Ephesians 6:17 - The Word That Hurts Can Also Heal

We’vebeen talking about the Word of God. Yesterday, we discussed hiding the Word ofGod in our hearts—meditating on it, memorizing it, and placing it deep withinour souls. We let it become our guide, our protection, and our shield. It isalso the sword of the Spirit, which enables us to stand against the enemy. Butnot only that—it can also deal with our own hearts. That is what we want totalk about today. Justas a physical sword can wound to harm and cause pain, the same sword in asurgeon’s hand, can be used to heal. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, woundsin order to heal and to give life. That is very important, my friend. WhenGod’s Word convicts you, it may feel painful—but it is a holy pain. Ithink of Psalm 51. After David committed adultery with Bathsheba anddeceitfully arranged for her husband to be killed in battle, he was broken whenNathan the prophet confronted him about his sin. In his prayer of repentance,David cried out in verse 7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” We have already talked about howit is the Word of God that cleanses and washes us.Thenin verse 8 he prays, “Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones whichThou hast broken may rejoice.”  Davidhad been a shepherd. If a lamb wandered away, he would bring it back. If itwandered again and again, after repeated discipline, there were times when ashepherd might break the front leg bones of that lamb—not to destroy it, but tosave it. He would then carry it on his shoulders until the bones healed. Davidunderstood this imagery. He knew he had been broken over his sin. His “bones”had been broken. And he prayed, “Make me hear joy and gladness, that thebones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.”Heunderstood that the hurt also brought the healing. And that healing comes onlythrough God’s truth and God’s Word. Ialso think of Hosea chapter 6—one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament.After the people of God had sinned and were warned by the prophets like Isaiahand Jeremiah that they would go into captivity, Hosea is called to also tobring them a message of hope. He said to them: “Come, and let us return untothe Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He willbind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise usup, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to knowthe Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto usas the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (vs. 1-3).  Oh,my friend, how wonderful it is to understand this truth. God might use His Wordto tear us up, but He will also use it to heal us. God might use His Word tosmite us, but He will also use it to bind us up and revive and raise us up to live!The Word of Godis living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. It may bring paininto our lives as it convicts us of sin, but it also has the power to heal us. Psalm107:20 says, “He sent His Word, and healed them.” And Isaiah 53:5reminds us, “By His stripes we are healed.” The Word of God may firstbring conviction and pain, but then it brings healing. That is such a wonderfultruth for you and me to remember. Beforehealing comes, there must be pain. Before resurrection, there must be thecross. Before glory, there must be suffering. But then, my friend, the Word hasthe power to restore us and revive us. It brings us back into sweet andwonderful fellowship with the Lord. Are you seeking that today? If you are, youhave come to the right place when you come to the Word of God. There is powerin that Word. Trust it today. Get into that Word today. Let it soak deeply intoyour soul and you will find healing for your soul and for your life. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.