The Word of God

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Let us look at this familiar text to see what we can find. What is the Apostle Paul saying about the Word of God? What is it he wants us to understand?

First, God’s Word is living. What is it that makes God’s Word living? What defines something as animate as opposed to inanimate? One thing that comes to mind is the ability to reproduce, or to give life. God’s Word is not only living but is life giving.

That leads to the second point, God’s word is not only living, it is powerful. It has the power to give life. We can reproduce, but the power to reproduce comes from God. We can plant a seed and watch it grow. but we cannot make it grow. We do not give life to the seed. Nor did the seed create itself. It needs outside influences to grow -- sunshine, moisture, nutrients -- and these cannot be provided by the seed itself. These were created and provided by God.

Now this life-giving Word also has another quality -- it can cut. This appears on the surface to be a destructive feature and, indeed, it is. God’s Word is living, powerful and it is destructive to sin. The destructive quality in God’s Word is the natural result of it’s life-giving and powerful qualities. A seed again serves as a good illustration of this fact.

In order for life to come from the seed, the seed must be destroyed. It’s destruction results in an abundance of fruit.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

God’s Word is quick, powerful and sharp. This sharpness, this destructive quality that is inherit in God’s Word, works upon the spirit (soul and spirit), body (joints and marrow) and mind of man (thoughts and intents of the heart).

God’s Word divides asunder soul and spirit. I have heard many fanciful interpretations of this text based upon our fanciful interpretations that we attach to the meanings of the words soul and spirit. There are two verses that we can look at the may help shed light upon our understanding of this passage.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

God created man from the dust of the ground. He was not living until God breathed the spirit of life into man. At that point man became a living soul. The difference between the spirit of life, the breath of life, and the life that results from it is hard to discern. So much so, that there are many who see the words soul and spirit as interchangeable. God’s Word distinguishes the difference. It can discern spiritual truths that are beyond our ability. God’s Word alone gives us clear insight into the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God’s Word sheds light not just upon the spiritual world but upon the physical world as well. It can divide the joints and marrow of the body. All that is seen in the physical world can be better understood when viewed through the truths of the Bible.

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Many more texts could be quoted. It is clear that the study of God’s Word helps us to think about and see our world more clearly.

More than this, however, God’s Word looks into the human heart and reveals those things that are hidden even to ourselves.

Psalms 139:23 , 24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jeremiah 17:9, 10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

God’s Word cannot do its work upon our heart unless we read it.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God’s word is living, life-giving, and contains the creative power of God. His word is destructive to sin and transforms the selfish human heart by recreating it into the image of Jesus. God’s Word gives us insight into things that are beyond human comprehension. It sheds light upon this world and imparts practical knowledge. God’s Word discerns the things hidden in our heart. This is true insight. This work needs to be performed before we can enter into God’s kingdom.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

May God’s Word give spiritual insight, knowledge and reveal to you the hidden things of the heart. Amen