The Sharp Sword at Work

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” -Hebrews 4:12 (ESV). [Read Hebrews chapters 3 and 4]

To pinpoint one verse and then ask you to read two chapters to gain the context in which Hebrews 4:12 is set is a bit unusual for a brief devotional. But the author of Hebrews is writing about the rest intended for the children of God, eternal rest, that which comes after this earthly journey is finished. In these two chapters, he reviews why the children of Israel were rebellious, even soon after they were freed from bondage in Egypt. Verse 3:15 warms, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” In these chapters, and in the cited verse (Hebrews 4:12), the people addressed are the children of God; Christians, followers of the Lord Christ. Our rebellion and disobedience are waded into by God’s Word which is working to bring us back to the yoke of the Lord and the way in which we should walk.

In Hebrews 4:12 we might think that “the word of God” is our Bible, and certainly it is. But here many scholars agree that “the word of God” means God’s personal communication to the believer which is living, active, sharp, piercing and discerning. We might consider it as God speaking to our conscience to get our attention. He pictures God’s Word as a sharp two-edged sword. Imagine a sword, especially one sharp on two edges, slashing away in battle. What an inroad that action by a brave soldier with a sword in his hand would make. A graphic picture should immediately come to our mind. The word of God acts as God Himself who gets at one’s innermost thoughts and intentions and exposes what is amiss in the believer’s life. Have you not felt this sharp sword? Have you not succumbed to its penetrating sharpness?

I have strong impressions of what I should do, right actions, changes in behavior, a more deeply discerning Christian life with more study of the Bible, prayer, doing the deeds the Lord lays upon my heart to do. There is a constant prodding of the Spirit, urging me to change my slovenly ways and get back to the serious business of following God. Talk about the Sharp Sword at Work? I’ve experienced it!

God speaks through His written Word, the Bible. It too is like a two-edged sword. Let us see some ideas the Bible itself lists about this guidebook. It is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105). It is a hammer that shatters hardest rock (Jeremiah 23:29). It is like honey in the comb, sweet and a comfort food (Psalm 19:9-10). It is like gold, a source of wealth, enriching us (Psalm 19:9-10). God’s Word is as the rain and the snow that water and refresh the earth (Isaiah 55:10-11). His Word is seed planted in the heart that bears abundant harvest (Luke 8:11). The Word is like a mirror in which we see ourselves reflected and try to correct what is awry so that the reflected image can be better (James 1:22-25). The Word is milk and meat, ample to nourish and bring health to the soul (Hebrews 5:12-13). It is fire that both warms us and burns us, depending on our perspective and how we heed the word, the fire (Jeremiah 23:29). And certainly, God’s Word is a sharp, penetrating, “a double-edged sword that pierces asunder the soul and the spirit, the joints and marrow of our bodies, and exposes the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). And verse 4:13 states: “And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” To be sure, before we can find that eternal rest, we must deal with the sharp sword of God’s Word. Dr. A. T. Pierson stated: “The Word of Christ proves itself to be the Word of God by its living energy and its penetrating power.” Amen. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.29.2017.