Overall Question: How does God help you when you are alone?

Memory Text: Genesis 2:18 The Modern Language Bible The Lord God said: It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a suitable helper, completing him.

Genesis 2:18 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE As man was made a social creature, it was not proper that he should be alone; for to be alone, i.e. without a matrimonial companion, was not good.  Hence we find that celibacy in general is a thing that is not good, whether it be on the side of the man or of the woman.  Men may, in opposition to the declaration of God, call this a state of excellence and a state of perfection; but let them remember that the word of God says the reverse.

 

Sunday – Companionship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Revised Standard Version Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if the fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, they are warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours hard to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship. In these things all is not vanity, though there will be some alloy as long as we are under the sun. Where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his Spirit come to them; then there is a threefold cord.

John 16:32-33 The Living Bible “But the time is coming – in fact, it is here-when you will be scattered, each one returned to his own home, leaving me along. Yet I will not be along, for the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”

John 16:32 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES It matters little who else forsakes us if God be with us in the hour of pain and of death; and though poor, forsaken, or despised, yet, if we have the consciousness of his presence and his favour, then we may fear no evil. Without his favour then, death will be full of horrors, though we be surrounded by weeping relatives, and by all the honour, and splendour, and wealth which the world can bestow. The Christian can die saying, I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Philippines 4:11-13 Andrews Study Bible (NKJV) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 

Monday – The Unmarried Life

1 Corinthians 7:25-34 New International Version 25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:32 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES His attention is not distracted by the cares of this life; his time is not engrossed, and his affections alienated, by an attendance on the concerns of a family, and especially by solicitude for them in times of trial and persecution. He can give his main attention to the things of religion. He is at leisure to give his chief thoughts and anxieties to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Paul's own example showed that this was the course which he preferred; and showed also that in some instances it was lawful and proper for a man to remain unmarried, and to give himself entirely to the work of the Lord. But the Divine commandment, (Ge 1:28,) and the commendation everywhere bestowed upon marriage in the Scriptures, as well as the nature of the case, show that it was not designed that celibacy should be general.

 

Tuesday – When a Marriage Ends

Malachi 2:16 The Clear Word for Kids “The Lord says, ‘I hate it when a man is unfaithful to his wife and divorces her. What is even worse is that he pretends to be innocent.’ So guard your affections and don’t break the promise you made to your wife when the two of you got married.

Malachi 2:16 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE he also notes those who frame idle excuses to cover the violence they have done to the wives of their youth, by putting them away, and taking others in their place, whom they now happen to like better, when their own wives have been worn down in domestic services.

Matthew 5:31-32 The Modern Language Bible “It was al said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife should give her a divorce certificate.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for unfaithfulness, make her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 19:8 Revised Standard Version He said to them, “For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

1 Corinthians 7:11-13 Andrews Study Bible (NKJV) But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

1 Corinthians 7:11 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES If she have withdrawn by a rash and foolish act; if she has attempted to dissolve the marriage vow, she is to remain unmarried, or be reconciled. She is not at liberty to marry another. This may refer, I suppose, to instances where wives, ignorant of the rule of Christ, and supposing that they had a right to separate themselves from their husbands, had rashly left them, and had supposed that the marriage contract was dissolved. Paul tells them that this was impossible; and that if they had so separated from their husbands, the pure laws of Christianity did not recognise this right, and they must either be reconciled to their husbands or remain alone. The marriage tie was so sacred that it could not be dissolved by the will of either party.

 

Wednesday – Death and Loneliness

Isaiah 57:1 The Clear Word for Kids Good people die, and no one knows why. People who love God are taken away, and no one understands.

Isaiah 57:1-2 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY The righteous are delivered from the sting of death, not from the stroke of it. The careless world disregards this. Few lament it as a public loss, and very few notice it as a public warning. They are taken away in compassion, that they may not see the evil, nor share in it, nor be tempted by it. The righteous man, when he dies, enters into peace and rest.

Revelation 21:4 Andrews Study Bible (NKJV) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES What a view do we begin to get of heaven, when we are told there shall be no death there! How different from earth, where death is so common; where it spares no one; where our best friends die; where the wise, the good, the useful, the lovely, die; where fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, all die; where we habitually feel that we must die. Assuredly we have here a view of heaven most glorious and animating to those who dwell in a world like this, and to whom nothing is more common than death. In all their endless and glorious career, the redeemed will never see death again; they will never themselves die. They will never follow a friend to the tomb, nor fear that an absent friend is dead. The slow funeral procession will never be witnessed there; nor will the soil ever open its bosom to furnish a grave.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Bible in Basic English 17 Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord. 18 So then, give comfort to one another with these words.

Matthew 5:4 Revised Standard Version Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

2 Samuel 18:33 The Clear Word for Kids David knew what he meant. He was overcome with grief. Then he went to his room and cried out, “O
Absalom, my son! If only I could have died in your place!”

Genesis 37:34 Good News Translation Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time.

Genesis 37:34 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN A rent is made in the skirt more or less long according to the afflicted feelings of the mourner, and a coarse rough piece of black sackcloth or camel's hair cloth is wound round the waist.

 

Thursday – Spiritually Single

Isaiah 54:5 Common English Bible The one marrying you is the one who made you—the Lord of heavenly forces is his name. The one redeeming you is the holy one of Israel, the one called the God of all the earth.

Hosea 2:19-20 Christian Standard Bible 19 I will take you to be my wife forever. I will take you to be my wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. 20 I will take you to be my wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.

Psalm 72:12 Bible in Basic English For he will be a saviour to the poor in answer to his cry; and to him who is in need, without a helper.

Psalm 72:12 Treasury of David (Charles Spurgeon) A cry is the native language of a spiritually needy soul; it has done with fine phrases and long orations, and it takes to sobs and moans; and so, indeed, it grasps the most potent of all weapons, for heaven always yields to such artillery.