Wilderness Dwelling and Ascetic Christian Practices
The concept of dwelling in the wilderness appears in various biblical contexts, often symbolizing a place of refuge, spiritual refinement, or even punishment. David, for instance, expressed a desire to "wander far off, and remain in the wilderness" to escape the company of wicked men and dedicate himself to spiritual devotion, as he did when fleeing Absalom [1]. Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah wished for solitude in the wilderness to be free from corrupt society [1].
The wilderness can represent a place of spiritual discipline and purification. The book of Revelation portrays the Christian church facing its own "wilderness" experience, akin to Israel's spiritual refinement during their wilderness wanderings and exile. This period is understood as a time for endurance and perseverance, where God provides refuge and escape for his people [2]. However, the wilderness can also signify disobedience and its consequences, as seen in the forty years of wandering by the Israelites, which served as a warning against rebellion against God [5].
In some interpretations, the "wilderness of the people" refers to the scattering of Israel among various nations, a period of trial, discipline, and purification during their exile [6]. This contrasts with the literal wilderness of Egypt, suggesting a spiritual wilderness experience among other cultures [6]. Another perspective views this "wilderness of the people" as a return to a desolate homeland after captivity, where God's justice and mercy would either reform or end the people [7].
Beyond these spiritual and historical interpretations, the wilderness can also be understood in more practical terms. Proverbs suggests that it is better to dwell in a wilderness, even one without shelter or human society, than to live with a contentious and angry person [3, 4]. This highlights the extreme discomfort and lack of peace that can be caused by constant strife, making even a desolate wilderness seem preferable [4]. The wilderness, in this sense, is a place where one might find peace away from conflict [4].
Sources
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 55:7: Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness,.... So David did when he fled from Absalom, Sa2 15:23; so gracious souls desire to be; not in the wilderness of the people; but to be solitary as in a wilderness, clear of the company of wicked men, as Jeremiah wished for, Jer 9:2; and that they might be more at leisure for and given up unto spiritual devotion, and be secure from their enemies: and as this may be applied to Christ, it shows the wickedness, cruelty, and barbarity of the men of that generation among whom he lived; that he chose rather to be ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 21:19: (Compare Pro 21:9). wilderness--pasture, though uninhabitable ground (Psa 65:12).”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 21:19: It is better to dwell in the wilderness,.... Where persons live without shelter, and are not only exposed to storms and tempests, but to beasts of prey; where is want of the necessaries of life, and no society; where no "speech" is, as the word (e) for wilderness may signify; yet it is better to dwell in such a place, where no human voice is heard, than with a contentious and an angry woman; that is always brawling and scolding, ever in a quarrelsome and angry disposition, and provoking to anger all about her; See Gill on Pro 21:9. In a mystical sense, it is bett”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 3:7: 3:7-19 This passage presents, “as a warning to us” (1 Cor 10:6), the negative example of those who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there. The wilderness wanderings represent disobedience to God and its consequences (see Num 32:7-11; Deut 1:19-35; Ps 106:24-26).”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 20:35: wilderness of the people--rather, "peoples," the various peoples among whom they were to be scattered, and about whom God saith (Eze 20:34), "I will bring you out." In contrast to the literal "wilderness of Egypt" (Eze 20:36), "the wilderness of the peoples" is their spiritual wilderness period of trial, discipline, and purification while exiled among the nations. As the state when they are "brought into the wilderness of the peoples" and that when they were among the peoples "from" which God was to "bring them out" (Eze 20:34) are distinguished, the”
- Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 20:35: I will bring you into the wilderness of the people - I will bring you out of your captivity, and bring you into your own land which you will find to be a wilderness, the consequence of your crimes. There will I plead with you - There I will be your king, and rule you with a sovereign rule; and the dispensations of my justice and mercy shall either end you or mend you.”