Dictionary Word of the Day: repine
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 07:44AM repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:
1. To feel or express discontent.
2. To long for something.
I was surprised to see the primary meaning of this word. I've always thought the second definition was the primary, indeed only, definition.
At first glance, the definitions seem disparate, but on second glance it makes sense. In order for one to long for something, one must assuredly feel at least some discontent. If one were totally content, there would be no longing, or would there be?
Which brought this quote to mind:
Contentment is a divine thing: It becomes ours, not by acquisition, but infusion; it is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by the spirit of God in the soul; it is a fruit that grows not in the garden of philosophy, but is of a heavenly birth: it is therefore very observable that contentment is joined with godliness, and is profitable: "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim.6:6).
Contentment is an intrinsical thing: Contentment hath both fountain and stream in the soul…Thieves may plunder us of our money and plate, but not of this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it, for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart; the soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment, is like Noah in the ark, that can sing in the midst of a deluge"
Contentment is a habitual thing: It shines with a fixed light in the firmament of the soul. Contentment does not appear only now and then, as some stars which are seen but seldom; it is a settled attitude of the heart. (p.12)
Thomas Watson, the Art of Divine Contentment (1855)
There exists a for the Christian a contentment that is complete and yet allows for the soul to long for--to repine. It is both a "settled attitude of the heart" as well as a discontent with this world and this present life.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way:
It is difficult to define hiraeth, but to me it means the consciousness of man being out of his home area and that which is dear to him. That is why it can be felt even among a host of peoples amidst nature's beauty. . . like a Christian yearning for Heaven. . .
C.S. Lewis, this way:
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
Paul puts it this way:
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
John says this:
1 John 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Reader Comments (1)
I love the dictionary.com word of the day! So what if it makes me a nerd in a big way? :-)
Thanks for your thoughts here--to live is Christ, but to die? GAIN!