HIS BUILDING, HIS BRIDE

"Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man."  (Gen 2:22)

The Spirit used an interesting verb in this passage to tell us God made the woman. The verbs used in the Creation Week were "barah" and "asah," to create and to fashion. God "created" man and He "fashioned" the sun and moon. But here it is "banah" - "build." He built the bride.

The verb "banah" is used elsewhere for building altars, homes and cities. Even more importantly, it is used for building the Lord's temple. But its first and primary use is in the declaration that the Lord built the Bride of Adam.

Well, the Lord Jesus declared He would build His bride, the Church (Matt 16:18). The Greek verb Christ used for "build"? The same verb the Jewish scholars used in Gen 2:22 when they made their famous Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. So, just as the Lord built a bride for the son of God at the dawn of history, so the Son of God, who is the Lord, is building His bride at the culmination of history.

But we are not like Adam during this great, final construction. We aren't mere spectators to the building going on. As it is written, "the Bride has made herself ready" (Rev 19:7). As Paul describes it, "the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Eph 4:16). That is the same verb. Paul further counseled the Church to "encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thes 5:11).

Now all of this is done through the anointing of the Spirit of Christ: "Therefore, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church" (1Cor 14:12). So, Christ is in His Church by His Spirit, anointing us and helping us. This is why we are told He gave gifts and callings to the Church: "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Eph 4:12). He enables us to prepare ourselves even as He builds us into His Bride.

One last thought: "The house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built" (1Kg 6:7). "Prepared at the quarry." It may not seem like it, but we are in the right time and place for the work of God. Our current situations are the quarry of God where we submit to Him and work with Him so that we are perfectly shaped to properly fit into His coming Temple.

Here and now Christ is building His Church. Here and now the Bride is making herself ready. Believe the hand of God is working in your life! Believe all things - even "bad" things and frustrating things - work together for good for those who love Him, who are called "according to His purpose." Well, what is His purpose? That we might be "conformed to His image." This is essential! After all, Adam first surveyed all of life looking for a suitable bride but couldn't find one. Only then was she made from Adam that she would be made like Adam that she could be made one with Adam.

We are invited to take part in a great marriage that is looming on the calendar. We are invited to be part of a great temple that is even now being prepared. "Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the Sanctuary; be strong and do it" (1 Chron 28:10). Let's not be among those who make excuse, nor be one of those who disqualify themselves by despising the call of God. "Not that we have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at our goal, but let's press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us" (Phil 3:12). Yes, "for this we toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within us" (Col 1:29)!

  -Matt Schilling