Bent almost double, she could scarcely look ahead, and to lift her eyes toward heaven was utterly impossible. As the record says: “She was completely bent and could not straighten herself at all.”
what an awesome thread! It’s encouraging and a reminder, I think, of the Goodnews!
“She was completely bent and could not straighten herself at all.” What stands out to me in this she could not straighten herself. Considering the visual of “bent almost over” “she could scarcely look ahead” “to lift her eyes to heaven was utterly impossible” …unable to “straighten” or
unable to lift herself up.
James 4:6-10 But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but
gives grace unto the humble. [7]
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.(Jesus drew the woman unto himself) Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your joy to heaviness. [10]
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. <this is why the woman bent whom was unable to lift up herself stands out to me.
Also, Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
“Woman,” he said, in that tone of compassion the twelve had often heard, “you are loosed from your infirmity.” Yet she remained bent in her habitual posture of obeisance. Why did Jesus speak as though it were already done, when all could see she was still gripped by her affliction? Perhaps he had in mind the prophetic Scriptures that foretold such wonders: “I will make the crooked straight.”
I was thinking the same thing “Perhaps he had in mind the prophetic Scriptures that foretold such wonders:
“I will make the crooked straight.” …wow, I will make the crooked places straight. Is the woman bent over unable to lift herself up …”a place”? I think so, because she is “the place” where “you are built together” “joined” “tempered together for the habitation of God—the place “edifying itself(together)” in Love for God’s Spirit to dwell.
In this case, the woman’s affliction had been caused by such an angel, whom Jesus identified as “Satan” because, like the adversary in Job, he opposed her. The phrase “spirit of infirmity” simply signifies “the angel responsible for her affliction.” Viewed in this light, this and similar miracles take on even greater significance:
Agree. But usually if you mention this and similar miracles taking on greater significance …it’s shunned as if it diminishes its original meaning instead of enhancing it. “Perhaps he had in mind the prophetic Scriptures that foretold such wonders:
“I will make the crooked straight.”
Acts 13:8-10 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9] But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [10] and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy,
will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?