Grapsing the Sword

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."

 Gandalf, "Lord of the Rings:  The Two Towers" to King Theoden

This quote is from one of my favourite scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies directed by Peter Jackson.  King Theoden had long been under the the control of the evil wizard Saruman, and as a result the king was decrepit and listless.  He was a puppet in the hands of an oppressive ruler who sought to destroy him and his kingdom.  In his ear whispered Grima Wormtongue, a once loyal adviser to Theoden who had covertly become a servant of Saruman.  Gandalf was wise to see who truly was in control and "drew Saruman like poison from a wound."  Once freed of the magic bonds, Theoden transformed back to the king who could recognise friend from foe.  His long nails and wizened beard melted away, as the king came to his senses.

It was at this moment when King Theoden looked at his hands and said, "Dark have been my dreams of late."  Gandalf replied, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."  The king slowly reached out to touch the hilt of his sword, and slowly took hold of it.  The moment his hand closed around it, his eyes sparked with memory.  It was like taking hold of the sword had instructed him, and he knew the right course to take.

So it is with Christians.  God has given us His Word the Bible, and it is called the "sword of the Spirit."  Hebrews 4:11-12 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  In our lives we face trials and difficulties far beyond our ability to handle.  We do not have the wisdom to know the right course to take.  Yet if we will lay hold of the Scriptures, they will reveal our heart and motives.  The words of God are relevant for every situation, and reveal God's righteous judgments to us.  If we make the Bible a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, we will not stumble.  God leads us through deep valleys, dry deserts, even through the furnace of affliction.  If we will fix our eyes upon Him and walk in obedience, we know He will doubtless bring us into a broad pasture where rest is found.

It is one thing to read words on a page, but how much more important is it to grasp them!  We can only grasp the truths of God's Word when He reveals them to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thankfully, the Father has sent the Spirit to indwell and empower every follower of Jesus Christ.  When we grasp the scripture we do not recall former strength, but God renews our strength and adds to it!  We are then able to discern the voice of God from the whispers of Satan.  Praise God that when we walk in His ways, we can be strong in the LORD and experience victory in the power of His might!