The term "desolating" in the Bible often refers to the act of rendering a place uninhabitable or bringing about a state of utter ruin and devastation. This concept is frequently associated with divine judgment, where God allows or directly causes desolation as a consequence of sin and rebellion against His commandments.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, desolation is a recurring theme, particularly in the prophetic books. The Hebrew word often translated as "desolate" is "shamem," which conveys the idea of being appalled, devastated, or laid waste. Desolation is depicted as a result of God's judgment upon nations and peoples who have turned away from Him.

One of the most notable instances of desolation is found in the warnings given to Israel and Judah. The prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, frequently warned the people of impending desolation due to their idolatry and disobedience. For example, in Isaiah 64:10, the prophet laments, "Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation."

The desolation of Jerusalem and the temple is a significant event in biblical history, symbolizing the severe consequences of forsaking God's covenant. The Babylonian conquest and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC fulfilled these prophetic warnings, leaving the city in ruins.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of desolation is closely linked to eschatological themes and the end times. Jesus Himself speaks of desolation in the Olivet Discourse, where He warns of the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel. In Matthew 24:15, Jesus says, "So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)."

This reference to Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) has been interpreted in various ways, often seen as a foreshadowing of events leading up to the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70 by the Romans. The "abomination of desolation" is understood as a desecration of the holy place, leading to its desolation.

Theological Implications

Theologically, desolation serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It underscores the consequences of turning away from God's laws and the inevitable judgment that follows. Desolation is not merely a physical state but also a spiritual condition, reflecting the separation from God's presence and blessings.

However, the Bible also offers hope and restoration beyond desolation. The prophets often coupled their messages of impending desolation with promises of future restoration and renewal. For instance, Isaiah 61:4 speaks of rebuilding the ancient ruins and restoring the places long devastated.

Conclusion

While desolation is a theme of judgment, it also points to the possibility of redemption and the hope of restoration through repentance and faithfulness to God. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes God's desire for His people to return to Him, offering forgiveness and renewal to those who seek Him.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Desolate.7723. shav -- emptiness, vanity
... Or shav {shav}; from the same as show' in the sense of desolating; evil (as
destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry ...
/hebrew/7723.htm - 6k

8074. shamem -- to be desolated or appalled
... 13), astonished (8), astounded (1), become desolate (1), causes horror (1), causing
consternation (1), desolate (22), desolated (4), desolating (1), desolation ...
/hebrew/8074.htm - 6k

The Old and New Testaments have Many Things in Common -- Far More ...
... One profound Hebrew scholar has rendered the last clause of Dan.9:27 as follows,
"And upon the wing of abominations he shall come desolating." Remembering that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the old and new testaments.htm

My Creed Leads Me to Think that Prayer is Efficacious...
... incoming generation. The prayers of God's saints strengthen the unborn
generation against the desolating waves of sin and evil. Woe ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter i my creed leads.htm

Preface.
... The desolating curse of heaven invariably accompanies neglect of domestic obligations
and duties; it was this that constituted that dreadful degeneracy which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/preface.htm

I Look Upon all the Four Gospels as Thoroughly Genuine...
... We cease to pray and cease to live spiritually. There is no stay to the desolating
floods of worldliness and business and cares, but prayer. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter x i look upon.htm

Adonijah
... to him as well as for our own instruction, we should try to discover the sources
whence this stream of evil flowed which was so bitter and so desolating in its ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/adonijah.htm

The Blessing of God on Filial Piety.
... shakings of God's spear! When this hath become the general character of
a people, desolating judgments are near. Those who conceive ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiii the blessing of.htm

Separating the Precious from the Vile
... and a murrain upon all the cattle of the Egyptians; but the cattle of the children
of Israel were spared, and on their fields fell no desolating shower from ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/separating the precious from the.htm

Sunlight of the Heavenly Day,
... And a little child may stand. Where the soldier's heart would fail. Oft a desolating
blast. Bears the seed of comfort too,. And the patient soul at last. ...
/.../waring/hymns and meditations/sunlight of the heavenly day.htm

Obadiah
... vv.1-7 the catastrophe is not predicted for Edom, it has already fallen: it was
probably an earlier stage of the Bedawin assaults, whose desolating effect upon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/obadiah.htm

To Make up for Our Delay in This, we Bring under Your Notice ...
... and internal convulsions; the collision of kingdoms with kingdoms; famines and
pestilences, and local massacres, and widespread desolating mortalities; the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xx to make up.htm

Desolating (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Desolate. Multi-Version
Concordance Desolating (6 Occurrences). Matthew 24:15 Whenever ...
/d/desolating.htm - 8k

Desolated (21 Occurrences)

/d/desolated.htm - 13k

Gideon (45 Occurrences)
... and Amalekites, with other "children of the east," crossed the Jordan each year
for seven successive years for the purpose of plundering and desolating the land ...
/g/gideon.htm - 36k

River (189 Occurrences)
... 18; Ezek. 47:9). These winter torrents sometimes come down with great suddenness
and with desolating force. A distinguished traveller ...
/r/river.htm - 52k

Desecrate (9 Occurrences)
... out of him stand up, and have polluted the sanctuary, the stronghold, and have turned
aside the continual 'sacrifice', and appointed the desolating abomination ...
/d/desecrate.htm - 9k

Benjamin (167 Occurrences)
... The history of the tribe contains a sad record of a desolating civil war
in which they were engaged with the other eleven tribes. ...
/b/benjamin.htm - 50k

Abolished (12 Occurrences)
... Daniel 12:11 and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual 'sacrifice',
and to the giving out of the desolating abomination, 'are' days a thousand ...
/a/abolished.htm - 10k

Abolish (6 Occurrences)
... out of him stand up, and have polluted the sanctuary, the stronghold, and have turned
aside the continual 'sacrifice', and appointed the desolating abomination ...
/a/abolish.htm - 10k

Swallowing (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 36:3 therefore, prophesy, and thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah:
Because, even because, of desolating, And of swallowing you up from round ...
/s/swallowing.htm - 8k

Desolation (131 Occurrences)
... 9:27. (see ABOMINATION.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The act of desolating
or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation. ...
/d/desolation.htm - 46k

Desolating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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