Anger blinds us from seeing - Matthew 7:1-56. Jordan P - divorce of parents is more damaging on kids that the death of a parent III. The Reunion (After the Fallin’) - God’s Word speaks as if we can walk in marital bliss even after the sin of Adam and Eve and after our own sin!1. We will learn a lot from the marriage of Adam (Eve) - 2. We don’t learn much about the marriage of Noah (don’t even know her name) - 3. We can learn a lot about the marriage of Job (unnamed) - 4. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Abraham (Sarah, “Hagar” - Ishmael, Keturah after Sarah died w/ whom he had 6 sons) 5. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Isaac (Rebekah) - twins after 20 years of marriage (Jacob & Esau sibling rivalry not all that different from Cain & Abel).6. We can learn a lot from the marriages of Jacob7. We don’t know a lot about the marriage of Joseph arranged by the Egyptian Pharaoh (Asenath - daughter of priest Potipheri)/. She bore Joseph the forefathers of 2 of the 12 tribes (Ephraim & Manasseh)8. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Moses (Zipphorah) - She saves his life and then in anger throws something at Moses - Ex. 4:24-26; don’t hear that every day in our biblical counseling sessions!9. We can learn a lot from the marriages of David (8) - from Michal (daughter of King Saul) to Bathsheba (mother of Solomon). He had children with 7 of them!10. I wouldn’t put anyone through studying the marriages of Solomon - however he had some great things to say about wives: Proverbs 5:18; 12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-31(1) Passages that apply very well to marriage:         *Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 -        *I Corinthians 13:1-13 -       *Ephesians 4:32 -      *Philippians 2:3-4 -(2) Marriage according to Paul - *I Corinthians 7:8 - don’t do it *Ephesians 5:18-21, 22-33 (In what culture is Christ the Head of the Church?); Colossians 3:18-19(3) Marriage according to Peter - I Peter 3:1-7 (“likewise”; “grant her honor”; “fellow heir”)(4) Marriage according to Jesus - Matthew 19:1-9; 22:23-33 5 Marriages Worth Studying:• Adam & Eve (forgiveness) • Boaz & Ruth (selflessness) • Zechariah & Elizabeth (communication - 9 months of non-verbal communication)• Joseph & Mary (trust) - Put her away privately • Aquila & Priscilla (mutuality) - I Corinthians 18; Romans 16:13-14