For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
For the Word of God is alive and active. This first part sets the stage for what will follow, and there are a few things we need to take note of. First, the “Word of God” is used here in a more general sense. It is referring to all the ways that God reveals himself to us. The second thing to take note of is the author’s use of “alive and active.” This is referring to God, who through the Bible is talked about as a living God, but also his people. We can be brought to life because the living God is inside of us. The message is that God’s Word cuts. The sword penetrates and divides and the use of the words “joints and marrow” shows us how far this sword reaches. It demonstrates that God’s Word penetrates those parts of our lives that are hidden and hard to reach. That sword judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Remember the context of this verse; it stems from a plea to obey God, to listen to what He says. And a promise that if we do that, we will find rest. This verse is reminding us that we can’t hide. God doesn’t just see what we do, he sees our hearts. The reality is, we can hide from others, but we can’t hide from God. He will judge us based off the attitude of our hearts. Pay attention to God’s Word and let it sink deep into your life.
Spiritual Steve 