Solitary places

I was doing my Beth Moore homework the other day and had one of those jump-off-the-page verses. The kind that you know that you should pay attention to. Extra attention to.

The verses were from Luke 8 where Jesus encounters the demon-possessed man on the other side of the lake. Rather than me paraphrasing it, here it is:

Luke 8:27-31
²⁷When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" ²⁹For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

³⁰Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. ³¹And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

The demon actually drove him into solitary places and had a plan to isolate the man, drive him into a pit and let him think he was there all by himself. Alone, naked and homeless (v27).

Anyone besides me ever feel that way? And then I blame myself for getting into a pity party.

Beth Moore had us look at the contrast of Jesus going to a solitary place in Mark 6.

Mark 6:30-32
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

She then asked us to compare and contrast the different situations and then posed the question something like "how can we tell if our times of isolation are being used by God or by the enemy?"

The answer can be found in the above scriptures. If we are receiving rest, then the isolation is from God. If not, our time of isolation is probably from the enemy.

This has helped me tremendously over the last week where I have found myself in isolation (in my mind and thoughts). I have asked - am I feeling at peace and rest, or anxious and uptight? Then, I am better equipped to pray accordingly.

I started to do a more exhaustive study on this and found some interesting things, but just don't have the time right now to really formulate my thoughts. If this stuck out at you, I would suggest doing a study for yourself. I searched on "wilderness" and saw all points in the Bible where this word was listed (using the original Greed word - eremos).

Just to whet your appetite, here is the meaning of that word:

1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited

- used of places- a desert, wilderness, deserted places, lonely regions

- used of persons - deserted by others, deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred

One meaning had "a flock deserted by its shepherd"

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Maybe someday, life will get back to a routine, but right now, I am trying to just figure out what the schedule is!!! Baseball/softball has started ... the team of men is coming the 14th ... we have a lot to accomplish before they arrive ... homeschool., etc. ALL of this is GOOD (even GREAT), but it will just take a little bit before I can wrap my brain around it :)

God's Blessings to each of you, and I would love to hear feedback of what you are learning!