Thoughts from the Garden

“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed” (Genesis 2:8)

This summer I have been blessed to regularly spend time early in the morning in a garden close to my home. This is no any ordinary garden. It has a fountain, Italian architecture gazebos, and brick walks. What makes this place even more special are the variety of colorful flowers that radiate God’s glory in unison with His majestic sky, clouds, and sun.

In the garden there are sweet times of reflection, prayer, worship, and meditation on God’s Word. Most of all, there is sweet communion with my Heavenly Father. There are times when I wish did not have to leave the garden, but I know there is work to be done with an anticipation to return.

Gardens play a significant role in God’s economy as one can see in Scripture.

“The Garden of Eden has symbolic meaning, as well as having been a historical reality for the first people. People still love gardens. Kings of Israel tried to cultivate them (2 Kings 21:18, 26). Persian kings fostered them (Nehemiah 3:15). The great Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar majored in them, creating the fabulously lush “hanging gardens of Babylon.” When Isaiah pictures a restored Israel on Zion, her deserts are restored like “Eden” (Isaiah 51:3; 58:11; Jeremiah 31:12). Ezekiel uses the term “Garden of Eden” to describe a renewed Israel (Ezekiel 36:35; Joel 2:3). It is no wonder then that in the Song of Solomon, the Lover can describe his beloved as a “garden locked up” (Song of Songs 4:12), even a “fountain in a garden” (Song of Songs 4:15). The Lover used garden-like metaphors to describe the sensual delights of his beloved as well as her virginity and her exclusive devotion to him only, and he for her (Song of Songs 4:15, 16; 5:1; 6:2).” (Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (67). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

Grateful for the gardens He gives to work in, learn from, and commune in with Him.