God’s Word Always Knows
By Christopher L. Scott
Moses Lake, Washington
There was a saying in our house when I was growing up that my dad, sister, and I often quoted to each other: “Momma always knows.”
Moms have unparalleled intuition. Whether lying about grades we receive on a test, coming home after curfew, not being honest about who we are spending our time with, pretending to do homework when we are actually playing video games, or finding shortcuts to do our chores, moms always know.
Like my mom, God’s Word always knows what is going on in our hearts, intentions, and feelings.
The author of Hebrews tells us, “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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NASB).
How does God’s Word know this? As Christians, we believe God superintended authors to compose and record without error the words in the Bible. That inspiration of Scripture has its source in God who is everywhere and knows everything.
We call this his omniscience. God is all-knowing. He knows all actual and possible things, and God is everywhere. We call this God’s omnipresence. He is everywhere and his word extends that omnipresence.
There are several things we should notice about God’s inspired Word in verse twelve. It is “living and active.” This means it seeks out, is energetic, and it is powerful. It doesn’t wait for us to go to it, instead, it seeks us out. God’s Word is also “sharper than any two-edged sword.” You can’t fool God’s Word or lie to it. In that way, it is “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.” God’s Word goes deep through us and it is quick to discern what is going on in our lives.
The Greek scholar, AT Robertson, says the picture painted here is of a surgeon who observes what’s going on and instantly knows what to do. The surgeon, like God’s Word, carries a bright and powerful light he uses to illuminate every dark crevice that might need work. And the surgeon carries a sharp knife for the removal of what he sees needs attention.
In verse thirteen the author says “there is no creature hidden from his sight.” We cannot hide from God’s Word. He concludes by saying, “all things are open.” Under God’s microscope the smallest sin, doubt, trouble, or insecurity is revealed. When it says all things are “laid bare” it is using the picture of someone bending back the neck as the surgeon does the operating.
Like my momma who always knew what was going on, God’s Word always knows what’s going on with us.
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Christopher L. Scott, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, is a pastor and freelance writer. Christopher L. Scott writes from Exeter, CA. Learn more about his writing ministry at ChristopherLynnScott.com.
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