What is God performing when His Word is preached and taught? David would answer that the Word of God is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” and that “the entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:105, 130). According to the parable of the sower, preaching and teaching the Word of God is like planting the seed of His truth in the hearts of men (Lk. 8:11–15). It is like dispensing medicine to those who are spiritually sick as the Lord sends His word and it heals them (Ps. 107:20). He desires to sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:26). When rightly handled, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit that is wielded against the enemy as we fight our spiritual battles (Eph. 6:17). Jeremiah could say, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”

The Word of God is spiritual wealth, and we must not neglect the value of it! It is like silver and gold. A walk through Psalm 119 would show us the value that the psalmist put on the Word of God. “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches” (v. 14). The Spirit of God desires to use the Word of God to strengthen each of us for the glory of God. But in order for this to happen, we must dig it out for ourselves; and He promises us as we dig, “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who called you by your name, am the God of Israel” (Isa. 45:3).