Word of the Week: Word

WORD – a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. Speech or talk. An expression or utterance.

But also – God’s Word. “Word” is Strong’s word #3056 – Logos. Defined as intelligence, or articulate utterance of human language, or the orderly knitting and linking together of inward thoughts and feelings. 

There are SO MANY WORDS in our world. It’s hard to hear Truth above the roar and din of all these words. As an introvert, it is quite distracting to take in so many words all the time, whether from social media, news, books, or just people talking way more than I do, which is pretty much everyone. Often I long for QUIET. For me, a person who absolutely loves words, at times there are just too many.

The words thrown around on social media are too often words of hostility and attack. This is nothing new. David laments about his enemies in Psalm 56:5-6, “All day long they distort my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They attack, they lurk, they watch my steps, as they have waited to take my life.” But David also praises God’s Word specifically, as a counterpoint to the words of his enemies. In Psalm 56:3-4, David says “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God, whose word I praise…” and also in verses 9 – 11 “…my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.” God’s Words for those who follow Him are comfort, direction and worthy of praise.

It’s no coincidence that Jesus is described as “The Word,” as He is introduced in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Every utterance that came from His mouth was and is Truth. Every communication that He gave imparted information that is needed for an abundant and full life. The way I understand His purposes and His holiness is by way of His Words.

I’ve always been fascinated with the fact that Jesus didn’t give us all the information we need as some sort of checklist. He gave us a book, a document filled with words. He wants His followers to think. He gave me a book with words to ponder over, to reflect on, to let absorb into myself so I can be changed, to be more like Him. In this pondering and musing over words, He lets me live out who I am, unique among all others, as I think on what the words mean for me, for my work and for the time and place where He has placed me.

For this reason and so many others, His Word remains THE instrumental linking together of ideas and meaning in my life. His Word is the only counterpoint to the flood of words in our time, and to the evil and malicious distortion of words that has always existed.

I’m curious to learn what God’s Word has meant to You. Feel free to share a favorite word or passage below. Some of the parts of God’s Word that have meant the most to me are Numbers 12:6, Deuteronomy 29:29, Job 12:10, Job 19:25, Psalm 69, Proverbs 25:2, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah 58, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Ephesians 3:17 – 19.