Dune
“Therefore, I have cut them up through the prophets, killed them with words of my mouth; my judgments have gone forth like light.” Hosea 6:5 (translation J. Dearman)
Killed – The killing word. That’s how God describes the words of the prophet. Did you think the Bible was only “words of life”? If you bought that Sunday school adage, then you probably never read the Old Testament (or a good portion of the New). God’s words have a dark side.
The Hebrew word is harag (to kill, to murder, to slay, to slaughter). The picture isn’t a pleasant one. Notice how God slaughters with His words. His judgments go forth as light. They pierce the hearts of darkened men, condemning them in their evil acts. They shatter the stone of resistance. They separate order from chaos. They divide. Those who embrace the light, who rejoice in His mitzvot, live. Those who do not, discover that God’s words slay them, now and in the ha’olam (the world to come).
Has YHWH spoken a killing word to you? I’ve heard His killing words. I know what it is like to be mortally wounded by the Lord of hosts. I have felt the sword of truth run through my excuses, my justifications and my lies. When God asks us to climb up on the altar, it isn’t for the view. There is slaughtering to be done. If you don’t want to bleed, don’t read the prophets. Avoid them at all costs. Pretend they are historically irrelevant. These men speak killing words. They are terrifying, convicting, paralyzing. Don’t read any more! Just close the book and walk away as fast as you can.
If you can.
Killing doesn’t always happen at once. God is an expert with slow toxins. He will plant a killing word in your conscience and let it infect you. You die slowly as His word begins its relentless stripping of your self-satisfied living. His word takes away your sense of triumph. Then it attacks your self-sufficiency. Then it dismantles your arrogance, your pride, your reputation. Finally it goes to work on legacy, on purpose, on promise. In the end, God’s killing word leaves you with ashes. Unfulfilled dreams, lost hopes, broken promises and a deep sense of failure, or pointlessness. Never read Ecclesiastes when God’s killing word has come to you. Ecclesiastes is the suicide sermon never preached. It is surrender to the sovereign or surrender to the .38 Special.
God’s word kills – on purpose. Do you want to know if it is killing you? Just answer this simple question: Do you rejoice to hear it or do you run for cover?
Topical Index: kill, harag, prophets, word, Hosea 6:5
There is a sense that if God were to speak to us directly we could not tolerate His Words – see Exodus 21:18-21; Deut 18:15-18; Hebrews 12:18-28….There is a quote that says that God’s Word comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.
Sorry…Exodus 20:18-21, not Exodus 21
The favorite times of my walk with the Lord is when he disciplines me – it is then, when I am convicted and cleansed that I know that the God of the universe truly speaks to and cares for us individually. He is amazing.
The title of Today’s Word, brother Skip, should be “Radiation Therapy.” Oh yes, I too, have been “under the knife,” and many times. -Bottom line?- “It’s all good.” Why?- Because G-d IS good, ..all the time, (and I’d like to add one more..)- to everyone. Yes, the “good, the bad and the ugly..”- the LORD is (always) good. Not only is G-d great, but more dear to me (and to us all), the LORD (our G-d) is good.
David reach a conclusion about his G-d, after many “up and downs” (trials and triumphs) in his life and so will we for these words are G-d’s words and they are forever/eternal words for all mankind, to hear, to believe and to rejoice in: “You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees.” (Psalm 119:68) My friends, who is David talking to here? This is David, having his “G-d moment” and coming to the recognition and realization: “G-d, you are good!” Have you had your G-d moment?- (if not, -you will..- G-d will see to it!). This, my family, dear brothers and sisters, is our ABBA,- (should we look at our history with Him?- lol!,- Yes!, we should. Nothing but good- even in the “hard times.” Never, ever, no never has He yet failed to deliver on one promise. Faithful Provider, Redeemer, Comforter, Friend, Brother, Father, Mother- “Christ is all- and in you all.” Do you know Him?
Suffering, trials, tribulations, afflictions are part of His program. “In this world you (you) will have tribulation!” (Great!- where do I sign up? lol!) Tell me friend, – what is the “rest” of the story? Did the words that proceeded out of the mouth of G-d, (yes, Jesus is Mashiach, G-d incarnate) have an end here? No, they did not. His words? (have we forgotten?- apparently so..) “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. -*But* take heart! I have overcome the world.” Oh?- He has overcome? The victory “is” won? Well?- Is it? Do we pray “for victory?” or do we pray “from” victory?
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (Proverbs 17:3)
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply:
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
(John Rippon)
“He will sit, testing and purifying the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to ADONAI uprightly.” (Malachi 3.8)
http://www.aboundingjoy.com/fiery-verses-fs.html
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFdeOT3lzqc&feature=related 5 MIN
“You Won’t Relent (Until You Have It All)” Misty Edwards