In biblical times, the concept of preservation was both a practical and spiritual concern. The term "preserves" can refer to the act of maintaining or keeping something in its original state, often for sustenance or protection. This entry explores the various dimensions of preservation as found in the Bible, including food preservation, divine preservation, and the preservation of life and faith.

Food Preservation

The preservation of food was a critical aspect of daily life in ancient Israel. Methods such as drying, salting, and storing in jars were common practices. While the Bible does not provide detailed instructions on these methods, it does reference the importance of storing food for future use. For example, in Genesis 41:48-49, Joseph gathers and stores grain during the seven years of abundance in Egypt to prepare for the coming famine: "Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and stored it in the cities. In every city he put the food grown in the fields around it."

Divine Preservation

The theme of divine preservation is prevalent throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's role in safeguarding His people. Psalm 121:7-8 declares, "The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore." This passage highlights the belief that God actively protects and sustains His followers, ensuring their spiritual and physical well-being.

Another example is found in Psalm 16:1 , where David prays, "Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge." Here, the psalmist seeks God's protection and preservation, trusting in His ability to keep him safe from harm.

Preservation of Life and Faith

The Bible also speaks to the preservation of life and faith, often in the context of God's covenant promises. In Deuteronomy 6:24 , Moses reminds the Israelites of God's commandments, stating, "And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day." This verse underscores the connection between obedience to God's laws and the preservation of life.

In the New Testament, the preservation of faith is a key theme. Jude 1:24-25 offers a doxology that praises God for His ability to preserve believers: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen."

Conclusion

The concept of preservation in the Bible encompasses practical, divine, and spiritual dimensions. Whether through the prudent storage of food, the protective hand of God, or the sustaining of life and faith, preservation is a testament to God's provision and care for His creation.2421a. chayah -- to live
... 120), lived (42), lives (5), make alive (1), makes alive (1), nourished (1), preserve
(3), preserve his life (1), preserve...alive (1), preserves the lives (1 ...
/hebrew/2421a.htm - 6k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... observes (1), observing (1), officers (2), pay attention (1), perform (3), performed
(1), performing (2), preserve (5), preserved (3), preserves (6), protect (4 ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... things (1), keep (7), keep watch (1), keeper (1), keeps (3), kept (1), man (1),
observe (10), observed (1), observes (1), preserve (10), preserves (1), reserve ...
/hebrew/5341.htm - 6k

Whether God Preserves Every Creature Immediately?
... THE SPECIAL EFFECTS OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether God preserves
every creature immediately? ... Therefore He preserves all things immediately. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether god preserves every creature.htm

For in the First Place, in These Falls He Preserves in them the ...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 7 For in the first place, in these falls
He preserves in them the incorruptible seed? For in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/the canons of dordt/article 7 for in the.htm

Of the Universal Peace which the Law of Nature Preserves through ...
... Chapter 13."Of the Universal Peace Which the Law of Nature Preserves Through All
Disturbances, and by Which Every One Reaches His Desert in a Way Regulated ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 13 of the universal peace.htm

Concerning "Power," "Righteousness," "Salvation," "Redemption" ...
... And the laws by which this Universe is ordered It preserves to fulfil their proper
functions, .and keeps the immortal lives of the individual angels inviolate ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter viii concerning power righteousness.htm

The Perseverance of the Saints
... strength. But God is faithful, who, having conferred grace, mercifully confirms
and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end. ...
/.../anonymous/synod of dort/the perseverance of the saints.htm

I Wrote These Words Beforehand as a Statement of My Faith, when as ...
... How then can any room be left for evil, when the very first word of my confession
preserves and defends me from the suspicion of holding any doctrine ...
/.../14 i wrote these words.htm

Concerning Power, Justice, Preservation, Redemption, in which Also ...
... nature of His all-surpassing power, which, through abundance of the powerful, gives
power even to weakness, and holds together and preserves the remotest of ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput viii concerning power justice.htm

Whether God Works in Every Agent?
... workman applies the axe to cut, who nevertheless at times does not give the axe
its form; but He also gives created agents their forms and preserves them in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether god works in every.htm

In the Outer Court
... Year by year man preserves his supply of grain by apparently throwing away the choicest
part. ... The husbandman preserves his grain by casting it away. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 68 in the outer.htm

Salted with Fire
... There is a fire that destroys, and there is a fire that preserves; and the alternative
for every man is to choose between the destructive and the conserving ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/salted with fire.htm

Preserves (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Preserves (16 Occurrences). Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to
save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. (WEB). ...
/p/preserves.htm - 10k

Preserver (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who, or that which, preserves, saves, or defends, from destruction,
injury, or decay; esp., one who saves the life or character of another. ...
/p/preserver.htm - 8k

Jar (45 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A deep, broad-mouthed vessel of earthenware or glass, for holding fruit,
preserves, etc., or for ornamental purposes; as, a jar of honey; a rose jar. ...
/j/jar.htm - 21k

Preserve (61 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To make preserves. ... Preserve (61 Occurrences). Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to
save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. ...
/p/preserve.htm - 23k

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)
... A Bodleian papyrus leaf (5) (7th or 8th century) preserves Songs 1:6-9. An Amherst
papyrus (6) (7th century) contains Job 1:21 ff; 2, 3. There are several ...
/p/papyrus.htm - 34k

Providence (3 Occurrences)
... It is followed by numerous utterances scattered throughout the sacred volume that
declare that He who created also preserves and governs all that He created. ...
/p/providence.htm - 44k

Upholds (12 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Psalms 146:9 Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless
and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. (WEB RSV). ...
/u/upholds.htm - 9k

Upside (7 Occurrences)
... Job 19:6 Know now, that God turned me upside down, And His net against me hath
set round, (YLT). Psalms 146:9 Yahweh preserves the foreigners. ...
/u/upside.htm - 8k

Ostraca
... A Sa`idic ostracon preserves the pericope on the woman taken in adultery (John
7:53-8:11), which is otherwise unattested in the Sa`idic New Testament. ...
/o/ostraca.htm - 10k

Loses (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS RSV NIV). Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but
whoever loses his life preserves it. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/loses.htm - 10k

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