The writer of Hebrews – it’s still unsettled as to who actually wrote the book – uses powerful imagery in this verse. The people of the time were well aware of what a two-edged sword could do, many had likely seen one used.

They were quite sharp. They denoted power and authority.

Here we’re told the Word of God, the scriptures, are like that sword with twin edges, having the capability of cutting in two directions.

Let’s look at the Amplified Bible translation to get a glimpse of a further understanding of the original language:

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power – making it active, operative, energizing, and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and the immortal spirit, and of joints and marrow – of the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Whoa. The Word penetrates to the dividing line of the breath of life – our soul, the the eternal part of us, our spirit.

It’s not like the scriptures are chopping us up like a chicken for supper, it drives past the stuff of every day, through the gunk clouding our minds, beyond the incorrect thoughts and imaginations. It gets all the way in to the real us – even if we don’t know the real us.

When we allow God to use His Word to help us, we can experience discomfort as He reveals places that need correction. In time, as we continue allowing that sword to work in us, we experience a healing that no one can stop. It truly is an incomparable balm.

What do you say? Shall we read more and allow God to use the Book to do His surgery on us?

Coffee, Bible, Journal.