Thematic Bible: Pilgrims and strangers
Thematic Bible
Pilgrims and strangers » Saints confess themselves
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and listen to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am Your temporary guest,
A sojourner like all my fathers.
For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope [of remaining].
Pilgrims and strangers » Saints are called to be
Now [in Haran] the Lord had said to Abram,
“Go away from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [ in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters -- "[yes] and even his own life also -- "he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.
and He said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.’
Pilgrims and strangers » Exemplified
(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
“I am a stranger and a sojourner (resident alien) among you; give (sell) me property for a burial place among you so that I may bury my dead [in the proper manner].”
For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope [of remaining].
So then he went forth from the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, [God] transferred him to this country in which you are now dwelling. Yet He gave him no inheritable property in it, [no] not even enough ground to set his foot on; but He promised that He would give it to Him for a permanent possession and to his descendants after him, even though [as yet] he had no child.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Should have their treasure in heaven
If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Long for their pilgrimage to end
And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body). read more.
For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed) -- "not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [ after the resurrection]. Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.
For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed) -- "not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [ after the resurrection]. Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Are strengthened by God
“Your strongholds will be iron and bronze,
And as your days are, so will your strength, your rest and security be.
Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Are exposed to persecution
Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]! My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Pray for direction
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
They will ask the way to Zion, with their faces in that direction, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
Pilgrims and strangers » All saints are
Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,To those [elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and listen to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am Your temporary guest,
A sojourner like all my fathers.
Pilgrims and strangers » Typified
I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as strangers (temporary residents, foreigners).
Now you are to eat it in this manner: [be prepared for a journey] with your loins girded [that is, with the outer garment tucked into the band], your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; you shall eat it quickly—it is the Lord’s Passover.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Shine as lights in the world
so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Have a heavenly conversation
But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Are not mindful of this world
And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Invite others to go with them
Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are going to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will be good to you, for the Lord has promised good [things] concerning Israel.”
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Have their faces toward zion
They will ask the way to Zion, with their faces in that direction, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Look for a heavenly country
But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » The world is not worthy of
(people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Keep the promises in view
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Look for a heavenly city
For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Hate worldly fellowship
Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]! My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Forsake all for Christ
Then Peter answered Him, saying, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]; what then will there be for us?”
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Die in faith
All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Pilgrims and strangers » Exemplified » Apostles
Then Peter answered Him, saying, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]; what then will there be for us?”
Pilgrims and strangers » God is not ashamed to be called their God
But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Should not be over anxious about worldly things
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Should abstain from fleshly lusts
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.
Verse Concepts
AbstinenceForeignersCommitment, to the worldBeggingBeing A Pilgrimencouragement, examples ofChastitydesiresLustMortificationNomadsOutsidersSanctification, Means And ResultsSelf DenialSelf IndulgenceSeparationSin, Avoidance Of
Sin, Accepting Forgiveness OfSociety, Positive Aspects OfSpiritual Warfare, As ConflictSpiritual Warfare, Enemies InSaints, As PilgrimsAliens, Christians In The WorldChristians, Names OfForsaking SinCitizenshipLiving For The MaterialAvoiding EvilReckoned As ForeignersAbstaining From DrugsPrinciples Of WarCitizensovereatingCharacteristics Of Pilgrims
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Rejoice in the statutes of God
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Pass their sojourning in fear
If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Are not at home in this world
By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Are actuated by faith
By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.
Pilgrims and strangers » Exemplified » jacob
Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, and they have not reached the years that my fathers lived during the days of their pilgrimage.”
Pilgrims and strangers » Exemplified » David
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and listen to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am Your temporary guest,
A sojourner like all my fathers.
Pilgrims and strangers » Described
Pilgrims and strangers » As saints they » Have the example of Christ
And Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”