Dad's Old Hammer

A few months ago, I discovered Dad’s old toolbox had leaked, allowing some rusting on some of the tools. I began a cleanup on the salvageable tools using various combinations of vinegar, baking soda, and even salt.

Dad’s old “red” handled hammer brought back so many memories of his sinewy arms pounding nails over the years. After cleaning out the entire toolbox, I left Dad’s hammer on top for quick access since I use a hammer frequently. I wish I was as capable as he was with the hammer.

                Recently, his “red” handled hammer came to mind one morning as I read the Bible. (I read one chapter per morning. If I read more than that, it seems I fail to gain the spiritual nourishment needed.) That morning I read Jeremiah 23. Verse 29 says, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” In the last phrase, the word “hammer” is compared to the Word of God. The previous phrase likens the Word of God to a fire.

                This verse sent me to commentaries and studies by scholars with tremendous knowledge and many years of devotion to the study of God’s Word. Without fail, they compared the purification of fire to the power of God’s Word to extract from the diligent and obedient reader falsely held opinions and thoughts in the same way fire purifies gold of the dross in it.

                Then I delved into what these devoted researchers of the Scripture had written about the hammer. Many stated the hammer illustrated how God’s Word breaks the proud, hardhearted person into one with a humbled heart open to the precepts of God.

                Interestingly, Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary defined “hammer” as “forge hammer.” I remember Mr. Tanner being identified as a “blacksmith.” A few times as a child, I stood close to Dad’s overalls leg as I observed the tools of the blacksmith while he visited in the blacksmith shop on Main Street in Ralston. Heat and the forge hammer were used in conjunction with each other.

                God explains the purpose of the Word of God as fire and a hammer because His word purifies and remolds readers who ingest His truth with a heart ready to obey. This occurs when we allow His Word to “burn out” ungodly beliefs as fire would and permit His Spirit to “hammer and reshape” our rebellious attitudes into ones that wholeheartedly and humbly embrace God’s truth.

The Bible records numerous passages about God’s slowness to anger, forgiving sins, but He will by no means clear the guilty.(Numbers 14:18) My father quoted from the poem, Retribution by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow this stanza:

Though the mills of God grind slowly,

Yet they grind exceeding small;

Though with patience He stands waiting,

With exactness grinds He all.

Matthew Henry stated, “The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.” May we daily study God’s Word diligently with an open heart to His Holy Spirit changing us by His “fire and hammer” to conform us to His likeness.

Lord, each time I turn in Your scriptures to read and study, please make me willing and open to Your work as You use the Bible as a fire and hammer in my life. Burn out the dross from my life and hammer and mold my life to conform to the image of Your Son, Jesus. In His Name, Amen.

A final note on the Old Testament book of Jeremiah – Jeremiah was the final prophet to prophesy before the fall of the city of Jerusalem. The refusal of citizens to listen to the Word of God led to the destruction of the once glorious kingdom blessed by God during the days of godly leaders. For over 200 years, God sent prophets with warnings to listen and obey His word but the great kingdom of Judah, with its capital at Jerusalem, fell to the conquering army of the Babylonians about 2600 years ago according to historical documentation.