Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 148

Genesis 2:18-25
In Genesis 1, we saw that after each day of creation, God saw that it was good and finally on day 6 that it was very good. Now we hear that God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."

Then God gave Adam the task of naming the animals. This is not another creation but the same animals God formed from the ground in Genesis 1. The fact that Adam was given the job of naming them shows his superiority and his authority over them. As we have seen Adam, representing mankind, was the only one created in the image of God. After the naming of the animals, a suitable companion for Adam was not found.

And so God formed woman from Adam's rib. "This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken from 'man.' This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."" From this we can see that men and women are both made in the image of God. They are equally valuable to God. They are physically different for different roles. This passage also establishes marriage as the first human institution. Each married couple forms a new family. They are to be unified. No provision was made for disunity or divorce, but we must remember that sin had not yet entered into the picture as we can see by the fact in v. 25 that Adam and Eve felt no shame, within or without.

Psalm 148
This beautiful psalm of praise calls on all creation to praise the Lord. It is so overflowing with praise that I can't think of a word to add! And so I copy it here for our meditation.

Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!
    Praise him from the skies!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
    Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
3 Praise him, sun and moon!
    Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
4 Praise him, skies above!
    Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
5 Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
    for he issued his command, and they came into being.
6 He set them in place forever and ever.
    His decree will never be revoked.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and clouds,[a]
    wind and weather that obey him,
9 mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
11 kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
12 young men and young women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
    For his name is very great;
    his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
14 He has made his people strong,
    honoring his faithful ones—
    the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!