The term "wistfully" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept it conveys—longing or yearning with a sense of melancholy or nostalgia—can be seen in various biblical narratives and expressions of the human condition. In Scripture, this sentiment often arises in contexts of unfulfilled desires, reflections on past blessings, or the anticipation of future hope.

Longing for God's Presence

One of the most poignant expressions of longing in the Bible is the psalmist's yearning for God's presence. In Psalm 42:1-2 , the psalmist writes, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?" This imagery captures a deep, wistful desire for communion with the Divine, reflecting a heart that is not fully satisfied until it rests in God.

Nostalgia for Former Days

The Israelites often experienced wistfulness for the past, particularly during times of trial. In the wilderness, they longed for the comforts of Egypt, despite their bondage there. Numbers 11:5 records their lament: "We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic." This longing for the past, even when it was fraught with hardship, illustrates a common human tendency to idealize former days when faced with present difficulties.

Yearning for Redemption

The prophets frequently expressed a wistful longing for the redemption and restoration of Israel. Isaiah 64:1 captures this sentiment: "If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence." This cry for divine intervention reflects a deep yearning for God to act decisively in history, bringing about the fulfillment of His promises.

Anticipation of the Messiah

The Old Testament is replete with a wistful anticipation of the coming Messiah, a hope that sustained the Jewish people through centuries of waiting. In Isaiah 9:6 , the prophet declares, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This prophecy encapsulates the longing for a future deliverer who would establish God's kingdom on earth.

The Christian's Hope

In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to live with a wistful anticipation of Christ's return. In Romans 8:23 , Paul writes, "Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." This eager waiting is marked by a longing for the completion of God's redemptive work and the full realization of His promises.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not use the word "wistfully," the concept is woven throughout its pages, reflecting the human experience of longing for God, for past comforts, and for future fulfillment. These biblical expressions of wistfulness remind believers of the ultimate satisfaction found in God alone and the hope of His promises yet to be fulfilled.1809. dalal -- to hang, be low, languish
... root Definition to hang, be low, languish NASB Word Usage brought low (1),
brought...low (3), fade (1), hang (1), look wistfully (1), thin (1). ...
/hebrew/1809.htm - 6k

With Jairus
... And nothing could be more touching than his prayer for his "little daughter," its
sequence broken as if with a sob; wistfully pictorial as to the process ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 5 21-43 with jairus.htm

Simeon
... He looked past the face of the Rabbi and the priest, not contemptuously, but wistfully,
wondering why he must: he looked past them, and beheld in the dawning ...
//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/simeon.htm

Off Duty
... work.'. 'Well'"Lucy half closed her eyes and smiled wistfully"'somehow
there always seemed something to prevent plans like that. ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/xiv off duty.htm

The Defence
... king. Men waited wistfully for another messenger to come, and hung upon
his lips when he appeared as upon the very voice of God. ...
/.../drummond/the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/the defence.htm

The Good Samaritan
... "Whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive." But his head is bowed
with trouble, and he seems to look wistfully to the time when "the wicked cease ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlviii the good samaritan.htm

Diamond Said Nothing to his Mother About his Adventures. ...
... him out of the stable, and was just getting on his back to ride him to the forge,
when he saw his little boy standing by the pump, and looking at him wistfully ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 5 diamond said nothing.htm

To Certain Holy Hermits who had Been Invited to Rome by the Pope
... Now, in this last period of her life, surrounded by the corruption and intrigue
of the papal court, her thoughts turned more and more wistfully to the reserves ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to certain holy hermits who.htm

To Brother Raimondo of Capua of the Order of the Preachers
... As one reads of the wonderful effect of her soothing presence, as one sees the
terrified youth becoming quiet and subdued, clinging wistfully to the spiritual ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to brother raimondo of capua.htm

A Fulfilled Aspiration
... 'So that I may finish my course,' said he wistfully; whilst before him there lay
dangers clearly discerned and others that had all the more power over the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a fulfilled aspiration.htm

The Mediator's Threefold Prayer
... when the camp had to be left if God was to be found, and when Moses alone received
tokens of God's friendship, and the people stood wistfully and tremblingly ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the mediators threefold prayer.htm

Wistfully (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wistfully (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 38:14 I make
cries like a bird; I give out sounds of grief like a dove ...
/w/wistfully.htm - 6k

Wist (13 Occurrences)

/w/wist.htm - 14k

Wit (28 Occurrences)

/w/wit.htm - 17k

Mealtime (1 Occurrence)
... into bread (Ezekiel 4:9; compare Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palastina-Vereins, IX,
4). The wandering Israelites in the wilderness looked back wistfully on the ...
/m/mealtime.htm - 24k

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)
... into bread (Ezekiel 4:9; compare Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palastina-Vereins, IX,
4). The wandering Israelites in the wilderness looked back wistfully on the ...
/m/meal-time.htm - 24k

Meals (8 Occurrences)
... into bread (Ezekiel 4:9; compare Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palastina-Vereins, IX,
4). The wandering Israelites in the wilderness looked back wistfully on the ...
/m/meals.htm - 27k

Food (2953 Occurrences)
... corn. The children of Israel, when in the wilderness, are said to have looked
back wistfully on the "cucumbers. melons. leeks. onions ...
/f/food.htm - 36k

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