Pronounced = “Zif-oid”
~ Having the shape of a sword ~
The Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 49:1-3 wrote, "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. *And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; *And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
The words that we speak can be for life or for death ~
Words can be used to cut in two ways, to destroy or to heal. It is very important that we know how to choose and use words.
The best way to insure that our words come out the way that they should is to ask the Lord to select and shape our words so that His Perfect Will might be accomplished.
In Isaiah 11:4, the Prophet Isaiah wrote, "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."
Good words will judge in a right manner, whether it be to bless or to punish, whether it be to exalt or bring down or whether it be to heal or to destroy. To bless with ones words is better than to smite; and to edify than to ridicule.
The Prophet Hosea in Hosea 6:5 wrote, "Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth."
The Lord uses His Words spoken through His Chosen Ones to shape the way the Saints should live. If we refuse to listen to and observe His Words, He will remove us from the good standing that we enjoy with Him and He will deliver the disobedient to torment and destruction.
In Proverbs 30:12-14, King Solomon wrote, "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. *There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. *There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."
What we perceive of ourselves is not as important as how God “YHWH” sees us. The natural man can wash himself, change his apparel and appearance but that is all that mankind can do. It takes the Hand of God “YHWH” to effectively change mankind from that which is vile and unclean to become one of His Chosen Seed “Saints.”
However, if we only pretend to do that which is right and well-pleasing in the eyes of God “YHWH,” we may be able to fool others “mankind” but God is not mocked and He cannot be fooled. Therefore, the Righteous Words of His Mouth will judge the deceiver.
We read Psalms 57:4, "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword."
The Soul, which is the essence of who we are, can be and often times is amongst those that would seek our harm and destruction. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we are sure that our Soul has been Redeemed by the Precious Shed Blood of Jesus and that we are endeavoring daily, moment by moment, to live for and serve Him in Truth.
In Psalms 52:2 King David wrote, "Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully."
Let it not be once mentioned of us as concerning Saints that our tongue should meddle with and pursue unrighteousness lest, we be hung by our own tongue. In other words, that which we devise to do and / or say is bound to return to us seven fold, whether it be to our good or for mischief.
King Solomon in Proverbs 17:9 wrote, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."
If we hear something that is a little off color or bad about another person, we are blessed when we do not repeat the matter to anyone else. However, if we are a talebearer, we are as one the separates the chiefest of friends.
In Proverbs 16:28 we read, "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."
A froward person is one that is habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition of that which is right and good ~
We read in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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."
That word “quick” means to be alive or lively. Thus, the Word of God “YHWH” is Alive and Powerful as a Sharp Twoedged Sword that cuts coming and going. And it is even Sharper than a surgeon’s scalpel to the point that there isn’t anything that His Holy Word cannot do. In fact, His Word even knows our very thoughts whether they be good or evil.
Let me here repeat in part: Hosea 6:5 which states: "Therefore have I hewed them by the Prophets."
We are either sharpened by the Word of God “YHWH” that has been spoken by the Prophets of Old or our Soul is as an adamant stone that refuses to hearken and must eventually be destroyed.
Let us therefore choose to permit the Sharp Word of the Lord to fashion us into what He would have us to be that we might have a Right to enter in through the Gates of that Heavenly City and partake of the Tree of Life and Live.
Praise His Holy and Righteous Name for Ever More!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org
