Shamar

The second duty/reason that God placed Adam in the garden was to "keep" it. This word in Hebrew is shamar. Shamar is also a multi-faceted word which variously means: to guard, protect, beware, be circumspect, keep, observe, preserve or watch (as in, be a watchman). This second function is vitally important for our lives as believers. God doesn't just want us to carve out a space in ourselves to meet with Him, He also wants us to guard it and be watchful over it.

In some way this was a tip off to Adam that the serpent was in the Garden. Adam was called to be vigilant in making sure that nothing tampered with the atmosphere that God had set in place. God created the Garden to be a place of rest for Himself; a place where He could meet with humanity and have relationship and fellowship with them. Adam's duty, then, was to protect this space from the chaos of the outside world. Adam's task was two-fold, to take the order of the Garden into the wild places of the earth and to keep the Garden from falling into chaos. It was Adam who was supposed to be the hedge of protection around the Garden, discerning what would benefit and enhance his relationship with God and what would detract from it. Sadly, Adam was not very good at this particular function.

Neither are we, if we are perfectly honest. Cultivating the Garden of the Soul is one thing, protecting it and keeping it set apart is quite another. In our zeal to meet with God it is easy to set aside time in the beginning, but as time goes on weariness sets in. It becomes easier and easier to neglect our Garden. Sure we come back for a visit from time to time and enjoy our fellowship with God, but the "weeds" begin to grow.

I don't want to land too heavily on anyone - I am the first in line of those who do not protect their Gardens (hearts, quiet times, choose your image). Even though I say that my relationship with God is my top priority, it is the first thing to get "Xed" from my day. I am tired so I sleep in, I am busy so I postpone Bible Study, I get wrapped up in temporary excitements and neglect eternal matters. I suck at shamar.

But Jesus was awesome at it. He would frequently retreat to the quiet and desolate places of the earth. He protected His time with God something fierce. It didn't matter if it was the middle of the night when He was free - He was out meeting with God, even if it cost Him sleep or food or comfort. That is the example He set out for us and it is something I so desperately long for. Not because I long to keep the rules, oh no. I long for that because Jesus had a tangible Reality of God's presence. He had a relationship with God that was extraordinary! THAT is what I desire - a passion for God that counts losing sleep as a small consequence.

Abad and Shamar - tend and protect, these are the things that God asked Adam to do in the Garden. They are the same things that God desires from us in our relationship with Him. I pray that we would all be strengthened by God's grace to pursue these things in greater measure. Amen.