To Give His Son a Bride (a poem by Allen S. Nelson IV)

The verse quoted in Ephesians 5, verse 31, is Genesis 2, 24. When we came to that verse,

I wrote this poem. God put the helpless man to sleep and opened up his side.

A promise old, intent to keep, to give his son a bride. Adam awoke to see the gift, his eyes on her steadfast.

A perfect helper for him fit, he cried to God, at last. The glory of that fateful day, too soon it was dismayed.

As Satan led the girl away and Adam disobeyed. They fled disgraced,

God called their name, though they strove to hide. The promise old, was still his aim, to give his son a bride.

But years unfurled, sin seemed to reign, as all grew worse and worse. Men to their holy maker raged, and suffered neath the curse.

Was all lost, was hope removed, had just a lie been told? No, God would have his promise proved, and sovereign plan unfold.

In humbleness, the Son of God took on human skin. Full obedience, earthly trod, he had a wife to win.

Then on the cross, God crushed the Christ. They opened up his side. A promise old, this was the price, to give his son a bride.

The darkness of that fateful day, would vastly be outshone. When heavy stone was rolled away, to show last

Adam won. On the tree, the work complete, when the Savior bled. The debt for sin, the son did meet, and bruised the serpent's head.

Thus resurrected from the grave, the promise carried on. The Son of God, a bride would have, now just to bring her home.

And sin stained clothes, his love remained, and so she sought to hide. But God the

Spirit called her name, redemption was applied. Awakened to a brand new life, her sinfulness confessed.

The woman readied as a wife, and donned a wedding dress. Then at the meal of the beloved, all heaven gladly cried.

At last, at last, God's promise proved, to give his son a bride.