Tuesday Reflection – June 23, 2020 God’s Word is Still Alive and Active.

Tuesday Reflection – June 23, 2020
God’s Word is Still Alive and Active.
 
Psalm 147 is a Psalm of praise to God the creator who cares for us. It can be divided into three sections. The first section, vs 1 to 6, praises God for his protection and preservation. Section 2, vs 7 to 11, praises God for his work in nature, and the third section, vs 12 to the end (20) praises God for his wisdom, power and word. In this section the concentration is on God’s power and care for his creation and the presence and witness of God’s word among God’s creation. The watchword for today is verse 15: He sends His commands to the earth. His word runs swiftly.
 
In a world which many describe as being devoid of the presence of God, today’s text is a stark reminder that God is very much present and at work among the creation. His commands and the swiftness of His words are a sure sign of God’s continued activity and presence. When God speaks, when God issues His commands, his words, they quickly reach their destination. In describing the swiftness of God’s word during the creation the Psalmist says in Psalm 33: 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. This is the speed at which God’s commands move and his words impacts the world around us. There is an immediacy to God’s words. He speaks and it happens. Paul understood this when he asked for prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3: 1: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, just as with you. God word moves throughout the earth and is glorified as it finds fulfillment among God’s people. There is no stopping the word of God nor its fulfillment. Rather we ought to make ourselves channels through which God’s will is accomplished. Is 55: 10 – 11 reads similarly to the Psalm. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Indeed we are being reminded today of the continuous presence and power of the living, active word of God. 
 
The constancy and power of God’s word both encourages and cautions us. It encourages us to know that regardless of where we find ourselves, or what we may be going through, God has a word for us. The writer to the Hebrews describes the word of God in 4: 12. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Imagine the penetrative power of God’s word friends. Soul and spirit, joints and marrow, is descriptive of the core of our very being, of who we are. This is the us that God alone knows. The watchword therefore invites us to open ourselves for an intimacy with God that is experienced only by those who lay bare their hearts and souls before him. That God would even want to be with us in such intimacy is hope for a fallen humanity. This is the hope that the world needs today. Gladys Moore wrote the Hymn, ‘God’s word alive and active, proclaimed throughout the years, still comforts us when hurting and calms our hidden fears. God’s word of truth and justice sets weary captives free, and joins God’s holy people in new community.’ The caution to us is that even as we are drawn closer in intimacy, we must realize the futility of trying to hide the true us from God who is all knowing. We cannot live a double standard before God and think that all is well. God’s words reveal God to us and us to God. The call for us then is to ensure that our thoughts and actions are a reflection of God’s commands, that our words and ways mirror God’s words and intentions for us. In this way we will be true stewards of God’s grace, reminding the world that God is indeed present with us. Through our living we are called to let the world know that God’s word remains alive and active in God’s creation. Amen.  

Bevon White