Haikus through Hebrews, chapter 4

I had often heard, and even grown fond of, a commonly quoted phrase from this fourth chapter of Hebrews, that "the word of God is living and active."  It just sounds so powerful, and makes something within me want to proclaim, "Amen!"  However, what I often forget is that it is living and active to the effect of keeping me from falling away from him in disobedience, as the Israelites did who died in the desert without ever seeing the promised land (see chapter 3 and Numbers 14). 

According to verses 12 and 13, the word of God  is also living and active to effectually "cut us to the quick," laying us naked, bare, and exposed before God, to whom we are ultimately and always accountable.  ("Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment."  Psalm 51:4)  How great then that immediately following this sobering instruction, we are reminded that because of Jesus our high priest, who was tempted in all ways, yet persisted perfectly, we can "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (4:16)

This, in four verses, is again the gospel: we must have the depth of our sin revealed to us through the piercing power of the Word and the Spirit to even realize our great need for the salvation that Jesus alone could provide, lest our hearts deceive us, and we die in the desert, falling short of his promised land.

**Important Note: Please read through the whole of Hebrews (I recommend the English Standard Version or New American Standard Bible) for contextual significance (and significant context!).  There is a lot of Scriptural meat found outside these 17 syllables.  To God be the glory!

4:1
Since the promise of
Entering his rest still stands
Fail not to reach it

4:1 (again)

Let us be afraid

Lest any of you should seem

To come short of it

4:2

We had good news preached

To us just as them but it

Profited them not

4:2

Unhelped by good news,

They were not united by faith
With those who listened

4:3

We who have believed

Enter that rest, but "They shall

Not enter my rest."

4:3 (continued)

He said this even

Though this rest has been ready

Since he made the world

4:4

He has spoken of

The seventh day: "And God from

All his works rested."

4:5

And again in the 

Same passage God said, "They shall

Not enter my rest."

4:6

Those who first heard the

Good news failed to enter from

Disobedience

4:6-7

Since it is still true 

That some must enter, again

God appoints a day

4:7

Saying through David,

So long afterward, in words

Already quoted,

4:7 (continued)

As was said before,

"Today if you hear his voice,

Harden not your hearts."

4:8

If Joshua had

Given rest, God would not speak

Of another day

4:9

So then there remains

A day of Sabbath rest for

The people of God

4:10

For whoever has

Entered God's rest also rests

From works as God did

4:11

Let us not fall by

The same disobedience

Let's strive to enter

4:11 (again)

Lest we fall by the 

Same disobedience,

Strive in diligence

4:12

The word of God is

Living and active, sharper

Than double-edged sword

4:12 (continued)

It pierces until

It divides soul and spirit

And joint and marrow

4:12

The word of God is

A discerner of thoughts and 

Intents of the heart

4:13

There is no creature 

Hidden from God's sight, all are

Naked and exposed,

4:13 (continued)

Open and laid bare

Before the eyes of him to

Whom we give account

4:14

Having Jesus, let

Us live our lives consistent

With what we profess

4:15

We do not have a 

High priest who's unable to

Sympathize with us

4:15 (continued)

In ev'ry respect

He was tempted as we are,

Yet he never sinned

4:16

Let us then draw near

With confidence to the throne

Of our gracious God

4:16 (continued)

That we may receive

Mercy and find grace to help

In our time of need