The Word of God
There is an incredible scripture in Hebrews that tells us that the Word of God is “Living” and also “Active.”
Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version)
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
What an amazing thought! How is it alive and how is it active?
Let’s look at the difference between how a Hebrew reads the Word compared to how you may read it.
A Hebrew would read the Word for “identity”. They would try to put themselves in the story and become part of the story line. The words of the parables, psalms & prophets would then become so alive and active to them in their own personal circumstances and they would find the answers to guide them through their circumstances. God was talking to them and providing answers and solutions.
Another way that they would hear God through the Word was to identify the function of an object and place them self and their situation in or around the object and its function. Again the Word of God would become alive and active and God would speak to them in all matters with object lessons.
Look at this as an example involving a tent.
Isaiah 54:2 (New International Version)
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
The Hebrew families were prone to get larger and larger. Therefore their tents had to be enlarged. That literally meant that they had to continually make larger pieces and add them to the tent. Why? Because they had to cater for tomorrow’s growth!
Once they made the tents they then had to stretch the tents out. The tighter they stretched them the more they felt the presence of God. Let me explain that last statement. Inside the goat hair tent of the Hebrews the roof is black but the gaps between some of the fibers of the material allow for pinholes of light to penetrate through giving the appearance of stars in the black sky. For this reason, the Hebrews saw the beams of like God’s presence was over them and beaming down around them. Stretching therefore was seen as a good thing. The more they stretched the more the three dimensional beams of light coming through the holes reminded them that God was not only over them but was actually there with them.
So the Hebrew reading about the tent being enlarged and stretched would see the benefits of this. They would then place them self and their situation into the “functionality” of the tent and identify the benefits.
They would say I am going to enlarge myself (I will face this situation and become a bigger person). I will be stretched (I may be uncomfortable until I get through this but the benefit is a blessing).
Just as the tent was stretched and the light came through as beams reminding the Hebrew of God’s presence, he would say “I will benefit by being stretched. As I’m being stretched, I will be reminded He is with me.”
What difficult situations are you experiencing this week? Are they to do with sickness; are they financial, or relational? Well become the tent. Decide to enlarge by telling yourself that “you can do this. Then decide to be stretched and face the situation knowing God is with you.
Now the Word of God is “Alive and Active”.
Place yourself in the “Word of God” and let Him teach you new and wonderful things.
Ps T
