HIS WORDS RUN VERY SWIFTLY
"He sends forth his commandment upon earth: his word runs very swiftly" (Psalm 147:15).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God "(John1:1); "every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto those that put their trust in him (Proverbs 30:5); and "the entrance of His words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130). God’s word moves swiftly into our hearts to purify our consciences, renew our minds, illuminates our spirit, drives away darkness, comforts us in our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:4), and reassures us of his verdict on the wicked ones, "For evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 37:9).
All these actions are done in quick succession, swiftly, faster than a nanosecond, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
A word is the expression of the mind. God’s word is an expression of his mind and thoughts towards us. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). "So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it," says the Lord, "and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).The impact of His word is felt immediately in our lives, even when we are still praying. He sends His messengers to deliver the package of good tidings to us, While I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation" (Daniel 9:21).
Most of the time, we get an answer to our prayer requests even before we call him. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24). There is no speed that matches the swiftness of God’s word—when He gives us His word and when he gives an answer to our requests.
A man’s heart babbles out its secrets when his tongue is in motion. God’s word is the manifestation of His secret thought, through which he reveals His decrees, manifests His nature, and carries out His purpose. He spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:9). If you wish to know God, you must also know His word. If you want to understand His power, you must observe how He works through His word. If you wish to know His purpose before it is brought to pass, you can only discover it by His word. When you watch the events of providence, you are only observing what the Word of God is accomplishing as He sends it forth into the world. As He said to His servant, Ezekiel, so it is: "For I am the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, says the Lord God" (Ezekiel 12:25).
The word, as it comes from God, takes several forms. At first, it came forth as a fiat—"Let there be"—and it was. When there were no angels to hear Him; when matter did not exist to obey Him; when there was nothing but Himself, the Self-Existent One, Jehovah spoke and the things which were began to be! Since then, he has spoken to his creatures by the word of command, which should always be obeyed, even as David said, "I will delight myself in Your statutes: I will not forget Your word" (Psalm 119:16). God instructs us by revealing Himself through His word, which comes forth in the form of a precept from His temple or a statute from His throne, and we ought most reverently to treasure up every syllable that God speaks to us in that form, for we are His servants (Psalm 116:16). Your word is very pure; therefore, your servant loves it (Psalm 119:140).
"You are my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep your words" (Psalm 119:57).
Every true doctrine is the Word of God and is to be devoutly believed, for "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
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GOD'S WORD CREATED THE WORLD SWIFTLY.
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (Genesis 1:1–3)
God’s "word runs very swiftly" in the matter of creation. The world was arranged in six days, and on the seventh day, the Lord rested from His work. Was there ever such a word as this? Was ever so vast a deed accomplished in such a space of time? It's possible that the world was created long before, because "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," but even for that first creation, He didn't need time, because His word could create the universe in a flash. The Lord may have allowed ages upon ages to roll by before He ultimately came forth to perform the last upholstering of it for mankind—yet all was done when He spoke.
God said, "Let there be light, and there was light." (Genesis 1:3). He said, "Let there be a firmament," (Genesis 1:6) and it was so. He spoke into being fish, fowl, and beast, and it was so—"In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day" (Exodus 20:11)—for His word "runs very swiftly."
THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH OPERATED IN THE OLD DAYS, IS STILL OPERATING
Your word is true from the beginning, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever (Psalm 119:160).
The heavens were of old by the Word of God, and the earth stood out of the water and in the water" (2 Peter 3:5); but God did not create the world and then abandon it, or else it would have crumbled back into the nothingness from which it arose—"the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word, kept in store" (2 Peter 3:7).movement of every wheel of the machinery of nature is dependent upon the constant outgoing of power through the Word of God; for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: " (Romans 11:36)"And by him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17)
Man lives and all nature exists by the Word of God, for "none can keep alive his own soul" (Psalm 22:29). The power with which God made the world is still pulsing through space, "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3). The Lord of hosts directs the march of the planets, including Earth, which move in their mighty orbits with a force that is new every moment; he also keeps the fixed stars in their spheres with His hand. puts everything in order so that they won’t run into a carnival of chaos and dissolve into destruction. His word still operates and runs swiftly, even as of old." The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly" (Psalm 75:3).
Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. You, alone, are Lord; you have created heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is in it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you (Nehemiah 9:5-6).
GOD'S WORD IS STILL KEEPING HIS ANCIENT PACE
And "he rode upon a cherub, and flew, yes, he flew upon the wings of the wind" (Psalm 18:10).
God’s word, which operated swiftly at first, is still operating with the same degree of force. His word still travels quickly and at an ancient pace. There might be a gradual slackening and decline in the forces of nature if they had been created by God and then set to drift by themselves. But as God is still, everywhere present, working in the heavens and on the earth and in the seas, in all deep places and in everything—all power continually proceeds from the hand of God—and there is no failure in anything.
The sun’s light and all else that is necessary for man will continue, according to divine appointment, and will never be exhausted while the Lord supplies them. If any natural force fails, it simply means that the divine power is being withdrawn from that form of work. But the words of power are the same. There are great changes in the operations of God, but there is no change in the hand that operates!
You laid the foundation of the earth long ago, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They shall perish, but you shall endure. Yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall you change them, and they shall be changed. But you are the same, and your years shall have no end. The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before you (Psalm 102:25–28).
And still, today, as of old, "God speaks, and it is done! He commands, and it stands fast "(Psalm 33:9). This world shall abide as long as God pleases—but when the time shall come, He that once spoke to the deeps and they deluged the world, will call for flames of fire and the earth shall be wrapped in them and the works of men that are therein shall be burned up. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).
GOD BLESS HIS CHILDREN SWIFTLY
God’s angel brings us the gift from heaven swiftly. They act on God’s word and deliver the good tidings of great joy. "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people," the angel said (Luke 2:10).
Think of Israel shut up by the Red Sea with mountains on either hand. Oh, how speedily the Lord descended from on high when He came to the rescue of His people! –And "He rode upon a cherub, and flew; yes, he flew upon the wings of the wind" (Psalm 18:10). He divided the Red Sea and led Israel through it like a flock of sheep in the wilderness (Psalm 78:52), swiftly coming, by His word, to make a way for them through the heart of the sea.
When God’s children are afflicted and there’s nowhere to turn to, "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses." He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction "(Psalm 107:19-20).
GOD'S WORD SWIFTLY DISPELS DARKNESS
"Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105), and it shines in a darkened room. When its truths are embraced, it shines light into every sphere of life, bringing understanding and enlightenment and eradicating the ignorance that governs darkened minds. Only the light of God’s Word drives away spiritual darkness — which is why demonic forces hate the light and the light-bearers! Whenever any person gives heed to it, its powerful light shines into his or her life, dispelling spiritual darkness. Those who reject the Word remain in darkness, but those who embrace it are delivered from spiritual darkness and ignorance.
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but God's wrath abides on him" (John 3:36).
GOD'S WORD OPERATES SILENTLY
"There is no speech, nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun. " (Psalm 19:3–4)
The word of God in nature is the going forth of His silent will; "He sends out his word, and melts them (the ice, frost, and snow): he causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow" (Psalm 147:18). The Lord spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, after he sent a mighty wind to break the rocks in pieces, followed by an earthquake and a fire, but His voice was in none of them; "And after the earthquake, a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12).
The point of God's speaking in a still small voice was to show Elijah that the work of God need not always be accompanied by dramatic revelation or manifestation. Divine silence does not necessarily mean divine inactivity: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6); overt displays of power are not necessary for God to work.
If God wills, he can speak deeply into the human heart without so much as a whisper from the preacher! His word can enter men’s souls, though not a single sound is heard! If God uses tongues and voices, as He generally does, let Him have all the glory that He is pleased to link His potent word to such a feeble agency. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
The secret word of power, which runs swiftly, is entirely independent of sounds and noises, of tongues and ears! This is a fact that should comfort us all, and it should make some of you who have been silent try to speak, since God’s blessing does not rest on oratory and talent.
The gospel is a gentle voice of love, grace, and mercy, of peace, pardon, righteousness, and the free gift of salvation through Christ. Proclaim God’s word in such words as your heart suggests. Do not go to the conservatory of learning and art to get your fine prose! Speak the truth plainly, and God will bless His own word, for it is His word that runs very swiftly!
Have you not known? Have you not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary? There is no searching of his understanding "(Isaiah 40:28).
GOD'S WORD IS EFFECTIVE
None can resist it, for God is in it. It is God’s will, and when God wills it, what matters if all creation wills the contrary? "There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21).
God's will would sweep away all opponents like a flood, allowing His word to be unhindered. As it cannot be prevented altogether, it cannot even be impeded if it is the very Word of God. The proclamation of the gospel may be resisted and cast aside, but the veritable Word of God, the secret will of the Highest, is not resisted—it sweetly conquers the human will without violating its free agency and holds men spell-bound by a force which they delight in!
GOD'S WORD ACCOMPLISHES HIS TASK SWIFTLY
God’s word is quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), never slow or lame. Neither can it be said of him, as of the hosts of Pharaoh, that his chariot wheels were taken off so that he drove them heavily (Exodus 14:25). "The counsel of the Lord stands forever! (Psalm 33:11) "The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." (Isaiah 14:24)
There is no such thing as time with God, "to whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). It may take centuries for him to accomplish his purposes, but if he wills it, all can be done in an instant! He may lengthen out the drama of providence, even to thousands of years, but this is not for lack of power, for when He pleases, "He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Romans 9:28).
"He still does as he pleases among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and none can restrain his hand or say to him, What are you doing?"(Daniel 4:35). Where the word of a king is, there is power (Ecclesiastes 8:4), but what is the power of the word of the King of Kings? It "runs very swiftly."
GOD'S WORD IS A SHARP JUDGE OF HIS ENEMIES
God warned men that he would destroy them for their sin. He gave them space for repentance and sent his servant, Noah, to be a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). But when His patience finally ran out, it didn't take long for Him to raise the sluices from below and open the bottles of heaven from above. How speedily did he cover the tops of the mountains with the destroying waves? Peter tells us that by the Word of God, "the world which then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3:6).
Look further on to the cities of the plain. When they were ripe for destruction, "the sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar." But in an instant, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24).
When the Lord came to blows with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, how thick and fast the strokes came till the proud tyrant’s will was broken and he let the people go! And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said" (Exodus 12:31). Yes, "His word runs very swiftly." Whether it is to turn the river into blood, or cover the land with darkness, or destroy it with hailstones, or to slay all the first-born of Egypt, "His word runs very swiftly."
With a word, he slew the hosts of Sennacherib: "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses" (2 Kings 19:35); and stretched rider and horse in the deep sleep of death (Psalm 76:6).
His judgments are amazing! For his judgments are true and righteous; for he has judged the great whore, who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand" (Revelation 19:2).
Come, behold the works of the Lord! What desolation he has made on the earth! He breaks the bow and cuts the spear into sunder! He burns the chariot in the fire (Psalm 46:8-9) "for His word runs very swiftly."
GOD'S WORD SWIFTLY TRANSFORMS SOULS
His word "runs very swiftly" to work effectually upon the hearts of men and accomplish its end very swiftly, indeed. Conviction of sin is, in many cases, if not in all, commenced in an instant! It is like a wound—the mighty Spirit draws the great bow—away flies the arrow, and in an instant, it has pierced the heart!
Regeneration is not a work of years—from the necessity of the case, the essential part of it is done in an instant. There must be a moment when a man is dead and another moment when he is made alive! There can be no interval in which he is neither dead nor alive. The quickening of a soul into spiritual life remains proof that God’s word "runs very swiftly." And so, it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45).
When a man believes in Jesus Christ, he is justified at once. In one moment, God says to the guilty, "I forgive you." Pardon is an instantaneous gift! You can be forgiven for all your sins in seconds and pass from death to life more swiftly. A man is not turned round and converted all at once, but the commencement of that turn comes at some moment. The corruption of his soul is effectively rebuked. He doesn't understand it, but the things he once loved begin to irritate him, while the things he despised become his favorites, and a marvelous transformation occurs in him!
"They that fear you will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in your word" (Psalm 119:74).
Conversion and regeneration remain the standing phenomena by which Christianity is continually proven to be divine. The Word of God suddenly transforms the very nature of men, and they enter into an altogether new state of life out of which comes a character that glorifies God! A man is made a child of God in an instant.
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are becoming new. ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
GOD'S WORD HEALS AND RESTORES SWIFTLY
I am afflicted very much. Quicken me, O Lord, according to your word" (Psalm 119:107).
Do you feel dull and heavy this morning? God can revive you in a moment! My soul made me like Amminadib's chariots before I was aware (Song of Solomons 6:12).Those who drew near to the gates of death and in their extremity in Psalm 107, at the last gasp, cried unto the Lord. Immediately, we read, "He sent His word and healed them" (Psalm 107:20). The cure was as speedy as it was complete! Why, the Lord can outstrip time! Is it not written, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are speaking, I will hear"? (Isaiah 65:24)
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I have kept your word (Psalm 119:67).
Have you backslidden like the church of Laodicea? Have you fallen into lukewarmness? (Revelation 3:15-16). God’s forgiving love runs very swiftly, and his restoring grace is swifter than an eagle’s wings. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with Me," Christ says (Revelation 3:20).
Open the door and let Christ come in, and all will be healed! " His word runs very swiftly." Jesus can come with the riches of His grace and straightway make you rejoice in Him! Didn't Jesus heal the paralyzed (Mark 2:3-11) and the lame (John 5:8) right away? Is he not equally powerful to bless? Our churches can be revived on a sudden note and refresh us with showers of blessing. "His word runs very swiftly."
BE READY TO TAKE GOD'S WORD ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Our churches can be revived and blessed when we are ready to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. There are many people who don’t have access to God’s word, thereby depriving them of great blessing. Many are languishing on their sick beds in hospitals and care homes because we didn’t share the good news of healing with them, but spoke the word only, and my servant shall be healed, said the centurion. (Matthew 8:8) If God’s word runs very swiftly, then it can even overtake those who run away from it and those who refuse to preach the truth – the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only can the Lord come quickly to those who seek Him, but He can overtake those who hasten away from Him.
Are we ready for the great revival in our church, just like on the day of Pentecost, when within a short time, all nations had heard the Word of God, so that Paul could say, "Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sounds went into the earth, and their words to the ends of the world "(Romans 10:18). Like the coming of the morning, the word of the Lord shone forth under the whole heaven right speedily! It will be so again, but we must first be prepared for it.
If a man therefore purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and fit for the master's use, and prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21). We must be purged from all corruptions, hidden sin, and laxity towards God’s work before he can send the revival. He can make us, his ministers, into a flame of fire (Hebrews 1:7). Nothing can hinder God from raising up hundreds of ministers to preach with tongues of fire. "Who can stay his hand?" (Daniel 4:35), "the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, giving it to whomever He wills" (Daniel 4:17), "He is the God of all flesh, nothing is too difficult for Him" (Jeremiah 32:27).
Let us believe him and submit to his will. May the Lord take us out into the deep, and then we will cast our nets for a catch and catch a large number of fish!
He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5).
"I delight to do your will, O my God: yes, your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8)
My Heavenly Father, Give me understanding in accordance with your word" (Psalm 119:169); how sweet your words are to my taste!, sweeter than honey in my mouth! " (Psalm 119:103). Presently, "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in your word" (Psalm 119:147); please "plead my cause, and deliver me; quicken me according to your word" (Psalm 119:154); "uphold me according to your word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope" (Psalm 119:116) in Jesus' name, Amen.
Finally, brethren, pray for us so that the Lord's word may run free and be glorified, as it is with you" (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
For "I have given them your word" (John 17:14), "my tongue shall speak of your word," for all your commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172). For ever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).
James Dina (james@mountzionblog.org).
February 19, 2022
https://mountzionblog.org/his-words-run-very-swiftly/
Reference
• Charles Spurgeon, "The Swift Running Word"
• Rick and Denise Renner, "The Fiery Effects of God’s Word in Your Heart,"
• https://www.gotquestions.org/still-small-voice.html
