Friday 25 September 2026

Psalm 126

Background
There is a lot in this passage about broken relationships and the consequences of sin, but also about signs of hope. After the first disobedience (eating an apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil), the man and the woman became very conscious of their nakedness (verse 7). Before they had been content with the skin God had given them. But now they were aware that perhaps this natural state was something to be ashamed of. Their sudden self-consciousness probably simply reflected their sense of guilt.

God is pictured as walking in the garden and while Eve and Adam hide in their shame, God searches for them, crying “Where are you?” Notice that God doesn’t stop talking to them or searching for them. Despite their sin, God walks out to find them and seeks relationship.

Adam is the first to reply. He expresses his shame, focused on his nakedness. But God asks how he know this. God presents him with truth and an opportunity to take responsibility, to ‘be a man’ (as we might say!). Despite having been the first informed of the rules of the garden, Adam instead looks to blame others. In chapter 2, when his partner was created, in great delight, Adam acclaimed “At last!” (2:23). Now, in shame, he blames: “That woman whom you gave me…” (3:12). Eve too, when confronted, blames the serpent. They reveal their immaturity. They may have knowledge, but not wisdom, it seems. There’s still have a long way to go before they can reflect God.

God curses the snake, who has let down the animal kingdom, and there is not much redemption in store for this creature, who will always be at odds with humanity (verses 14-15).

But then, there are consequences for the woman (verse 16). God says her pains in motherhood will increase. It’s a strange one, because as far as we know Eve hasn’t had any children up to that point, so she wouldn’t notice any difference. But is this about physical pain? The Hebrew word apparently suggests more like emotional pain, anguish or sorrow.  Motherhood can be a painful thing for many reasons, and perhaps the pain foretold is actually the pain of love. It is the pain which Simeon would later prophesy for Mary, the mother of Jesus in Luke 2:35. Relationships between women and men will be difficult too: the urge to love and cherish versus the desire to dominate. And finally, for Adam, God says humankind is destined to struggle to make farming work in a world that will simply not yield easily to human command. A life of toil and then death is forecast for humans (verses 17-19). 

It’s hardly paradise anymore, but it is still a good world, with the possibility of relationship with God. There is always room for learning, maturity and co-operation; we can still grow to better reflect the image of God.

So, Eve was finally given her name, which means ‘to live’, because she will be known as the mother of all (verse 20). It is a beautiful destiny, however imperfect her descendants.  And the passage finishes with an image of God patiently making clothes for Adam and Eve (verse 21), getting them ready to face the world. It's an image surely of a parent still in love with her children; a picture of forgiveness and hope?

To Ponder:

• Even if some of our struggles may be caused by our mistakes, how can the God of grace help us overcome our challenges?
• If you are ever confronted with the truth of your actions, do you find it is within your nature to want to blame?  How can God help us to accept responsibility graciously? And when is it right to defend our actions?
• Read this passage again, and identify all the places where God acts like a loving parent.

Bible notes author: The Revd Andrew Murphy
Andrew is a Methodist presbyter in the East Mercia Circuit, and currently the minister of the churches of Market Harborough, Kibworth and Rothwell, and part of the ministry team at St Giles, Desborough. He is married to Emily, with two children. He has been in the ministry for 18 years, previously serving in the Hinckley Circuit. He trained at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham, is a published hymn writer, supports Newcastle United FC, and is proud of his roots in Consett, County Durham.