“‘Is not My word like as a fire?’ says the Lord; ‘and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?'” Jeremiah 23:29
Dear Ones:
The importance and power of the word of God cannot, and must not, be underestimated. In the letter to the Hebrews, God tells us that, “…the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” (4:12) In the letter to the Romans, Paul writes concerning this effective power of the word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (10:17) We see that it is by the proclaimed word of God that God’s power becomes operative in such as way as to save the believing soul. God’s power is always in conformity with the truth of the Gospel, actively working to save and deliver.
Why does the Lord through Jeremiah, declare that His word is “as a fire,” and “like a hammer?” Fire has a lot of properties, but one in particular that refers to the holiness of God. Scripture tells us that our God is like a flame of fire. Why? Because fire burns up that which is combustible. Paul speaks to us of that which is eternal and temporary (of man), all passing through fire. He declares that the soul that believer will be saved, as by fire. However, that which is not of God will burned up, consumed. The word of God is “as a fire,” because it possesses the consuming aspect, or quality, of God’s holy nature. It stands in stark contrast with the nature of man, and consequently, the words of sinful man. One effect of this word as a fire, is that it produces a certain burning in the heart when God speaks. Such was the case with the disciples on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection of Christ, when the Lord Jesus was speaking to them. They remarked afterwards that their hearts burned within them when the Lord spoke. The word of God is also revealed as a hammer, “…which breaks the rock in pieces.” There is great power in the strike of a hammer, power to break that which is hard and unrelenting. There is a brokenness, according to the word of God, which can occur when a person becomes so hardened in his heart, that there is only hardness in his or her dealings with others. It is a resistance to God which shall suddenly “…be broken without remedy.” (Proverbs 6:15) There is also a brokenness that is gracious , tender, with a blessed result. The denial of Jesus by Peter broke him, only to be restored, and greatly used of God to “feed His sheep.” The sorrow of the mother of Jesus, and other women, at the cross…seeing the Son of God die, resulted in a brokenness that was unfathomable. Yet, out of that sorrow, as the Lord had spoken to them, “…you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (Jn. 16:20) The word of God is like a hammer that shatters in pieces the resistance of man to God, but at the same time, it is a blessed instrument by which brokenness of a different sort can be remedied, and healed, joy given in the place of sorrow.
What is our responsibility with regard to the life-giving word of God? The answer is again found in the writings of Jeremiah: “…he that hath My word, let him speak My word FAITHFULLY.” (23:28) In the example of the Lord Jesus, during His ministry, we see that He was constantly receiving from His Father, the very word of God for the moment. Hardly ever, in the different circumstances and meetings with different individuals, did He use or speak the same words. To one He would say, “Go and sin no more.” In another circumstance, He spoke to the raging sea: “Peace, be still.” To another person in need, He would say, “Your sins are forgiven you…take up your bed and walk.” Different words were for different circumstances and people, and yet, the power of God was operative through and according to them all.
Dear Father, Teach us Thy word, relying wholly upon the Spirit, to speak always the truth in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad