Sunday: Symbols of God’s Word
Read Psalm 119:105, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 8:11, and Matthew 4:4. What five symbols are used to describe the Word of God in these passages? Why do you think these five symbols were chosen to represent the Word of God?
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The varied symbols used in these passages describe some of the primary functions of the Word of God. When we share the Scriptures with others, it is like a light that illuminates life. Jesus, “the light of the world”, breaks through the darkness of their misunderstanding about who God is and the nature of His character. Minds darkened with a misunderstanding of God are illuminated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
According to Jeremiah, the Word of God is like a fire and a hammer. It consumes the dross of sin in our lives and breaks our hard hearts. When we help people see in Scripture the glory of Jesus, their hard hearts are broken, and the fire of His love consumes the dross of selfishness, greed, lust, and self-centeredness.
The Word of God is also likened to seed. The key characteristic of seed is that it is life-giving. Seed takes time to grow. Not all seeds germinate at the same time. Not all plants grow at the same rate. But under the right conditions, the life in the seed bursts forth through the soil into new life. When we plant the seed of the Word of God in the hearts and minds of others, we will not always see immediate results, but silently the seed is growing, and in God’s own time, if they respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, it will produce a harvest for God’s kingdom.
Jesus likens His word to nourishing bread. As many of us know, there are few things as satisfying as a good loaf of bread. The Word of God satisfies the hunger of the soul and nourishes our inner spiritual longings. As you share the promises of the Word with others and help them discover that Jesus is the Word, their lives will be transformed by His goodness, charmed by His love, amazed at His grace, and satisfied in His presence.
| Again, think about the truths that we know only from the Bible. What should this tell us about how much we should treasure what it teaches us? |
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One of the problems with commenting on a themed lesson series like this one is that you end up repeating yourself. I think that we have already discussed the symbolism of light and salt and while I cannot say that we have fully exhausted the ideas contained in them, it is hard to squeeze a new and exciting idea out of them early in the morning when it is cold (at least cold for Australia). So, with a bit of creative leave, I am going to take a stab at the title itself, "Symbols of God's Word".
The "Word" is symbolic in itself and I am surprised that the lesson this week did not refer to John 1.
John uses this symbolism as the basis for his Gospel and it is worth thinking about why he used "The Word" as a symbol for Jesus. John was writing for the benefit of people like you and me who have not had the opportunity to live first-hand with Jesus. We have to accept the story and meaningfulness of Jesus life through the expression of words from the eyewitnesses like John. We have to rely on their faithfulness in recording the salient events and teachings of Jesus' life.
Today, we are far removed from the events that occurred in Palestine two millennia ago. Unchurched folk, will only see "The Word" if they see Jesus living in us. I have made the observation before that if Jesus has not risen in our lives, he may as well still be in the tomb. We are the communication media (word) that has been charged with the responsibility of sharing Jesus (the Word) with the folk we interact with today. The messenger and the message must be intertwined in the same way that John saw Jesus, relating to the Father.
Suggestion: Read John 1 as a starter for this weeks lesson.
🌈❤️Alright, something significant 🤔& Short but sweet 😁.
It sounds to me maybe I should just leave a tweet😂.
A bird 🦅,bird, bird, a bird is the word.
(Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.)
THE WORD is Love to be a 🐦 Bird.
(Psalm 55:6
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.)
So scripture is something that so many are familiar with.
I have Faith that the Word stopping there is only a myth.
The Word still lives within each one of us.
Each One of us must learn to trust.
Trust Our hearts 💕 over our minds.
Share Our Love ❤️ with ALL kinds.
We should seek out Love 💗 everyday of the week So the words we speak should not be bleak but instead should peek that we are not weak and still remain meek while turning the other cheek.
🥰🙏
The Word of the LORD is also called The Truth. Pilate and many people these day want to know what is the Truth.
Some say we are being arrogant when we say we have the Truth, however so long as we are referring to the Bible then it is correct.
Peter speaks of the present truth 2Peter 1:12 KJV, which in this day and age I believe is the 3 angels message Rev 14:6-12 and is the special truth for our time that not many (if any) others are sharing with the world.
For any who have spent quality time studying the Word of God in order to know the truth/will of God, the symbols shared in the lesson(light, fire, hammer, seed, and food) seem very appropriate. There are other symbols that are worth taking a look at as well. (For the Word as food, see also Jer 15:16)
Other symbols would include:
a field - Matt 13:44, which is found to contain a valuable treasure worth selling all to obtain. Notice the treasure was only discovered by the one plowing deeply.
a sword - Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12
a bow(with arrows) - Isa 66:19, Hab 3:9, Ps 64:3,7 which lends greater meaning to Rev 6:2.
And what about Psalm 23, with its green pasture and still waters?
As I study these lessons I recall the words of my teachers long ago, “we are the only bible some will ever read”. Are we a living bible and reflecting our Lord?
My daily prayer is to be a witness for Him.
I appreciate the lesson writer's statement: "... their hard hearts are broken, and the fire of His love consumes the dross of selfishness, greed, lust, and self-centeredness".
The 'seeing/understanding' comes through 'hearing' followed by 'doing', as the Word's life-giving power is released when acted upon - This is our new life's commission!
As our faith and trust in our heavenly Father grows ever larger/stronger like a mustardseed, much good will come to us and those that are ready and willing to 'experience' the Word of God.
I like best the parables Jesus uses related to seeds and leaven. Jesus uses these symbols very often when describing Faith, the Word as well as the Kingdom of God.
Mark4:30-32; Matt.13:31,32; Luke 13:18,19 - Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to the Mustardseed, growing not just into a plant, but into a tree that reaches into Heaven "and the birds of the air made nests in its branches". This tree is also found in Daniel 4:10-12 and Ezekiel 31:6; this is the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven were all creatures can dwell safely.
Matt.13:33; Luke13:20,21 - Compares the Kingdom to Leaven. Unleavened bread is called the bread of affliction in the Old Testament, but leavened bread is representative of joy and peace - which will be its effect once the power of His Word spreads throughout our life.
Mark4:14-20; Matt.13:18-23 - Speaks to the Word of the Kingdom of God being sown like a seed; "When anyone heareth the 'word of the kingdom'.. ". This is an interesting description, pointing out that the effect of the Word is not equal in all that hear it. v.23: 'But he that received the seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty'.
I think that the emphasis here is on the seed - the Word of God - needing to bear fruit.
The Word is not only the written word in the Scriptures. It also is a symbol and stands for something else. It is the vessel that carries the power of the Holy Spirit; it is creating in us new life; it is very precious, life-giving and life-sustaining. When planted in the soil of Faith, it will grow to embrace all that we are; everything we come in contact with will be leavened by the redeeming and healing power of God's Love.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12.
Can anyone see their own spirit? Can they see their own soul? We cant, but the Holy Spirit can through the words.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Heb 4:13
THE WORD OF GOD here is compared to a two-edged sword. The word is so sharp it pierces, cuts, and divides the soul from the spirit. How can such be possible!!! It discerns the thoughts and the intents of the heart. If so be, the word is a living book. This book has an unseen force on and behind it. Could it be that's why sinful humans hate the bible/word?
If we were to cherish a habitual impression that God sees and hears all that we do and say and keeps a faithful record of our words and actions, and that we must meet it all, we would fear to sin. Let the young ever remember that wherever they are, and whatever they do, they are in the presence of God. No part of our conduct escapes observation. We cannot hide our ways from the Most High. Human laws, though sometimes severe, are often transgressed without detection, and hence with impunity. But not so with the law of God. The deepest midnight is no cover for the guilty one. He may think himself alone, but to every deed, there is an unseen witness. The very motives of his heart are open to divine inspection. Every act, every word, every thought, is as distinctly marked as though there was only one person in the whole world, and the attention of heaven was centered upon him. {PP 217.4}
That is so awesome the way you said it it couldn’t get any more planer than that we cannot see what God we cannot take his place all we can do is be the seed planter and let the Holy Spirit guide us in what to say. 🙏 Amen.Ch