239. The Sword Of The Lord.

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. - Hebrews 4:12.

THE word of God is a name for Christ as well as for the Scriptures. The Scriptures are meant in this place, but the Lord Jesus is never dissevered therefrom: indeed, he is the substance of the written word. Scripture is what it is because the Lord Jesus embodies himself in it. Let us consider from this text—

I. THE QUALITIES OF THE WORD.

1. It is divine. It is the word of God.

2. It is living. "The word of God is quick."

· In contrast to our words, which pass away, God's word lives on.

· It has life in itself. It is "the living and incorruptible seed."

· It creates life where it comes.

· It can never be destroyed and exterminated.

3. It is effectual: "quick, and powerful;"

· It carries conviction and conversion.

· It works comfort and confirmation.

· It has power to raise us to great heights of holiness and happiness.

4. It is cutting: "Sharper than any two-edged sword."

· It cuts all over. It is all edge. It is sharpness itself.

· It wounds more or less all who touch it.

· It kills self-righteousness, sin, unbelief.

5. It is piercing: "even to the dividing asunder;"

· It forces its way into the hard heart.

· It penetrates the smallest opening, like the arrow which entered between the joints of the harness.

6. It is discriminating: "to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit;"'

· It separates things much alike: natural and spiritual religion.

· It divides the outer from the inner: external and internal religion, "joints and marrow."

· It does this by its own penetrating and discerning qualities.

7. It is revealing: "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

· It cleaves the man as the butcher cleaves a carcase and opens up the secret faculties and tendencies of the soul.

· Laying bare thoughts, intents, and inner workings.

· Criticizing them and putting a right estimate on them.

· Tracing their windings and showing their dubious character.

· Approving that which is good and condemning the evil.

All this we have seen in the preaching of the word of God.

Have you not felt it to be so?

II. THE LESSONS WHICH WE SHOULD LEARN THEREFROM.

· That we do greatly reverence the word, as truly spoken of God.

· That we come to it for quickening for our own souls.

· That we come to it for power when fighting the battles of truth.

· That we come to it for cutting force to kill our own sins and to help us in destroying the evils of the day.

· That we come to it for piercing force when men's consciences and hearts are hard to reach.

· That we use it to the most obstinate to arouse their consciences and convict them of sin.

· That we discriminate by its means between truth and falsehood.

· That we let it criticize us, our opinions, projects, acts, and all about us.

Let us keep to this sword of the Lord, for none other is living and powerful as this is.

Let us grasp its hilt with firmer grip than ever.