This Momentary Marriage (an intro to the theology of marriage)

A few weeks ago we attended a Marriage conference in the Sacramento area co-hosted by Grace Bible Church and The Cornerstone Bible Church.  For such a brief conference it was very edifying and very helpful to this blogger’s marriage.  All attendees received two books.  The one book that I’ve begun reading is by John Piper titled, “This momentary marriage.”

In classic fashion, Piper addresses marriage in the same way he addresses theology.  He does a top down approach where he paints the glory of marriage as revealed in the Bible and then slowly works through key texts that define marriage.  In particular the Genesis account on God’s design for marriage.  Here’s a few nuggets I’d like to share.

What is the foundation of marriage?
Piper explains

The foundation of covenant-keeping love between a man and a woman is the unbroken covenant between them and God – God governing them for their good and they enjoying Him in that security and relyin on Him.  When they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that covenant was broken, and the foundation of their own covenant-keeping collapsed. (pg 35)

Why did they feel shame?
In the chapter 2 called “Naked and Not Ashamed” Piper asks the question why were Adam and Eve ashamed after they ate of the fruit of the tree?  Were they wearing rose-covered glasses which then came off after they ate the fruit and saw the warts on each other’s bodies that brought about shame?  Piper’s answer is that it wasn’t due to physical imperfections but spiritual reasons, namely the covenant bond to God was broken for the first time.  But how does breaking this covenant bond with God produce shame in each other?  Piper explains that since Eve broke her dependence on God by trusting His perfect government over her, she decided to trust herself and make a decision apart from God and ultimately breaking God’s command.  Eve then became someone whom Adam no longer could trust.  Her independence and untrustworthiness made Adam feel vulnerable since she no longer can look at him purely as a fellow servant of God.  Eve’s disposition has changed from putting God in the center, to putting herself in the center.  This perspective was mutual for both.

Why did they cover themselves with clothing?
In order to try and reverse this new perspective of shame to the other, they covered themselves with fig leaves (Gen 3:7).  They knew that they should be dependent on God, but instead broke their dependence upon God breaking the design that God originally intended for them.  They tried to conceal this with the hand-sewn fig leaves to cover their nakedness.

Why does God cover them with clothing?
In Gen 3:21, God makes garments of animal skin for Adam and his wife.  Why does God do this?  Is He helping them further cover up their hypocrisy?  Piper explains that God does this for two reasons to remind them of their sin and to display His glory in Christ.

The first reason was to remind them that shame was a right response for their failure to keep their covenant bond with God.  However His clothing of them was God providing a permanent confession of their failure to keep their covenant bond with God, to depend on Him, to rely upon Him, and to rest in His security.

The second reason was God testifying to Adam and Eve that one day He will permanently and decisively solve the problem of their shame through Jesus Christ.  Piper explains that God’s clothing that He provided was superior to the fig-leaves in that He provided animal-skins.  This is a superior form of clothing similarly He would provide a superior and perfect righteousness through the blood of His Son!

This is a helpful observation by Piper.  God’s design for marriage has always been the same!  It was always intended to display the merciful love of Christ!  Even before we discuss Eph 5:31-32, God already had Christ in mind in His design for marriage.