The concept of "hastening" in the Bible often conveys urgency, eagerness, or the swift movement towards a particular action or event. This term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, reflecting both human and divine actions.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "hasten" is מָהַר (mahar), which means to hurry or make haste. This term is frequently used to describe the urgency of human actions in response to divine commands or impending events. For example, in Genesis 18:6, Abraham hastens to prepare a meal for his divine visitors: "So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, 'Quick, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.'" This passage illustrates the eagerness and promptness in serving the Lord.

Another significant instance is found in 1 Samuel 17:48, where David hastens towards Goliath: "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." Here, David's hastening reflects his faith and courage in confronting the giant, trusting in God's deliverance.

Prophetic Context

In the prophetic books, hastening often relates to the fulfillment of God's promises or judgments. Isaiah 60:22 speaks of the Lord hastening the fulfillment of His word: "The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly." This indicates God's sovereign control over time and events, ensuring that His purposes are accomplished at the appointed time.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the Greek word σπεύδω (speudō) is used to convey the idea of hastening. In Luke 19:5-6, Jesus calls Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree: "When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said, 'Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.' So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully." Zacchaeus's haste reflects his eagerness to respond to Jesus' call and the transformative encounter that follows.

Eschatological Implications

The concept of hastening also appears in eschatological contexts, where believers are encouraged to live in anticipation of the Lord's return. In 2 Peter 3:12, believers are exhorted to live holy lives as they "look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." This passage suggests that the faithful living and prayers of believers can, in some mysterious way, hasten the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the biblical call to hasten can be understood as an encouragement for believers to respond promptly to God's commands, to live with a sense of urgency in their spiritual walk, and to eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises. The urgency to share the Gospel, to serve others, and to pursue holiness are all aspects of this hastening in the life of a believer.

In summary, the theme of hastening in the Bible underscores the importance of readiness, obedience, and anticipation in the life of faith, reflecting both human response and divine action in the unfolding of God's purposes.926. bahal -- to disturb, terrify
... root Definition to disturb, terrify NASB Word Usage dismayed (12), disturb (1),
disturbed (2), eager (1), hastened (1), hastens (1), hastily (1), hasty (1 ...
/hebrew/926.htm - 6k

6315. puach -- to breathe, blow
... root Definition to breathe, blow NASB Word Usage blow (1), breathe (1), cool (2),
hastens (1), longs (1), set a aflame (1), snorts (1), speaks (1), tells (2 ...
/hebrew/6315.htm - 6k

4116. mahar -- to hasten
... NASB Word Usage act quickly (1), anxious (1), bring quickly (2), bring...quickly
(1), do quickly (1), haste (2), hasten (3), hastened (1), hastens (1), hastily ...
/hebrew/4116.htm - 6k

John i. 41, 42
... Andrew, after having tarried with Jesus and learned what He did, kept not the treasure
to himself, but hastens and runs quickly to his brother, to impart to ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xix john i 41.htm

The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" and "Composition ...
... the ray [555] of light which has been commingled with the water, having obtained
from discipline and instruction its own proper locality, hastens towards the ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xvi the sethian theory concerning.htm

Of the Mystical Feast of the Altar of the Lord. ...
... The cleansed people, rich with these adornments, hastens to the altar of Christ,
saying: "I will go to the altar of God, to God Who maketh glad my youth;" [2885 ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii of the mystical.htm

1 Cor. xii. 21
... we do not this in contempt," saith he, "but because they have no need.'" And see
how large a measure of praise he thus sets down in brief, and so hastens on: a ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxxi 1 cor xii.htm

Treatise v. An Address to Demetrianus.
... Thus, even at its very commencement, birth hastens to its close; [3409] thus, whatever
is now born degenerates with the old age of the world itself; so that no ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise v an address to.htm

True Hearing
... the depth of His Divine Being waves of longing break forth, to reveal to us the
abyss of His Godhead, and the fullness of His essence; He hastens to identify ...
//christianbookshelf.org/eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/iv true hearing.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... It is further observable that though a good man hastens to God in his trouble, and
runs with all the more speed because of the unkindness of his fellow men ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

The Ship on Fire --A Voice of Warning
... A lugger puts off to her, and a steam-tug hastens to the rescue, and, thanks be
unto the God of providence, all the passengers"the captain and chief officers ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the ship on firea voice.htm

Prayerfulness.
... When He sees a man in an agony of desire and longing, then He hastens to gladden
his heart with an answer. FAITH. Prayer must be full of faith. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter ix prayerfulness.htm

Give us Today Our Needful Bread
... has eaten and been filled with the loaves of bread which have been blessed by Jesus
seeks the more to grasp the Son of God more closely and hastens toward Him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xvii give us today.htm

Hastens (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hastens (6 Occurrences). Proverbs 7:23 Till an
arrow strike through his liver; as a bird hasteneth to the ...
/h/hastens.htm - 7k

Mary (50 Occurrences)
... They found the sepulchre empty, but saw the "vision of angels" (Matthew 28:5). She
hastens to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this ...
/m/mary.htm - 72k

Appeal (30 Occurrences)
... Acts 23:11), that as he had testified at Jerusalem, "so must thou bear witness also
at Rome." With this promise and direction in view, he hastens toward the ...
/a/appeal.htm - 20k

Hastening (6 Occurrences)

/h/hastening.htm - 8k

Hasteth (32 Occurrences)

/h/hasteth.htm - 15k

Mark (182 Occurrences)
... deeds. Jesus is a worker. His life is one of strenuous activity. He hastens
from one task to another with energy and decision. The ...
/m/mark.htm - 93k

According (7613 Occurrences)
... deeds. Jesus is a worker. His life is one of strenuous activity. He hastens
from one task to another with energy and decision. The ...
/a/according.htm - 62k

James (40 Occurrences)
... James hastens to add the same condition, "Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting:
for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and ...
/j/james.htm - 78k

Gospel (108 Occurrences)

/g/gospel.htm - 101k

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

/e/epistle.htm - 101k

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