Topical Bible: Instruction by Object Lessons: Sighing

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In the biblical narrative, sighing is often depicted as a profound expression of inner turmoil, grief, or longing. It serves as an object lesson in understanding the depth of human emotion and the need for divine intervention. Sighing, as portrayed in Scripture, is not merely a physical act but a spiritual expression that reveals the heart's condition and the soul's yearning for relief and redemption.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, sighing is frequently associated with suffering and oppression. The Israelites, during their bondage in Egypt, are described as sighing under the weight of their affliction. Exodus 2:23 states, "After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, and they cried out, and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God." Here, sighing is a manifestation of the Israelites' desperate plea for deliverance, highlighting their dependence on God's intervention.

The Psalms also capture the essence of sighing as an expression of deep distress. In Psalm 38:9 , David declares, "O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You." This verse illustrates how sighing is intertwined with prayer, serving as a non-verbal communication of one's innermost desires and struggles to God.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets often use sighing to convey the weight of impending judgment and the sorrow of the people. In Ezekiel 21:6-7 , God instructs the prophet, "But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief. And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming.’" Ezekiel's sighing becomes a prophetic sign, symbolizing the anguish that will accompany the fulfillment of God's judgment.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, sighing continues to serve as a poignant expression of human frailty and divine compassion. Mark 7:34 recounts Jesus' healing of a deaf and mute man: "And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (which means, 'Be opened!')." Jesus' sigh here is an embodiment of His empathy and His deep connection with human suffering. It underscores His role as the compassionate Savior who responds to the groans of humanity with healing and restoration.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:22-23 , expands on the theme of sighing by describing the groaning of creation and believers alike: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 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." Here, sighing is linked to the eschatological hope of redemption, reflecting the tension between present suffering and future glory.

Theological Implications

Sighing, as an object lesson, teaches believers about the reality of human suffering and the hope of divine deliverance. It serves as a reminder of the brokenness of the world and the need for God's intervention. Sighing also emphasizes the importance of prayer and the assurance that God hears and responds to the unspoken cries of His people. Through sighing, believers are invited to participate in the redemptive narrative, acknowledging their dependence on God and anticipating the ultimate fulfillment of His promises.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 21:6,7
Sigh therefore, you son of man, with the breaking of your loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

False Comforts for Sinners.
... But anything that lessons his sense of blame, of course lessons his distress, but
it is a comfort full of death ... And the object of your instruction should be ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xvii false comforts for.htm

1 Cor. Ii. 6, 7
... Such an object of care was this whole subject to God ... high thoughts, were the matter
of their lessons of wisdom ... not of folly, but the highest instruction of wisdom ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vii 1 cor ii.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Having accomplished his object, he rode to London; on his way home, through a heavy
rain, the effects of which appeared soon after this, his last sermon was ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... may amuse those who have patience to read them, but they afford no instruction. ... His
object is to make us familiar with those types exhibited in the temple and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... The author's object is to warn poor thoughtless sinners, not with smooth words,
to ... had a good master, he wanted not good books, nor good instruction, nor good ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... No one can suppose that this outward reform was put on hypocritically, as a disguise
to attain some sinister object; it was real, but it arose from a desire to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm