Skip to main content

Safe and Sound

In my last post, I wrote about words that are not “idle” words.  In fact, those not idle words bring life.

In this post, I want to focus on words that are “sound” words.

“Sound” has many meanings beyond auditory.  “Sound” is also:

 

  • free from flaw, defect, or decay
  • solid, firm, stable
  • secure, reliable
  • free from error, fallacy or misapprehension
  • based on thorough knowledge and experience
  • agreeing with accepted views

 

The sound words that we need for life come from Jesus:  “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,” (1 Tim 6:3)

To give some insight into just how sound these words are, listed below is how some other versions of the Bible translate “sound words”:

 

  • Sound instruction
  • Wholesome words
  • True teaching
  • Healthy words
  • Accurate words
  • True words

 

When I think of all those descriptors of His sound words, the phase “safe and sound” comes to mind.  That phrase is typically used to express relief or reassurance after a potentially risky or dangerous situation.  It’s also used to indicate that a person (or persons) is no longer in harm’s way and they are in good condition or are unharmed.

But there’s another interesting use of the phrase “safe and sound” that particularly drew my attention.  “Safe and sound” can be used metaphorically to convey emotional well-being or security.  And in that regard, the words of Jesus are exactly what we need!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can't Get No Satisfaction

One of the songs that were popular in my youth was not particularly upbeat or helpful but it probably did express some of the angst of my generation.  It was not one that particularly resonated with me but as I recently read the book of Haggai, it did come to mind, well, at least some of the lyrics did.  It was the Rolling Stones song with the lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction”.  Take a look at the chorus of that bleak song:   I can't get no satisfaction; I can't get no satisfaction; Gonna try and I try and I try and I try; I can't get no - I can't get no –   Now take a look at Haggai 1:6 – “ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” It sure sounds like the people of Judah couldn’t get any satisfaction with the things of life that normally should have brought some type of s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hide Not...

Over the centuries, the words have brought great comfort and encouragement.   The words are often used as a benediction or a blessing:   The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.   (Num 6:24-26)   What in the world is a countenance?  By definition, it is a person's face or facial expression. So if the Lord’s face shines upon us and if He lifts up His countenance upon us, what does all that mean? It means that He is giving us His attention.  But even more so, His face shining upon us gives us t he picture of a beaming face like that of a parent for their beloved child.  And the reference to Him lifting up His countenance points to God extending divine favor and peace to us. Sometimes we can appreciate things more by seeing opposites.  The opposite of a lifted face is a face that has fallen, perhaps because of sham...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stouthearted!

Steve the Stouthearted; it has a nice medieval ring to it, maybe even middle earth overtones.  I noticed that word “stouthearted” recently in Psalm 138, verse 3:   “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.”   (NIV, 1973) The word stouthearted is used in the Bible to describe individuals who exhibit courage, determination, and resilience, often in the face of adversity or opposition. This characteristic is seen as a virtue, reflecting steadfastness in faith and purpose. The stouthearted are those who remain firm in their convictions and are not easily swayed by fear or doubt (from The Bible Hub website). And yet to be bold and stouthearted for most is not something that just comes naturally, we need the Lord to make us bold and stouthearted.   And, from the verse above, it appears that he does so in response to us calling on him.   So it probably wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that those who have been made bold and stouth...
Post a Comment
Read more