Word of Encouragement (03/01/2023)
For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, 41 if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh--with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy.' 43 "Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people's land." (Deut. 32:40-43)
In vv. 41-43, we have what God was swearing to do: executing vengeance on His enemies on behalf of His people. Even though the description is not extensive, the language is frightening. God says, “...if I sharpen my flashing sword....” Because the time of judgment has not arrived, people may think that God doesn’t exist or, if He exists, He doesn’t care or He is powerless to punish the wicked. How fatally mistaken! God has a flashing sword in His hand. The Hebrew word for “flashing” is used for lightning (Ex. 19:16). It is flashing because it is a supernatural sword. It is flashing because it is endued with divine omnipotence. It is flashing because it is sharp beyond measure. But if God is not wielding the sword yet, it is because He is sharpening it still. When the appointed time comes, it will be ready to execute God’s full judgment with utmost precision and force, which no one will be able to withstand.
We are also told that the hand that holds His flashing sword also holds on judgment. When God wields the sword, it will not be just to show off His martial skill to dazzle the eyes of onlookers. No, when He wields the sword with His hand, its every moment will be driven by His divine justice, His righteous wrath against the unrepentant sinners. The righteous judgment, which He has been withholding under His common grace since the time of Adam and Eve’s Fall despite all the heinous sins against His law and the insolent mockeries of His honor, will be unleashed without any hesitation or reservation. How chillingly dreadful that day will be!
The LORD goes on to say, “I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh—with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy.” In addition to His flashing sword, He will also use His arrows of judgment. The arrows of God are no less terrifying than His flashing sword, are they? As the flashing sword goes through the mass of sinners, slaying them, the arrows of God will fall on them from heaven as countless raindrops fall on the ground in a rainstorm. No metal shield or concrete roof will be able to protect sinners from the bombardment of divine arrows.
As terrifying as these descriptions are, we must keep in mind that, though inspired by the Holy Spirit, these words are still human language; they cannot adequately describe the terror of God’s judgment. Oh, to think that the fullness of divine judgment is what Jesus suffered when he received the final judgment for us as He died on the cross! Even He was so fearful of it that He asked the Father to remove it from Him if possible, not just once but three times! How frightening it must have been that the Son of God, who came to this world with the full knowledge of what He had to endure, was still so terrified by it! Let us renew our gratitude to Him for His costly sacrifice for our salvation! And may this renewed gratitude make the cross we must bear in this life light and easy!