The Wayside Pulpit No.55
"The Second
Eve"
Eve was the only being of God's creation who
was not modelled from the dust of the earth. In that respect she stands alone
as a symbol and a sign. But of what? Just as "a Second Adam to the fight,
and to the rescue came," so also there is a Second Eve who will overcome,
rather than be overcome. There is a pattern of some beauty and significance in
the female line through the Scriptures. Here it is. (Observe the correspondences
between A & A', B & B', etc.)
A. EVE.
Special creation (from the first Adam.) "Mother of all living".
Overcome
by the
Serpent's deception. Result - Adam and Eve thrown out of
B. SARAH. Bears Isaac
("Laughter"). Given a New Name ("Princess"). Receives
her son
as by resurrection.
C. REBECCA.
The Bride, obedient to the call, not having seen her
husband-to-be.
Comes from Abraham's family. Isaac loves her.
D. RACHEL.
Best loved by Jacob of his two wives. Dies in childbirth. Benjamin,
"Son of my right hand."
E. RAHAB.
A woman with many lovers. Recognises the God of
Has faith to save
her whole family.
F. HANNAH. Upright and
faithful. Barren - no child. Receives promise
through the High Priest.
Gives birth to Samuel, "Sent by God".
G. RUTH. Righteous before God.
Without a husband. Instructed by Naomi.
Obtains
her "kinsman redeemer" Boaz, and becomes a mother in
H. THE SHUNEMITE MAIDEN. Young
woman of great natural beauty.
Loved by
the Shepherd boy. Severely tested in Solomon's court.
Remains faithful to her Shepherd. Is finally vindicated.
I. THE QUEEN of Psalm 45.
"Forget your people and your father's house.
The King will
be enthralled by your beauty."
I' THE QUEEN OF
of
Solomon. "The half was not told me."
H' ESTHER. Young
woman of great natural beauty. Loved by King Ahasuerus.
Severely tested in the royal court by Haman.
Remains
faithful to her God. Is finally vindicated.
G'
Obtains
the "forerunner", John the Baptist,
and becomes a
mother in
F' MARY Upright
and faithful. Spinster - no husband. Receives promise through
Gabriel
the
E' THE SAMARITAN WOMAN. A woman
with many husbands. Recognises the
Messiah of
D' MARY OF
Anoints the Lord with the precious spikenard, symbolising His burial.
C' BRIDE OF EPHESIANS 5. Obedient
to God's call, not having seen her Lord
and Husband-to-be.
"Born again" from the Father's family by the Holy Spirit.
B' WOMAN OF REVELATION 12. Bears
the Manchild, the Overcomers.
Each given a New
Name. Raised and seated with Christ.
A' THE SECOND
EVE, THE NEW JERUSALEM. Special creation (from the
Second Adam).
Becomes "Mother of us all." Overcomes the Serpent.
Result - Satan and his angels thrown out of heaven.
THE SECOND EVE
With whom shall I dwell, says the
Lord?
With whom shall I share all my glory?
Where is the Maiden of My Delight
For whom I have written this story?
To whom shall I go, says the King?
To whom shall I look with elation?
Whom shall I choose to be my Queen
And the Mother of God's New Creation?
She dwells on the earth, says the
Lord,
She dwells in the Vale of Decision;
Despised and rejected and misunderstood,
But clothed with a heart of compassion.
She abandoned her home, says the King,
To worship Me out in the desert;
Poor in the spirit, with tears in her eyes,
My wings were her only true covert.
She took precious
seed from my hand
And cast it down into the darkness;
Her sister berated her wasteful ways,
And the rest of mankind thought it madness.
But these were the ways of her Lord,
And this was the mind of her Master
She held to the promise of Life to Come,
And equated it not with disaster.
The seed in due course came alive,
And the Word of the Lord was enacted;
The Woman of Sorrows, acquainted with grief
Looked up, as her faith was perfected.
So Rebecca shall come to her Lord,
Tears of grief become tears of rejoicing,
And running to Isaac's outstretched arms,
Darkened years shall be lost in embracing.
Written in March 1976.
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