Topical Encyclopedia
The term "devastated" is often used to describe a state of utter destruction or ruin, both physically and emotionally. In the biblical context, devastation frequently refers to the consequences of divine judgment, warfare, or natural disasters. The Bible provides numerous instances where lands, cities, and individuals experience devastation as a result of sin, disobedience, or the unfolding of God's sovereign plans.
Biblical Instances of Devastation1.
Divine Judgment: The Bible often depicts devastation as a direct result of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. One of the most notable examples is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:24-25 states, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."
2.
Warfare and Conquest: The history of Israel is marked by periods of warfare, where cities and nations were devastated by invading armies. The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians is a significant event, as described in
2 Kings 25:9 : "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building."
3.
Natural Disasters: The Bible also records instances where natural disasters bring about devastation. The flood in the time of Noah is a prime example, where the entire earth was laid waste due to the wickedness of humanity.
Genesis 7:23 recounts, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."
4.
Prophetic Warnings: The prophets often warned of impending devastation as a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness.
Isaiah 24:1 declares, "Behold, the LORD lays waste to the earth and leaves it in ruins; He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants."
Emotional and Spiritual DevastationBeyond physical destruction, the Bible also addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects of being devastated. The Psalms frequently express the deep anguish and despair of individuals who feel overwhelmed by their circumstances.
Psalm 143:4 captures this sentiment: "My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me."
Hope Amidst DevastationWhile the Bible acknowledges the reality of devastation, it also offers hope and restoration. God's promises of renewal and redemption are woven throughout Scripture. In the aftermath of devastation, God often provides a path to restoration.
Joel 2:25 offers a message of hope: "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you."
The biblical narrative consistently points to God's sovereignty and faithfulness, even in the face of devastation. Through repentance and faith, individuals and nations can find healing and restoration, as God remains steadfast in His covenant promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Devastate.
Greek
4917. sunthlao -- to crush together... 4917 ("to break in pieces") implies to , ie break-up into dust (Souter); (figuratively)
to be (
devastated) by resisting (colliding with) Christ.
...2915. krithe -- barley
... Barley was used "principally as food for horses" (Zod, ). (Rev 6:6) -- Unlike
annual crops, olives and grapes oncedevastated. The...
Strong's Hebrew
8076. shamem --devastated... 8075, 8076. shamem. 8077 .
devastated. Transliteration: shamem Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-mame') Short Definition: desolate. Word
...7582. shaah -- to make a din or crash, crash into ruins
... shaah. 7583 . to make a din or crash, crash into ruins. Transliteration: shaah
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-aw') Short Definition:devastated. Word Origin a prim....
1238b. baqaq -- to empty
... root Definition to empty NASB Word Usage completely laid waste (1), demoralized
(1), devastate (1), devastators havedevastated (1), lays the waste (1), make...
7703. shadad -- to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin
... 1), despoil (1), destroy (7), destroyed (12), destroyer (9), destroyer still destroys
(1), destroyers (4), destroying (2), devastate (2),devastated (6), lays...
2717b. chareb -- to be waste or desolate
... root Definition to be waste or desolate NASB Word Usage become waste (2), desolate
(4), destroyer (1),devastated (3), devastators (1), laid waste (5), lay...
Library
Severinus in Germany.
... No place was secure, one wild tribe followed another; all social order was dissolved.
The land wasdevastated, the inhabitants carried away as slaves....
Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Celebrated in a House and with...
... But not without a portable altar consecrated by the bishop: hence in the same
distinction we read: "We permit that, if the churches bedevastated or burned...
On his Father'S Silence, Because of the Plague of Hail.
... A deadly cattle plague, which haddevastated their herds, had been followed by a
prolonged drought, and now their just ripened crops had been ruined by a storm...
The Memphite Empire
... Thedevastated flanks of the hills, their torn and corroded bases, the accumulated
masses of shingle left by the eddies, the long lines of rocks and sand, mark...
A Free Grace Promise
... justice had been called forth for war: "They shall run like mighty men; they shall
climb the wall like men of war." They had invaded anddevastated the land...
The "Little Knife" Insurrection
... For fourteen years China staggered under this awful scourge. Whole provinces were
devastated and almost depopulated. For a long time the issue was uncertain....
Joshua's Conquest.
... Several circumstances conspired to make it a suitable time for the Hebrews to enter
Canaan: (a) Egypt had crushed the Hittites anddevastated their land; (b...
Introduction.
... he became bishop):". "The very weapons by which the world isdevastated,
minister to the operations of Christian grace. How many...
Thou Shalt not Steal.
... all measure, so that if all who are thieves, and yet do not wish to be called such,
were to be hanged on gallows the world would soon bedevastated and there...
Conclusion.
... The boundless stores of truth and life which for eighteen hundred years have been
the aliment of humanity seem irretrievablydevastated, the most sublime...
Thesaurus
Devastated (20 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Devastated (20 Occurrences). 2 Kings 19:17 Truly, Yahweh,
the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, (See NAS).
...Waste (668 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Desolate;devastated; stripped; bare;
hence, dreary; dismal; gloomy; cheerless. 2. (a.) Lying...
Chios (1 Occurrence)
... been waging against Sparta and her allies. For this act of treason the
Atheniansdevastated the island. At the end of the war the...
Devastate (8 Occurrences)
Asmoneans
... Thus Apollonius (Josephus tells us, the king himself, BJ, V, ix, 4) in 168 BC appeared
before Jerusalem,devastated the city, defiled the temple by the...
Joram (26 Occurrences)
... After the allies had been miraculousl y delivered from perishing for lack of water,
theydevastated the land and sacked the cities, and finally they succeeded...
Rhodes (2 Occurrences)
... Chersonesus). In 42 BC the island wasdevastated by Cassius. Later it was
made a part of the Roman province of Asia (44 AD). Strabo...
Employed (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 24:7 For the wicked Athaliah and her sons haddevastated the house
of God; and also all the hallowed things of the house of Jehovah had they...
Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, ordevastated.
3. (n.) A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer....
Devastation (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of devastating, or the state
of beingdevastated; a laying waste. 2. (n.) Waste of the...
Resources
What is the Anthropic Principle? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt? | GotQuestions.orgIs there extra-biblical evidence of the ten plagues in Egypt? | GotQuestions.orgDevastated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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