Working and Keeping the Garden Pt. 1

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

Pastor Chris begins to make the case that God did not place Adam in the garden of Eden as a mere gardener. The language of “working and keeping” the garden is reminiscent of the language used to describe the duties of later priests in Israel’s temple who “served” (worked for) God in the sanctuary and “guarded” (kept) God’s word. Therefore, Adam must be understood as a “priestly” gardener charged with guarding God’s dwelling place that was Eden.