In the biblical context, disturbances often refer to events or situations that disrupt peace, order, or harmony, whether in a personal, communal, or cosmic sense. These disturbances can be physical, spiritual, or social, and they are frequently depicted as challenges to faith and obedience to God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, disturbances are often seen as consequences of disobedience to God's commandments. For instance, the Israelites experienced various disturbances during their journey through the wilderness due to their lack of faith and rebellion against God. In Numbers 14:11, the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?" This passage highlights how disturbances can arise from a failure to trust in God's provision and guidance.

The prophets frequently warned of disturbances as a result of the people's sin and idolatry. In Isaiah 24:19-20, the prophet describes a cosmic disturbance as a consequence of widespread sin: "The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a hut. Its transgression weighs heavily upon it, and it will fall, never to rise again." Here, disturbances are portrayed as divine judgments meant to bring about repentance and restoration.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, disturbances often occur in the context of spiritual warfare and the spread of the Gospel. Jesus Himself spoke of disturbances as signs of the end times. In Matthew 24:6-7, He warned, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." These disturbances serve as reminders of the fallen state of the world and the need for vigilance and faithfulness.

The early church also faced disturbances, both from external persecution and internal conflicts. In Acts 19:23-41, a significant disturbance arose in Ephesus due to the preaching of the Apostle Paul, which threatened the local economy centered around the worship of the goddess Artemis. This incident illustrates how the proclamation of the Gospel can disrupt societal norms and provoke opposition.

Spiritual and Personal Disturbances

On a personal level, disturbances can manifest as spiritual struggles or trials that test one's faith. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to view such disturbances as opportunities for growth: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The Apostle Paul also speaks of internal disturbances, such as anxiety and fear, and offers guidance on how to address them. In Philippians 4:6-7, he writes, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This passage emphasizes the importance of prayer and reliance on God's peace in overcoming personal disturbances.

Cosmic and Eschatological Disturbances

The Bible also speaks of cosmic disturbances as part of God's ultimate plan for redemption and judgment. In Revelation, various disturbances are described as part of the end times, including earthquakes, plagues, and celestial phenomena. Revelation 6:12-14 describes a great earthquake and cosmic upheaval: "I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place."

These eschatological disturbances serve as a prelude to the final establishment of God's kingdom, where ultimate peace and order will be restored.2263. eremos -- quiet
... 2263 (an adjective) -- properly, undisturbed (placid); (figuratively) ; free from
disturbance; tranquil; without needless commotion or disturbances (used only ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2263.htm - 7k

181. akatastasia -- instability
... Word Origin from akatastatos Definition instability NASB Word Usage confusion (1),
disorder (1), disturbances (2), tumults (1). commotion, confusion, tumult. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/181.htm - 7k

4103. mehumah -- tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture
... Word Origin from hum Definition tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture NASB
Word Usage confusion (5), disturbances (1), panic (2), tumult (1), tumults (1 ...
/hebrew/4103.htm - 6k

That Disturbances are Caused in us not by the Faults of Other ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter V. That disturbances are caused in us not by the faults
of other people, but by our own. Whence it is clearly ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter v that disturbances are.htm

Nero Adds Four Cities to Agrippas Kingdom; but the Other Parts of ...
... The Disturbances Which Were Raised By The Sicarii The Magicians And An Egyptian
False Prophet. The Jews And Syrians Have A Contest At Cesarea. ...
/.../chapter 13 nero adds four.htm

The Death of Salome. The Cities which Herod and Philip Built. ...
... The Cities Which Herod And Philip Built. Pilate Occasions Disturbances. Tiberius
Puts Agrippa Into Bonds But Caius Frees Him From Them, And Makes Him King. ...
/.../chapter 9 the death of.htm

Account Given by the Heretics of the Formation of Achamoth; Origin ...
... Against Heresies: Book I Chapter IV."Account given by the heretics of the formation
of Achamoth; origin of the visible world from her disturbances. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter iv account given by the.htm

Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, and his Party, by Again Endeavoring ...
... Book II. Chapter II."Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, and his Party, by again endeavoring
to introduce the Arian Heresy, create Disturbances in the Churches. ...
/.../chapter ii eusebius bishop of nicomedia.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

Whether Every Passion of the Soul is Evil Morally?
... Dei ix, 4) that "some call the soul's passions diseases or disturbances of the soul"
[*Those things which the Greeks call {pathe}, we prefer to call ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether every passion of the.htm

Festus Succeeds Felix who is Succeeded by Albinus as He is by ...
... 1. Now it was that Festus succeeded Felix as procurator, and made it his business
to correct those that made disturbances in the country. ...
/.../chapter 14 festus succeeds felix.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... Medes; submission of the northern Arabs (678-676 BC)"Egyptian affairs; Taharqa
(Tirhakah), his building operations, his Syrian policy"Disturbances on the ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria.htm

That Many of the Sicarii Fled to Alexandria Also and what Dangers ...
... Yet did this war afford disturbances and dangerous disorders even in places very
far remote from Judea; for still it came to pass that many Jews were slain at ...
/.../chapter 10 that many of.htm

Disturbances (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Disturbances (2 Occurrences). Luke 21:9 When
you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for ...
/d/disturbances.htm - 7k

Disturbance (7 Occurrences)

/d/disturbance.htm - 8k

Disturbed (30 Occurrences)

/d/disturbed.htm - 15k

Wars (24 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these
things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." (WEB KJV WEY ASV ...
/w/wars.htm - 14k

Won't (144 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for
these things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." (WEB). ...
/w/won't.htm - 33k

Frightened (38 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these
things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." (See NIV). ...
/f/frightened.htm - 17k

Tertullus (2 Occurrences)
... their case against Paul in the presence of Felix (Acts 24:1-9). The charges he adduced
against the apostle were, "First, that he created disturbances among the ...
/t/tertullus.htm - 9k

Terrified (88 Occurrences)
... Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these
things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." (WEB KJV ASV DBY ...
/t/terrified.htm - 30k

Revolutions (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these
things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately." (See NIV). ...
/r/revolutions.htm - 6k

Refer (4 Occurrences)
... process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground
of explanation; as, he referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances. ...
/r/refer.htm - 8k

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