What’s the connection?

2 Timothy 3:16,

‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:’

The Bible is the most incredible book to ever be written. It is God breathed. Although not purposed for entertainment, it is timeless and captivating once you become entrenched in its lessons of mystery, scandal, action, drama, and love. It is truly exquisite! There are parts however, that can send a reader scrambling to understand meaning – wondering the truth of 2 Timothy 3:16 – begging the question – how is this profitable today? BUT there is connection albiet unclear at first requiring a dig for further understanding. Hebrew 4:12 tells us; 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The word of God is ALIVE and powerful. It is a weapon. His word is a path, it is an answer. Inspired by Him, it is HIS word, and it is ALL profitable. 

We began singing a song a while ago at church that led me into a dig. The song is made up of words found in Psalms 24:7-9;

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Something awe inspiring happens when we sing this song. We rise to our feet and sing these words and it begins to feels as though the spirit of the Lord is going to send the doors flying open and the King of Glory is physically going to step in right then and there. The move of God that happens when these words are proclaimed, was enough to send me searching for the why?

 Without understanding, these words simply become gates and doors…but when you spend time reading meditating and researching you learn that Psalms 24 was penned for the transfer of the ark of the covenant to its resting place in Jerusalem. The ark, on its own is an incredible object to study – It was more than just a box- it represented the presence of God. Can you imagine the overwhelming feeling those involved in that procession must have experienced? They were responsible for ushering in the presence of the Almighty God into that city! The thought of what that event may have been paints a beautiful picture of a triumphant progression through a city that was experiencing first hand the presence of the Living God. How jaw-dropping it must have been to behold such an event – but I have to admit reading these words left me in wonder…How does this apply to lives today, is it still relevant?

The answer…

We no longer experience the move of the ark, but we still experience the ushering in of His presence, and we still have the ability to experience the power of these words penned in scripture as hearts and lives of men, women, and children come into submission to God. We sing these songs in proclamation today just as those that it was originally penned for, only now the gates and doors we sing about aren’t physical gates and doors to a city…they are the gates and doors that we have within us. The doors that have closed within our minds that tell us ‘No, God doesn’t want this part of you,’ or ‘No, that peice of you is a little too messed up, let’s shut that off and not let God see that’…or the door to our heart that tell us ‘There is no God, there is no such Savior that died for your sins’…but these words and this scripture are purposeful today as they speak directly to those gates and doors that have shut down our understanding and openness. They declare ‘NO, be LIFTED UP for the King of Glory is coming in!’ And when they do, the heads of the lost and weary are lifted and the hearts and minds of those that are lost and seeking are opened and the King of Glory comes in and proves to us that the words in Psalms 24 are ALIVE today just as they were way back in the Bible days and we experience the presence of a Living Savior transforming the lives of His people. His word is incredible and just as powerful and relevant today!

My challenge to you – is to think on these powerful scriptures. Consider the peices of God’s word that you struggle to understand and dig – Dig into His word, Dig into prayer, and when you do…stand back in awe as the King of Glory steps in and begins to unlock your understanding, and you see for yourself that His word is Alive…Choose Him.