A Sharp Word

 

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joint and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eye of him to whom we must give account.” -ESV

 

At COF Father/Child Hunts we teach the kids how to process the deer they take. We just keep telling them the best is always saved for last. With the projected number of deer we harvest every year, and the price of processing going up like everything else, teaching how to process a deer is becoming very valuable. To make this happen, a few quality knives with good sharp edges are a must. It has been great teaching the kids the different sections of meat, and how to properly remove each section from the bone.

 

The verses in Hebrews 4 are often used to talk about how wonderful and powerful the Word of God is, that the Word of God gets deep into our lives and that the Word of God brings joy and life to the believing reader. All of this is true, and a great comfort to believers. However, in the context of Hebrews 3:12-4:13, that is not what is being communicated. These verses are a warning to a group of people where some had intellectually believed in God but had not committed their lives to Him in faith. The warning is that “while the promise of entering rest still stands” (4:1), get your life right with God, and place your faith fully in Him because someday you will give an account. At that point, there will be no accuses or places to hide. The word for sword here in the Greek is “machaira” meaning dagger. A dagger used for precision cuts. The word in verse 13, “exposed” carries great meaning in the original text and ancient culture. It is used as a wrestling term to take someone by the neck so they can’t move, and also for an accused prisoner who would have a dagger tied to them just under their chin so they could not drop their heads and would have to face their accusers. Someday, all will stand before God, face to face, naked, every thought and intention of the heart completely and fully revealed, everything cut wide open and exposed, and all will be held accountable. “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.” Hebrews 4:1

 

If you have the option, age your deer in a cool climate for a week or so. Aging will tenderize the meat and improve its quality and taste. If you don’t have access to a walk-in cooler, you may want to consider quartering or deboning the meat and placing it on a rack in an old refrigerator.