The term "over-long" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of excessive length or duration can be explored through various biblical narratives and teachings. The Bible often addresses the idea of time, patience, and the appropriate length of actions or events, providing wisdom on how to discern when something has extended beyond its intended purpose.

Biblical Context and Examples:

1. Patience and Timing:
The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of patience and waiting for God's timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." This verse underscores the belief that God has ordained specific times for every event, suggesting that extending beyond these times may not align with divine wisdom.

2. The Israelites in the Wilderness:
One of the most notable examples of an "over-long" period is the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness. Originally intended as a much shorter journey to the Promised Land, the Israelites' lack of faith and disobedience resulted in an extended period of wandering. Numbers 14:33-34 recounts, "Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness."

3. Prolonged Suffering and Deliverance:
The account of Job illustrates the concept of prolonged suffering. Job endured extensive trials and tribulations, yet his account is one of perseverance and faith. Job 42:10 reveals the resolution: "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions." This narrative highlights that while suffering may seem over-long, it serves a purpose within God's plan.

4. Jesus' Ministry:
Jesus' ministry on earth lasted approximately three years, a period that was neither rushed nor unnecessarily prolonged. His actions and teachings were perfectly timed to fulfill His mission. John 17:4 records Jesus saying, "I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do." This statement reflects the completion of His work within the divinely appointed timeframe.

5. Warnings Against Procrastination:
The Bible warns against procrastination and the dangers of delaying necessary actions. Proverbs 6:9-11 admonishes, "How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit." This passage suggests that extending inactivity or delay can lead to negative consequences.

Theological Implications:

The concept of "over-long" in a biblical sense often relates to the human tendency to either rush ahead of God's timing or to delay beyond what is necessary. The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and discernment in understanding the appropriate length of time for actions and events, aligning with God's will and purpose. Through prayer and reflection on Scripture, Christians are called to trust in God's perfect timing and to avoid the pitfalls of impatience or procrastination.

Potter -- Memorial Discourse on Phillips Brooks
... John 6. 63. He who stops over-long in the mere mechanism of religion is
verily missing that for which religion stands. Here, indeed ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/potter memorial discourse on.htm

Of the Special Prayers of them that be Continual Workers in the ...
... syllables. And why is that? For him thinketh it over long tarrying for to
declare the need and the work of his spirit. And therefore ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the seven and 2.htm

I have Now Come to the Most Difficult Part of My Story. ...
... flowed not only through, but over grass: its channel, instead of being rock, stones,
pebbles, sand, or anything else, was of pure meadow grass, not over long. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 10 i have now.htm

At the Well
... His forehead was broad and bold, his eyes deep-set, steel-blue and keen. He had
the fighting nose, over-long and hooked like an eagle's beak. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvii at the well.htm

A Confirmation of what Hath Been Said, Particularly of the ...
... up again and return into the right way, using such remedies for thy hurt as the
Church ordains; and do not trouble thyself over much or over long with thinking ...
/.../chapter vi a confirmation of.htm

Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... objection is obvious; but our ignorance of the conditions of fertility and sterility,
the want of carefully conducted experiments extending over long series of ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xiii criticisms on the origin.htm

Tee Advice of Hotep
... It was the image of a girl, draped in an overlong robe, fastened over each
shoulder by a fibula, ornamented with a round medallion. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvi tee advice of.htm

The Life of St. Peter the Apostle
... unpunished for their death and other great sins and tyrannies that he committed,
for he slew himself with his own hand, which tyrannies were overlong to tell ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st peter.htm

The Gospel the Power of God
... the advice condemns the giver of it as he looks back over long years of his
ministry"to be faithful to the Gospel how that 'Jesus Christ died for our sins ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the gospel the power of.htm

The First Book
... for this division of the argument and for this part of our work; for it is an endless
task to discuss all the cases; indeed, it would be overlong merely to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the first book.htm

Over-long (1 Occurrence)
Over-long. Overlived, Over-long. Overlook . Multi-Version Concordance
Over-long (1 Occurrence). Zephaniah 1:12 And it ...
/o/over-long.htm - 6k

Overlook (7 Occurrences)

/o/overlook.htm - 9k

Overlived (1 Occurrence)

/o/overlived.htm - 6k

Stored (55 Occurrences)
... at that time, that I will go searching through Jerusalem with lights; and I will
send punishment on the men who have become like wine stored over-long, who say ...
/s/stored.htm - 23k

Lights (71 Occurrences)
... at that time, that I will go searching through Jerusalem with lights; and I will
send punishment on the men who have become like wine stored over-long, who say ...
/l/lights.htm - 27k

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