The term "longingly" refers to a deep, earnest desire or yearning for something, often accompanied by a sense of wistfulness or hope. In the context of the Bible, longing can be seen as a spiritual yearning for God, His presence, His promises, or His righteousness. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, reflecting the human soul's innate desire for communion with the Divine.

Longing for God and His Presence

The Psalms frequently express a deep longing for God. David, a man after God's own heart, often articulated his yearning for the Lord. In Psalm 42:1-2 , the psalmist writes, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?" This imagery of a deer panting for water captures the intensity and necessity of the soul's desire for God.

Similarly, Psalm 63:1 states, "O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land without water." Here, the psalmist expresses a physical and spiritual longing for God's presence, emphasizing the essential nature of this desire.

Longing for Righteousness and Justice

The Bible also speaks of a longing for righteousness and justice. In Matthew 5:6 , Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." This beatitude highlights the blessedness of those who earnestly desire to live in accordance with God's will and seek His justice in the world.

The prophets also echo this theme. Isaiah 26:9 states, "My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." This verse reflects a yearning for God's righteous judgment and the transformation it brings to the world.

Longing for Redemption and Restoration

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, there is a recurring theme of longing for redemption and restoration. The Israelites longed for deliverance from their oppressors and the fulfillment of God's promises. In Romans 8:23 , Paul writes, "Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." This passage captures the Christian's longing for the ultimate redemption and restoration that will come with Christ's return.

Longing for Eternal Life

The New Testament also speaks of a longing for eternal life and the fulfillment of God's promises in the age to come. In 2 Corinthians 5:2 , Paul expresses this desire: "For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling." This longing reflects the Christian hope for eternal life and the transformation that accompanies it.

In summary, the concept of longing in the Bible encompasses a deep, spiritual yearning for God, His righteousness, justice, redemption, and eternal life. This longing is a fundamental aspect of the believer's relationship with God, driving them to seek His presence and the fulfillment of His promises.(adv.) With longing.

Progress (Preached Before the Queen at Clifden, June 3, 1866. )
... When we look back longingly to any past age, we look not at the reality, but
at a sentimental and untrue picture of our own imagination. ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xii progress preached before.htm

The Lone Man who Went Before
... more. This was why He came"to draw men to Himself. Our Lord Jesus was
the face of God looking longingly into men's faces. And ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the lone man who went.htm

Imperial Tombs.
... painless. [Greek: Euthanashian] (an easy end) was the word he used longingly,
whenever he heard of any one dying without agony. ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter iv imperial tombs.htm

A Downward Step.
... As the days passed by, she often looked longingly toward the tree where hung the
beautiful apples, but she never once thought of pulling one, for her mother ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter vii a downward step.htm

The Lord's Supper
... Nor do we wonder that our blessed Saviour looked forward longingly to the occasion
when, for the last time, he was to celebrate this Passover with his disciples ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/the lords supper.htm

The Good Samaritan
... And all these different people seem to turn their faces longingly to one place,
where a bright light breaks over the dark valley, and where there stands One ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlviii the good samaritan.htm

On the Immeasurable Dignity of Temporal Suffering.
... My dwelling is in the pure soul as in a paradise of delights, for which reason I
cannot endure that she should lovingly and longingly attach herself to anything ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xiii on the immeasurable.htm

On the Unspeakable Advantages to be Derived from Meditating on the ...
... the bride, where He rests at noon whom I embrace in the midst of my heart: I do
not ask where He feeds His flock at noon, whom my soul so longingly beholds on ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xiv on the unspeakable.htm

She Died for Him
... shouted. Which was to go? The mother thought of her far away home, her husband
looking out lovingly and longingly for his wife. Then ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/she died for him.htm

Saving the Life.
... This is surely true, that if in the very last half-twinkling of an eye a man look
up towards God longingly, that look is the turning of the will to God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/saving the life.htm

Longingly (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) With longing. Multi-Version Concordance
Longingly (2 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 23:15 And David longed ...
/l/longingly.htm - 7k

Longing (40 Occurrences)

/l/longing.htm - 18k

Longings (1 Occurrence)

/l/longings.htm - 6k

Matthew (5 Occurrences)
... acceptance of the call of Jesus shows that he must have belonged to that group of
publicans and sinners, who in Galilee and elsewhere looked longingly to Jesus ...
/m/matthew.htm - 38k

Longingly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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