The question I would like us to consider today is, “What is the Word of God like?” The aim of this reflection is that, by looking at 9 comparisons the Bible makes for the Word of God, we might understand what it does and how it can change our lives.
Among the expressive tools of language are similes and metaphors. A simile is a figure of speech in which, in order to present and better understand the properties and workings of one thing, it is set alongside another and likened to it. A metaphor is likewise an expressive tool, one that consists of using words and phrases in a transferred sense because of some analogy or resemblance. Using these figures of speech, the biblical authors liken the Word of God to at least 9 things. These 9 comparisons and metaphors reveal to us the different workings of the Word of God in our lives. If we grasp them well, we will understand what benefit there is in reading our Bibles every day, and we will want — through hearing and reading — to take in the Word of God and release its working in our lives. Only it can truly change us for the better!
I. AS IMPERISHABLE SEED, THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE.
As He began to explain the parable of the sower in Luke 8:11, Jesus said:
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11)
The Word of God meant here is the gospel of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who receives it and believes.
Seed has life within it. This tells us that the Word of God is alive. It is a Word of life. In Acts 5:19 we read what happened when the apostles were thrown into prison for preaching Christ.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” (Acts 5:19–20)
Notice that the angel of the Lord called the apostolic gospel “words” or “a Word of life”!
In 1 Peter 1:23–25 the apostle Peter also speaks of the Word as seed.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
The Word of God is imperishable seed. It is what gives us new birth. It makes our spirit alive toward God. And because it is eternal, it produces eternal life in us as well.
24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24–25)
Everything else in this world is temporary and fleeting, but not the Word of God. It “endures forever.” And those in whose hearts it has taken root will also “endure forever.”
The first and most basic working of the Word of God in our lives is that, when we believe it, it produces in us the eternal, divine life. With the help of the Holy Spirit, it gives us new birth.
Besides life, seed has potential within it. It is very small, yet condensed and concentrated within it is all the information and life-force needed so that, if it is placed in the right favorable conditions, it can produce a plant according to its kind. In the same way, the Word of God contains within it the potential to reproduce the image of God in us. And it does so, if we are the good soil that receives it and interacts with it.
II. AS LIVING WATER, THE WORD OF GOD CLEANSES US.
Besides “seed,” the Bible also likens the Word of God to “water.” In Ephesians 5:25–27 we read that Christ sanctifies and cleanses His church through the water of the Word. Here the apostle Paul exhorts married people with these words:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25–27)
Without water there is no life. A human being — indeed no living organism — can live without water. But we have already spoken of the life that the Word produces in us.
Besides sustaining life, water cleanses. It is one of the best solvents. It removes dirt. Such is also the working of the Word of God in us. It cleanses us from sin. It cleanses us from being fruitless for God and makes us spiritually fruitful. In John 15:3 Jesus said to His disciples:
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (John 15:3)
We cannot remember every sermon we hear. We are like a basket that cannot hold water within it. No matter how much water you pour into it, it all runs out. Even so, hearing the Word is beneficial, because even though we cannot remember everything word for word, it washes us. The basket may not be able to hold the water, but when it is dipped into it again and again, or when it is placed under a stream of running water, if nothing else it at least gets washed and cleansed. It is the same with us. Praise God for the washing and cleansing work of His Word in us!
Another interesting property of water is that water soaks in. Perhaps this should remind us that, just as water soaks into the ground, so the Word of God must soak into our souls and hearts in order to accomplish the will of God in us. In Isaiah 55:10–11 God Himself says of His Word:
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)
III. AS SPIRITUAL MANNA, THE WORD OF GOD FEEDS OUR SOULS.
Besides seed and water, in Matthew 4:4 Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, likened the Word of God to bread:
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
This is what the Israelites were taught in the wilderness. When their bread and food ran out, they had to learn to rely on God and to eat the manna that God rained down for them from heaven during the night. According to Exodus 16:31,
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:31)
This reminds us that the Word of God is sweet! In Psalm 119:103 the psalmist exclaims:
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)
And in Psalm 19:10 it says that they are:
10 … sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)
I remember how years ago, at a youth gathering, Pastor Viktor Virchev explained these verses. He compared the Word to the cake his wife used to make. That cake was so fluffy, so sweet, so moist, so desirable, and it melted in your mouth in such a way that it was impossible to resist it. Such is the Word of God too. Those who have once tasted its sweetness want to taste it again and again, and would never give it up.
In the Bible the Word of God is spoken of not only as bread, but also as milk and as “solid food” — that is, most broadly, it can be called spiritual food for our souls.
The main purpose of the Word is not to delight us, but to grow us up. In 1 Peter 2:2 the apostle Peter calls us to have a “ravenous” spiritual appetite. There he says:
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. (1 Peter 2:2)
What does this mean? We must prayerfully hear and read the Word of God every day. Our attention to it must be undivided. We must “devour” every word of God. Only in this way will we be able to grow spiritually and be established in our faith — something that will also lead to our final salvation!
IV. AS A KINDLY MIRROR, THE WORD OF GOD HELPS US TO CORRECT OURSELVES.
In James 1:22–25 the apostle likens the Word of God to a mirror. The Word of God, the Bible, is the only reliable mirror that tells us exactly how we look in God’s eyes. Another mirror might flatter us or distort our image, but not the Word of God. It helps us to see ourselves as we truly are.
Can you imagine a woman who has been kneading something in the kitchen, or working in her garden, and then has to go out somewhere. She looks in the mirror, but neither wipes the dirty spots off her face nor fixes her hair — and just like that, grubby, uncombed, and disheveled, she sets off to meet someone.
I cannot imagine such a thing. I can more readily imagine how, before going out, she stands at least an hour in front of the mirror, carefully scans every millimeter of her face, and diligently labors to clean every little spot from her skin. She even takes every pain to hide, with the help of makeup, whatever cannot be removed.
It is unnatural to look in the mirror, to see that you are unkempt or dirty, and then to do nothing at all with your hand. We look in the mirror in order to fix ourselves! There is no point in looking if we do nothing afterward! It is the same with the Word of God. There is no point in coming and hearing it if, after we look at ourselves in it, we take no measures and do nothing to improve our character, even a little. The Word of God is like a mirror in which we see a standard that God wants us to reach. And if it does not prompt us to action, our contact with it is meaningless. Here is what the apostle James says:
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22–25)
The one who, looking into the mirror of the Word of God, sees his deviations from the “perfect law that gives freedom” and makes an effort to return to God’s standard of holiness and righteousness will be blessed. His perseverance will be rewarded by God, because he strives to live according to the truth.
V. AS A MIGHTY HAMMER, THE WORD OF GOD SHATTERS THE SATANIC STRONGHOLDS OF THINKING WITHIN US AND IN THEIR PLACE GIVES US THE MIND OF CHRIST.
So far we have seen the working of the Word of God as seed, water, food, and mirror. But the Word of God is not only passive like a mirror; it is also active like a hammer. In Jeremiah 23:29 it says:
29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
The Word of God can break the mental strongholds of demonic and sinful thinking in our minds. It can shatter pride, unbelief, rigidity, and our hardening. It can soften our hearts.
But a hammer can not only break; with the help of a chisel it can also carve. In the same way, the Word of God carves the image of Christ in us.
A hammer is also used for driving in nails. It is a tool that serves to fix and fasten things in place. So too the Word of God will give us the right direction and fasten us in the right position. In Ecclesiastes 12:11 it says:
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. (Ecclesiastes 12:11)
The one Shepherd is the Chief Shepherd, God, Jesus Christ, who gives the words to the preachers. And He gives them so that we may be fastened and established in the truth.
VI. AS A LAMP IN THE DARKNESS, THE WORD OF GOD LIGHTS OUR WAY AND LEADS US TO GOD.
So far we have considered the Word of God as “seed,” “water,” “food,” “mirror,” and “hammer.” In addition, in Psalm 119:105 it is called a “lamp”:
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
In order to appreciate the light, we must first think about the darkness. Can you imagine waking up in the morning, but instead of light — darkness. You see nothing. No outlines. No colors. You begin to feel your way around. You get out of bed, you bump into something, you knock something over. You cannot use your computer or drive your car. You cannot watch a video or television. How dreadful such a day would be.
The Bible teaches us that sin, error, and ignorance of God are like darkness. In 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 it says that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the truth.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3–4)
If darkness blinds, hinders, and misleads us, light gives assurance to our actions. It orients us. Such is also the working of the Word of God in our lives. It leads us along the narrow path of Christ’s righteousness and brings us into heaven. But it is our responsibility to follow it. That is why, right now, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, I say to you:
- Follow the Word!
- Believe the Word!
- Feed on the Word!
- Let it wash and cleanse you!
- Let it produce the fruit of the Spirit in you!
VII. AS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR WEAPON IN THE SPIRITUAL WAR.
Besides “seed,” “water,” “food,” “mirror,” “hammer,” and “lamp,” in the New Testament the Word of God is called the “sword of the Spirit.” In Ephesians 6:17 the apostle Paul calls us:
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
A sword is a weapon. So is the Word of God. It brings us victory in the spiritual war with the devil and the powers of darkness. On the mountain of temptation, Jesus defeated Satan with the words “It is written…” He quoted Scripture, and the devil left Him. In this the Lord left us an example of how to use the written Word in our mental struggle with temptations. If we study the Word every day and it soaks into our hearts, then when wicked thoughts or doubts come into our heads, verses from the Bible that we have memorized in advance will be brought to life in us by the Holy Spirit and will give us the spiritual power with which to deal with temptations.
VIII. AS A HEALING MEDICINE, THE WORD OF GOD HEALS US BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
In Proverbs 4:20–22 we find that the Word of God is not only a sword, but also a healing medicine.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. (Proverbs 4:20–22)
Here it says that the counsels of a wise father to his beloved son are like a remedy that contains life and brings health to the whole body. Such are also the words of our Heavenly Father to us, His adopted children in Jesus Christ. The Word of God is medicine both for our souls and for our bodies.
In Psalm 107:17–22 it says that when the sick cry out to God in their distress, God delivers them from their troubles:
20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. (Psalm 107:20)
We must learn to be like that Roman centurion in the Gospels, who sent his friends to Jesus to say to Him, “Say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:1–10). If we truly believe even a single verse of the Bible that speaks of how Jesus suffered on the cross for us and in this way paid the price for our health, we can experience a miracle of healing in our lives.
But I also want to remind you of this: for it to have its full effect, medicine must be taken systematically and consistently. So too we must daily take in the Word of God contained in the Bible.
IX. AS A FIRE IN OUR BONES, THE WORD OF GOD COMPELS US TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
We are speaking of nine comparisons and metaphors for the Word of God, and so far we have considered eight of them. We have dwelt on the Word as “seed,” “water,” “food,” “mirror,” “hammer,” “lamp,” “sword,” and “medicine.” The last one we will reflect on is the Word of God as fire.
In Jeremiah 23:29 the prophet conveys God’s words to us:
29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:29)
What is most characteristic of fire is that it “wants” to set everything around it ablaze. So too the Word of God wants to reach every person.
In Jeremiah 20:9 the prophet Jeremiah complains of his inability to stop his prophetic ministry. The Word within him is like a fire that wants to come out and that cannot be held back. If it is extinguished, it is no longer fire but ash; but while it burns, it cannot be held back or controlled.
9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9)
The Word of God cannot bear to be shut up or bound. If we fill our hearts with it, it will surely come out of there to pass into the hearts of others and set them ablaze for the Lord. In 2 Timothy 2:8–9 the apostle Paul says that he himself may be imprisoned, but not the Word of God, because it cannot be confined or silenced. In these verses the old Paul says to the young Timothy:
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. (2 Timothy 2:8–9)
Let us not hold it back! Let us set it free! Let us form the habit of sharing it with others! It will accomplish what it was sent for — to bring salvation and eternal life to all who receive it.
LET THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST DWELL AMONG YOU RICHLY
From all these metaphors and comparisons for the Word, it is quite clear how many-sided and complex its working is.
- As imperishable seed, the Word of God gives us eternal life.
- As living water, the Word of God cleanses us.
- As spiritual manna, the Word of God feeds our souls.
- As a kindly mirror, the Word of God helps us to correct ourselves.
- As a lamp in the darkness, the Word of God lights our way and leads us to God.
- As a mighty hammer, the Word of God shatters the satanic strongholds of thinking within us and in their place gives us the mind of Christ.
- As a double-edged sword, the Word of God is our weapon in the spiritual war.
- As a healing medicine, the Word of God heals us both spiritually and physically.
- As a fire in our bones, the Word of God compels us to share it with others.
Do we want to be born again, sanctified, fed, corrected, oriented, changed, armed, healed, and strong? Then we need the Word of God. Only it can make us such.
I know that most of us will most likely not remember all nine comparisons and metaphors we have dwelt on this morning. But what I would like us all to understand is that the Word of God is living and active. It works upon those who receive it and changes them for the better.
We need the Word of God every day. That is why Colossians 3:16 tells us:
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16)
The Bible has been given to us by God for our good. Let us give it more room in our hurried daily lives! It has been given to us to bring us success and blessing — provided, of course, that we read it and apply it daily in our lives.
In Joshua 1:8 God Himself said to Joshua:
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)