The Mystery of Scripture

Scripture: For the word of God is alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Observation: As the writer expounds on the idea of entering into God's rest - an idea he quotes from both Genesis and Psalms - he then gives this more well-known summary of God's word. Having explained how parts of scripture written many hundreds of years in the past fully apply to the present situation of the believers, he then indicates this is because the word of God itself is alive and active. The word of God enters into our bodies in a physical way, not just a logical way, to affect our hearts and minds and soul and spirit, as a sword would affect our bones and body.

Application: Just in today's reading, I connected with passages from Hosea and Psalms and Hebrews. In the most practical sense ... Hosea was written over 2,500 years ago specifically to idol worshipers in Israel who were about to be destroyed by Assyria ... the specific Psalm was written ~2,800  years ago (I'm guessing) as songs that aligns to the wisdom of Ecclesiastes ... Hebrews was written 1,950 years ago to Jesus-believing Jews who had been exiled and were attempting to figure out their new personal identity in faith in light of their lost national identity in which their belief system had been intertwined.

In other words, none of this was possibly written for a 21st century American technology executive to "blog" about. Yet it speaks to me. God's anger about to engulf a sinful Israel, yet how he loves them as a father who raised them and therefore will not totally destroy them nor leave them without hope, as he yearns for faith to renew. The faithful singer who is jealous of the prosperity of those who are unfaithful and struggles with the emotions of envy and justice. The need for encouragement as someone who often feels exhausted by the current life and situation, and needs a reminder that true rest is found in God through faith in his perfect son Jesus.

Words written thousands of years ago in dead languages are still alive, relevant, and insightful today! This is the mystery of the scriptures. It is also the manifest love of God, that he would care enough to provide his guidance and teaching and counsel and love in a manner that can touch billions of hearts and souls over the course of millennia, and can also speak into my own mind right here and now.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word. It is by your love that you chose to engage with me, and with everyone. I wish you would continue to unfold your word in my life, so I may meditate on it day and night and thus find rest and hope in only you. Amen.