The Word of God, reading me as I read it!

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.

On three different occasions during the past week this passage has been a topic of discussion or special interest, and each time it has touched me in a different way.

First, on Monday morning during our family devotion, we were reading Hebrews and when we finished Chapter 4 we wanted to talk about this very important verse, we talked about how could the Bible read us and thought it meant that God knew everything we would need and put it in the Bible, all the biblical principles could be applied to each and every aspect of our lives. Hmmmmm....

Secondly, during bible study on Thursday, this passage was of special interest. Our focus has been on the revival and reformation described in chapter 8 of the book of Nehemiah. Following 70 years of bondage and captivity God allows the people of Jerusalem to return. Soon after they complete the rebuilding of the city they make a return to the reading of the word of God, translating it to give sense (v8), the natural and inevitable response was a sense of remorse (v9), then a celebration (v12 .... great mirth, because they had understood), and return to the law of God (v14-17 revival of the Feast of Booths), continuing in the word of God every day (v18) . We took a look at the Hebrews passage in relation to this study in revival because we have been learning that true revival is a work of God and is firmly founded on the reading and understanding of the word of God. This passage in Hebrews sheds light on the how and why. Could you get any deeper than the soul and spirit, joints an marrow, thoughts and intentions of the heart?

Thirdly, this passage came to mind today while reading an email and thinking about the moral decay of our country, the more the word of God is removed from society the further our country falls from God's grace.........................

Below is the passage in the Greek text, I did a little word study on the important words. I know, it's all Greek to you.........(and me too). Anyway the numbers in the Greek text below correspond to the number further below giving a deeper interpretation of the text. You can also rest your courser on each word for a brief interpretation of the word
Greek NT: Byzantine / Majority Text (1995)
Hebrews 4:12
(1) ζων γαρ ο (2) λογος του (3) θεου και (4) ενεργης και(5) τομωτερος υπερ πασαν μαχαιραν διστομον και διικνουμενος αχρι μερισμου(6) ψυχης τε και(7) πνευματος αρμων τε και μυελων και(8) κριτικος(9) ενθυμησεων και(10) εννοιων(11) καρδιας

1) zao: lifetime, alive, lively; A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively).
2) logos: the word, the Word; something said, including by thought, by implication.
3) theos: the supreme divinity, God, Godly.
4) energes: effectual, powerful.
5) tomoteros: sharper; Comparative of a derivative of the primary temno (to cut; as if by a single stroke).
6) psuche: soul, life, self; From psucho; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely.
7) pneuma: spirit, ghost; From pneo; a current of air, i.e. Breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication).
8) kritikos: able to judge;From krites; decisive ("critical"), i.e. Discriminative -- discerner.
9) enthumesis: deliberation, thought
10) ennoia: intent, mind; From a compound of en and nous; thoughtfulness, i.e. Moral understanding.
11) kardia: the heart, thoughts, feelings; Prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind)

This passage is so full and rich, nothing but the omnipresent spirit of God could go so deep as to know us better than we know ourselves! Can you imagine..........................one person may read a passage and receive comfort, another person may read the same passage and receive faith, another may read it and receive strength, and another be convicted, and yet another be saved, the potential is endless.

Tomorrow I hope to share something I learned from an evening service message right before Easter, so stay tuned.