Topical Encyclopedia
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 PreservationThe 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 PreservationThe 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 FaithThe 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."
ConclusionThe 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.
Strong's Hebrew
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
...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...
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...
Library
Whether GodPreserves Every Creature Immediately?
... THE SPECIAL EFFECTS OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Godpreserves
every creature immediately?... Therefore Hepreserves all things immediately....
For in the First Place, in These Falls HePreserves in them the...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 7 For in the first place, in these falls
Hepreserves in them the incorruptible seed? For in the...
Of the Universal Peace which the Law of NaturePreserves through...
... Chapter 13."Of the Universal Peace Which the Law of NaturePreserves Through All
Disturbances, and by Which Every One Reaches His Desert in a Way Regulated...
Concerning "Power," "Righteousness," "Salvation," "Redemption"...
... And the laws by which this Universe is ordered Itpreserves to fulfil their proper
functions, .and keeps the immortal lives of the individual angels inviolate...
The Perseverance of the Saints
... strength. But God is faithful, who, having conferred grace, mercifully confirms
and powerfullypreserves them therein, even to the end....
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...
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 andpreserves the remotest of...
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 andpreserves them in...
In the Outer Court
... Year by year manpreserves his supply of grain by apparently throwing away the choicest
part.... The husbandmanpreserves his grain by casting it away....
Salted with Fire
... There is a fire that destroys, and there is a fire thatpreserves; and the alternative
for every man is to choose between the destructive and the conserving...
Thesaurus
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).
...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....
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....
Preserve (61 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To makepreserves.... Preserve (61 Occurrences). Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to
save his life loses it, but whoever loses his lifepreserves it....
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...
Providence (3 Occurrences)
... It is followed by numerous utterances scattered throughout the sacred volume that
declare that He who created alsopreserves and governs all that He created....
Upholds (12 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Psalms 146:9 Yahwehpreserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless
and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. (WEB RSV)....
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 Yahwehpreserves the foreigners....
Ostraca
... A Sa`idic ostraconpreserves the pericope on the woman taken in adultery (John
7:53-8:11), which is otherwise unattested in the Sa`idic New Testament....
Loses (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS RSV NIV). Luke 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but
whoever loses his lifepreserves it. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)....
Resources
What is conditional security? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Amyraldism / Four-Point Calvinism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a quick summary of each of the 66 books of the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgPreserves: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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