Loneliness
Loneliness in Scripture is the cry of the isolated, the widow, the outcast, and the misunderstood — from Hagar in the wilderness to David in the caves to Elijah after Carmel to Paul in the Mamertine. The Bible does not promise the removal of loneliness but the presence of the God who sees (El Roi, Genesis 16:13). The solitary are set in families (Psalm 68:6), and the Lord stands with those whom others forsake.
Key verses (10)
- Genesis 16:13Thou God seest me — Hagar
“And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I als...”
- Deuteronomy 31:8He will be with thee; he will not forsake thee
“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neithe...”
- Psalms 25:16I am desolate and afflicted — David
“Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.”
- Psalms 68:6God setteth the solitary in families
“God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the reb...”
- Psalms 139:7Whither shall I go from thy spirit
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”
- Isaiah 43:2Through the waters I will be with thee
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not ov...”
- Matthew 28:20Lo, I am with you alway
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, e...”
- 2 Timothy 4:16All men forsook me
“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid ...”
- 2 Timothy 4:17The Lord stood with me
“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully...”
- Hebrews 13:5I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he ha...”
Relevant characters (5)
Hagar
Cast out into the wilderness; met by the angel (Genesis 16, 21)
Elijah
"I, even I only, am left" (1 Kings 19:10)
David
Hiding in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22)
Paul
"All men forsook me" (2 Timothy 4:16)
Jesus Christ
Gethsemane prayer while disciples slept
Further reading
- Henri Nouwen — The Inner Voice of Love, Doubleday (1996)
- Elisabeth Elliot — Let Me Be a Woman, Tyndale (1976)
- John Stott — The Contemporary Christian, IVP (1992)
Pastoral commentary
[founder: write here]