Some of the loneliest people in the Bible, and who turned up for them.
Not good on your own · On the outside · When your people let you down · Elijah, under the tree · Someone noticed · What he promised · People to walk with
The first thing in the whole story that wasn't good was someone being alone.
The first thing in all creation that wasn’t good: me, on my own. God said so himself.
The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
Replying to @adam
Named every animal. Every single bird. Not one of them was like me.
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
No son, no brother. The work never stops, and it’s never enough. Who am I even doing this for?
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
Can't sleep. I'm like an owl in the ruins. A lonely bird on a roof.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
Back in the cave. I look to my right, and nobody's there. Nobody cares whether I live.
A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy. Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
My sons’ names say it all. Reuben: the LORD has seen my misery, surely my husband will love me now. Simeon: the LORD heard I’m not loved. Levi: now at last my husband will be attached to me.
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
My husband Elkanah has two wives. Every year we go up to Shiloh to worship, and every year Peninnah makes sure I know she has children and I don’t. Every single year. I end up crying and can’t eat.
Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her. And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.
Replying to @hannah
Hannah, love. Why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why so down? Aren’t I worth more to you than ten sons?
“Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband Elkanah asked. “Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
When your words came, I ate them. They were my joy, the delight of my heart. I carry your name, LORD God of armies.
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
Replying to @jeremiah
Never sat with the party crowd. You had your hand on me, so I sat on my own.
I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation.
We had a son. I called him Gershom. A foreigner in a foreign land.
And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”
Friends who left, friends who fell asleep. It happened to Jesus too.
If only I had wings like a dove. I'd fly away and rest.
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.
Replying to @david
If an enemy had said it, I could take it. But it was you. My friend. We used to walk to God's house together.
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
He’s driven my brothers away. My friends have forgotten me. My breath disgusts my wife. My own family can’t stand me.
He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me. My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me. My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.
Replying to @job
Skin and bones. I’ve escaped by the skin of my teeth.
My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Do your best to come quickly. Demas has left me. He loved this world, and he’s gone to Thessalonica.
Make every effort to come to me quickly, because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
Replying to @paul
Only Luke is with me.
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
In Gethsemane he’s deeply distressed. Tells them he’s so full of sorrow it could kill him. He falls to the ground and prays. Abba, Father, you can do anything. Take this cup away from me. But not what I want. What you want.
Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. “Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Replying to @mark
He asked us to keep watch. We fell asleep. Three times. He asked me straight out if I couldn’t stay awake for one hour.
Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing. And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him. When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
We all left him and ran.
Then everyone deserted Him and fled.
Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
He'd just had the biggest day of his life. Then he ran, and sat down on his own in the desert.
A day’s walk into the desert. Sat down under a broom tree. I’ve had enough, LORD. Take my life. I’m no better than my ancestors.
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Fell asleep under the tree. Someone touched me. An angel. Get up and eat, he said. By my head: bread baked on hot coals, and a jar of water. Ate. Drank. Lay back down.
Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
Replying to @elijah.tishbite
He came back and touched me again. Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.
A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
Found a cave on the mountain. Spent the night in it.
There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Replying to @elijah.tishbite
The LORD asked me: what are you doing here, Elijah?
There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
And after the fire, a still, small voice. Barely a whisper.
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.
Replying to @elijah.tishbite
When I heard it I wrapped my face in my cloak and went and stood at the mouth of the cave.
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
And I’m not the only one left. The LORD says he’s kept seven thousand in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal, never kissed him.
Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Replying to @elijah.tishbite
Seven thousand.
Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Sent off at dawn with some bread and a skin of water. In the desert the water ran out. I put my boy under a bush and went and sat about a bowshot away, because I couldn’t watch him die. And I cried.
Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.
Replying to @hagar
God heard the boy. “Don’t be afraid, Hagar.” Then he opened my eyes, and there was a well. Second time in a desert with nowhere to go. Second time he found me.
Then God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “What is wrong, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
You are the God who sees me.
So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”
Bowed right down to the ground in front of him and asked why he'd even noticed me. I'm a foreigner.
At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”
Liked by Boaz
Replying to @ruthofmoab
Why wouldn't I? I've heard everything you've done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. You left your dad and mum and your own country for people you didn't know. May the LORD, the God of Israel, pay you back in full. You've come to shelter under his wings.
Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
Brought before the king. I bowed to the ground. He told me not to be afraid, and that I’ll eat at his table, always. Asked him why he’d even look at a dead dog like me.
And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
Replying to @mephibosheth
And that’s how it’s been ever since. I eat at the king’s table like one of his own sons.
And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.
He touched me.
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
Replying to @madeclean
Then: I want to. Be clean. And it’s gone. All of it.
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Twelve years of bleeding. Every doctor. Every penny. Only got worse. So I touched his cloak in the crowd, and I felt it stop.
And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Replying to @touchedhiscloak
Then he stops and asks who touched him. In a crowd that’s literally pushing against him.
At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?” His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”
Jesus is coming through Jericho and the whole town's out on the street. Chief tax collector, rich, and short, so I can't see a thing over the crowd. So I've run on ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig.
Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.
Liked by Jesus
Replying to @zacchaeus
He stopped right under the tree. Looked up and called me by name. Zacchaeus, hurry down, I have to stay at your house today. I hurried down. So glad to have him.
When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.
The LORD has abandoned me. The Lord has forgotten me.
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; the Lord has forgotten me!”
Replying to @exile.babylon
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? Stop caring for the child she carried? Even if she could, he won’t forget you. He’s written you on the palms of his hands.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid. The LORD your God goes with you. He will never leave you or abandon you.
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Where could I go from your Spirit? If I go up to heaven, you're there. If I lie down in the depths, you're there. If I fly off on the wings of the dawn to the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. God puts lonely people in families.
A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation. God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
Nobody has greater love than this: to give up your life for your friends.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Replying to @jesus
He doesn't call us servants any more. He calls us friends.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And I’m with you always, right to the very end of the age.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
At my first hearing in court, nobody came to stand with me. Everyone deserted me. I hope it isn’t held against them. But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so the message got out in full, for all the nations to hear. I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
And then, very often, he sent someone.
Everyone in the province of Asia has turned away from me. Everyone.
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Replying to @paul
Not quite everyone. Got to Rome, went looking for him, and kept looking till I found him. Took some finding, mind.
Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
Two are better than one. If one falls, the other helps him up. Pity the one who falls with nobody there. Two lying down together keep warm. How do you keep warm on your own? And a cord of three strands isn’t quickly broken.
A man on his own@alone.and.busyNo son, no brother. The work never stops, and it’s never enough. Who am I even doing this for?Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Where you go, I'll go. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Everyone in trouble, everyone in debt, everyone fed up ended up in the cave at Adullam with David. About four hundred of us.
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
Some of us walked as far as the Forum of Appius, out on the Appian Way. Others were waiting at Three Taverns.
The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
Replying to @rome.church
When Paul saw them coming, he thanked God. You could see the courage come back into him.
The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
You're not the only one left.
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