Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

Becki and I joined Dandy for another walk/jog/chase-the-ball. Just before that, making plans together for the day, we agreed that we should include in our TO DO list picking up some fresh milk and cream from a nearby farm, then pick up a few gallons of honey from a nearby bee/honey farm. Suddenly it occurred to us that we are living right here and now in a land flowing with milk and honey. We didn’t know we had it so good! We just need to go pick it up—and pay for it. Well, coming to think of it, I guess I already paid for the milk. We have a good deal of credit there in exchange for my doing some sign work for the farm.

I’m off to respond to a bunch of work that’s yelling at me.

Blessings on your work today.

Love, Dad/Ray.

As you read along through the first part of this passage, you have no problem identifying the theme. The author is clearly expounding on the importance of entering God’s REST. The presentation of that REST has overtones of being both present and eternal. I think it makes a lot of sense to recognize that we do not really have either yesterday or tomorrow in our hands to work with, we only have TODAY—which is here and now. He says, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that REST (TODAY. See verse 7), so that no one will fall by following their (Israel’s) example of disobedience.” Then suddenly, without warning, the author presents what appears to be another theme, seemingly unrelated to the context. “For the word of God is living 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.”

How do these two great themes lace together? As I think further about it, I see the connection. For it is the WORD OF GOD that discloses and determines who enters the REST of God (…which, in other words, is relationship with God). We might even say that the WORD OF GOD is the doorway to God’s REST. To ignore or neglect the WORD OF GOD, to bypass its intended transforming work down deep inside, is to disqualify oneself for His promise of REST. In this sense, the WORD OF GOD is our REST.

Listen to verses 8 to 13 in the Message: “And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for ‘today.’ The promise of ‘arrival’ and ‘rest’ is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.

“God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.”

PARENTHETICAL NOTE: I think this may be a good juncture for me to document a statement of my own on Bible translations. I am very aware that this is an area of sharp debate for many within the Christian community. This tension can be downright discouraging for many. For others, it can give way to attitudes of cult-like exclusivity, condemning those who do not subscribe to their endorsed translation. Some will insist on the King James Version (KJV) and level cursed criticism against the New International Version (NIV) that I typically use in this series of devotionals. And there are those who sincerely believe that the Message translation by Eugene Peterson, from which I quoted above, is a serious contamination of Biblical inspiration.

Without attempting a lot of scholarly detail, here is what I BELIEVE: THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD—IT IS LIVING AND ACTIVE—AND THAT LIVING AND ACTIVE INSPIRATION TRANSCENDS (is bigger than) TRANSLATIONS. That which makes it that—LIVING AND ACTIVE—is a human heart that sincerely seeks after God (Matthew 6:33). Without that disposition of heart, the Bible, no matter what the translation, is reduced to WORTHLESS. Did you catch the significance of verse 2 in today’s reading? “For we also have had the gospel preached to us as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” In other words, they were not operating with a HEART AFTER GOD.

At the core of my own concern are these overarching questions: WHAT IS THE BIBLE REALLY SAYING? HOW DO I ALIGN MY THINKING AND BEHAVIOR WITH WHAT IT SAYS? I believe that various translations, concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and other study helps can assist any sincere disciple in pursuit of this kind of practical application of Biblical truth. But the greatest of these is A HEART AFTER GOD.