Dictionary of Bible Themes Reliance upon God or upon others. Dependence on God for help with spiritual and physical needs arises out of an awareness of human helplessness, though dependence may be wrongly directed. People may look to others for encouragement and support, but over-dependence is not commended. Psalms 18:6Dependence arising from a sense of helplessness See also Physical helplessness Psalms 107:4-6; 116:6Mark 4:38 Mark 5:25-26 pp Mt 8:25 pp Lk 8:24 pp Mt 9:20 Isaiah 64:6pp Lk 8:43 Mark 9:17-18Spiritual helplessness Romans 5:6; 7:18pp Mt 17:14-16 pp Lk 9:38-40 Hebrews 4:16Dependence on God encouraged See also God is to be trusted Exodus 14:31Deuteronomy 8:3 Psalms 4:5; 9:10; 20:7; 37:3 Proverbs 3:5-6 Nahum 1:7 John 15:4-5 Psalms 46:1 See also God is a refuge Deuteronomy 33:27Psalms 62:8; 71:1 Hebrews 13:6 See also God can help those who depend on him Psalms 118:6-7; 22:4-5; 33:18-20; 94:17-18Luke 11:13 God will help those who depend on him See also Psalms 121:2-4; 145:18-19pp Mt 7:11 James 1:5Numbers 20:12 Deuteronomy 1:32; 9:23 Examples of failure to depend on God 2 Kings 17:14Psalms 49:6,13 Isaiah 42:17 2 Chronicles 20:12 Dependence on God for physical help See also 2 Kings 19:14Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. 2 Chronicles 13:18pp Isa 37:14 Hezekiah 2 Chronicles 14:11; 16:8the men of Judah Psalms 22:9-10Asa: Matthew 9:27-28David John 2:3-5two blind men 2 Corinthians 1:8-10Mary Paul Mark 10:14-15Dependence on God for spiritual needs pp Mt 19:14 John 3:27pp Lk 18:16-17 See also Childlike dependence is necessary for those who would enter God's kingdom Ruth 2:12Luke 23:40-42; 24:47-49 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 Psalms 5:2 Dependence on God expressed in prayer See also Psalms 22:24; 88:13; 102:1; 119:147; 130:1-2Exodus 2:23 Examples of those crying out in dependence on God Job 30:28the Israelites in Egypt Isaiah 30:19Job in his suffering Lamentations 3:55the people of Jerusalem Jonah 2:2Jeremiah Luke 18:13Jonah from within the fish Acts 12:5the tax collector in the temple 2 Corinthians 1:11the church praying for Peter the Corinthians praying for Paul Jeremiah 2:18Misplaced dependence See also Dependence on surrounding nations 2 Kings 18:20-21Isaiah 31:1 pp Isa 36:5-6 Psalms 40:4See also Dependence on false gods and religions Deuteronomy 31:20Isaiah 42:17 Colossians 2:8 Jeremiah 17:5 Romans 9:16 Dependence on human strength and resources See also Psalms 33:16-17; 118:8-9; 127:1-2Ephesians 2:8-9 Isaiah 30:12; 59:4 Dependence on sinful behaviour Proverbs 25:19The futility of misplaced dependence Jeremiah 2:13See also Isaiah 8:6-8; 31:3Hosea 10:13-14 Acts 12:20 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Galatians 6:2 A proper dependence on others is commended See also Human help can strengthen Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Leviticus 21:3 Examples of a right dependence on others Deuteronomy 15:11a priest's support for an unmarried sister Matthew 25:35-36Support for the poor and needy: 1 Samuel 29:6Isaiah 8:2 Achish found David to be a reliable soldier 2 Timothy 2:2Uriah and Zechariah were reliable witnesses See also Reliable teachers are a blessing to the church. 1035 God, faithfulness1240 God, the Rock 1320 God as Saviour 5691 friends, good 6109 alienation 7922 fellowship with God 8021 faith 8026 faith, growth in 8030 trust 8331 reliability 8354 trustworthiness 8602 prayer |
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