[Greek] καταλείπω (kataleipō), [Latin] remanere, [Latin] derelinquere, [Latin] relinquere, [French] abandoner, [French] quitter, [Latin] dimittere, [Latin] disperser, [Latin] reicere: to leave down, to abandon, to forsake, to leave, to depart; 29 scriptural references
God will never leave us behind
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to leave behind, what remains, to bequeath, to abandon, to remain, to leave alone, to reserve for oneself, and to admit (allow the truth to remain).
Homer’s Iliad 10.238: “Do not leave the better man behind and take as thy comrade one that is worse.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 3.34: “He said to Camyses; ‘You do not seem to be equal of your father; for you have as yet no son such as left after him in you.’”
Xenophon’s Anabasis 5.6.12: “It there are to be ships enough so that not so much as one man will not be left behind here, we shall set sail.”
Plato’s Symposium 209d: “They envied the fine offspring they left behind to procure them a glory immortally renewed in the memory of men.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 9.96: “They made for the mainland under the shield of their army which had been left by Xerxes’ command.”
Homer’s Odyssey 21.33: “Iphites gave Odysseus the bow that the great Eurytus had bequeathed to his son.”
Homer’s Odyssey 1.243: He is gone out of sight, out of hearing, and for me he has left anguish and weeping.”
Thucydides’ The Peloponnesian War 4.18: “You might have left behind you a reputation for power and wisdom which nothing could endanger.”
Plato’s Laws 729b: “To his children it behooves a man to bequeath modesty, not money in abundance.”
Isocrates’ Evagoras 9.33: “I consider that both will be yet more clearly revealed from what remains.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 1.1.8: “But the deepest secrets of these matters the gods reserved to themselves.”
Old Testament: This term, related to many Hebrew terms, conveys a wide range of meanings. These meanings include to remain behind, to be delayed, to be kept back, to cast off, to reject, to be left behind, to rest, to set down, to depart from, to abandon, to be desolated, and to be ignored.
New Testament: This term means to leave (depart), to imprison, to abandon (neglect), to remain, and to separate (end) family ties. Jesus was quite often on the move in His ministry. Paul is imprisoned and ultimately killed by the Roman authorities. Martha felt exasperated that Mary would be neglectful in helping to serve the others. Assistants (deacons) were appointed to serve the needs of the widows and children who were being neglected. God (Yahweh) speaks to those faithful Israelites who remained faithful to Him. The Sadducees were attempting to trap Jesus about Jewish marital customs concerning childless widows.
Scripture:
“Martha, burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving. Tell her to help me.’” Lk.10:40
Martha was in a sense rightfully frustrated. However, Jesus points out that Mary has chosen a higher (better) calling. This speaks to a religious vocation.
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us ‘if someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife, but no child, his brother must take his wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’” Mt. 12:19
The Sadducees were attempting to trap Jesus about Jewish marriage practiced and customs. Jesus points out that they neither marry nor or given to marriage in heaven.
“And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So He was left alone with the woman before Him.” Jn.8:8
Jesus shows mercy and compassion to the adulterous woman. Jesus remained faithful to her. This also alludes to God remaining faithful to the Israelites.
Conclusion:
Remain, remainder, remaining, derelict, dereliction, reject, rejection, disperse, quit, abandon, dismiss, dismissal, relinquish
It was interesting to discover the more nuanced meanings like admitting (allowing to the truth to remain), leaving pain, leaving a reputation, and what remains to be said.
For purposes of brevity, in the Old Testament I had to also leave behind references to the remnant of God, the remaining faithful Israelites. This term also refers to be desolated, being forgotten, and being ignored.
In the New Testament, this term focuses on the meaning of separation. I think we can imagine Jesus saying: “Martha, Martha, Martha! Mary has found a higher calling.” Mary leaves behind a worldly secular calling. (Sorry—Brady Bunch. I couldn’t help myself)☺☺☺
The Jews left behind their righteous indignation toward the adulterous woman and went away. The Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus in how would provide for a widow left behind.
Jesus also points out that marriage is just a temporary social institution on earth. We all will be single for eternity in heaven. The priestly, religious, and consecrated states (which are all single) are the visible earthly precursors of the eternal “marriage” relationship between God and man (woman).
On a personal note, for so many years, I was hoping for and expecting that marriage relationship for me. In a sense, I was viewing this notion like an “idol”. But I later found out that God had other plans for me. It was God’s will that I would have a lay single vocation as a catechist and leave this “idol” behind.
This term often dealt with other people’s concerns which were neglected or left behind.
I will leave it at that for now. Let me know if I left anything else behind. ☺☺☺
Update: We are now having affirmative action court cases about whether to select or leave the best candidates or other candidates for consideration.
The Biden administration failed to lead the removal of people from Afghanistan. Many were left behind.
We are now living in current times where the next generation may not be economically successful as the previous generations.
In recent years, the current generations are less likely to become married and have children.
We traditionally honor those who have been left behind (died) in their service to our country and freedom.
In some situations, sons and daughters will continue to fall in the footsteps of their parent in either a positive way (role model) or a negative way (corruption).
We all can relate to something bequeathed (left behind) to us.
Those who have lost loved ones have been left in anguish and weeping. We all must continue to pray for them.
Bestowing a legacy of modesty and honor can be perhaps the greatest gift one can receive by another person.
We cannot abandon coming together in finding common ground to stop these senseless tragedies.
Many are still not abandoning their concerns about voting safeguards and integrity.
As I leave this post behind, I want to look at all those who are wandering in our current times. There are those fleeing from safety for wars. There are some, who like sheep, stray from the flock. Some even go so far in being seduced by idols, gods, and aberrant lifestyles. Some even leave behind any semblance of decency in exposing themselves and their lifestyles to children. Like wandering planets, they are caught in their orbit of sinful behavior unable to break free from the gravity of circumstances. We have been left in a society and culture where there are both deceivers and the deceived. It remains to be seen if they can get out these circumstances. Don’t be mistaken. It can be difficult to change one’s perspectives. Pride can often becomes conflated with sinful activity. And yet God will never leave us behind.
Next post: Wandering, deceiving, and being mistaken