GOD'S WELFARE PROGRAM AND HANDFULS OF PURPOSE!

Ruth 2:15-18 KJV  And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:  16  And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.  17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.  18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

1. The law of gleaning was God's Law of Provision for the poor. It commanded generosity from the owners of the fields. It would also require that the laborers respected this law and the generosity of the owner in order to avoid abuse of the needy. God required that His people be generous and not to despise the poor. 

Leviticus 19:9-10 KJV And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.  10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 23:22 KJV  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 KJV 10 When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.  11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.  12  And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:  13  In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.  14  Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:  15  At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.  16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.  17  Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:  18  But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.  19  When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.  20 When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.  21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.  22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

2. Gleaning as opposed to handouts required actual work by the gleaner. The grain did not just jump into someone’s hands. Works was required by the person who would benefit in this manner. It is unlike sitting down waiting every month on a government check. 

In this manner a person maintains dignity in being able to lawfully provide for himself and loved ones. The gleaner's daily reward depended on the diligence with which application is made. All other things being equal the person who spent the time diligently would therefore expect a greater and better result.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 KJV 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.  11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.  13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

3. It also expected and assumed honesty from the beneficiary.

Deuteronomy 23:24-25 KJV 24 When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.  25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.  

Matthew 12:1 KJV At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

4. In addition to this literal understanding of the law of gleaning there is also a spiritual application. As believers we are gleaners in the field of God's Revelation and Word! The heavens declare the glory of God if we would care to look up. As children of God we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ!    

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:16-17 KJV

Like the Syrophenecian women implied we have the whole bread not just the crumbs!

We are however expected to diligently apply ourselves to the Word of God in order to gather that which He wants us to have. All may work the same field but the more diligent will reap the greater benefits!

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  2 Peter 1:10 KJV

 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  1 Peter 3:15 KJV

 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  Hebrews 2:1 KJV

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.  1 Timothy 5:14 KJV

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  1 Timothy 4:13 KJV

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Timothy 4:14-15 KJV

THE TRUTH ABOUT RUTH - Part 1:JOURNEY TO DESTINY!

The story of Ruth is well known by most Christians.

It's a tale of crisis, suffering and sorrow.

It's a tale of love, devotion and submission. 

It's a tale of loyalty, service and favor

It's a tale of intrigue, plotting and scheming.

It's a tale of hope, promise and redemption!

it’s the record of a bad beginning with a good ending!

The book of Ruth...To Moab and back. Read Ruth Ch 1-4

Chapter one:      Ruth's Resolution in her decision (Leaning of Love)

Chapter two:      Ruth's Resourcefulness in her duties (Labor of Love)

Chapter three:   Ruth's Reception in her devotion (Lesson of Love)

Chapter four:     Ruth's Reward in her destiny(Logic of Love)

It's the only book in the Bible that pivots around a Gentile Widow.

In its four short chapters, taking place during the time of the judges, it is like a beautiful sparkling gem in middle of an era of darkness, sin and suffering. We are privileged to look at this short powerful drama and realize its far reaching consequences and the pivotal place it occupies in the advent of Messiah.

The story begins with the grim setting in the days that the judges ruled and ends with the name of David the ancestor of Messiah our Savior and Kinsman Redeemer!

It begins with stark famine, sorrow and barrenness and ends with joy, laughter and fruitfulness.

It begins with forced poverty and ends with inherited riches.

It begins with death and ends with birth. 

It begins with tragedy and ends with triumph.

It begins with the lack of bread in the Bethlehem (the House of Bread) and ends with the unfailing promise of the Bread of Life!

Naomi's outlook on life was grim and bitter.

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.  Ruth 1:20 KJV

She moved from being Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter). She saw no hope in the foreseeable future.  However God was going to use the unassuming Moabite stranger who doggedly tagged along with her to a foreign land, to create spectacular history. We never know what God is going to use or do next in His master plan but when He is done we are amazed and delighted at His wisdom and goodness!

All we may see is the stark grimness of the present and near foreseeable future. God alone has the future wrapped up and He reveals it to whoever He will.

  

Naomi blamed God for all her misfortunes to the present.

Her testimony was ...that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.  Ruth 1:13 KJV

However God was using all the misadventures of Naomi to weave a historical, prophetic tapestry of extraordinary Messianic beauty. Surely we most often only see the underside of tangled thread and knotted ugliness until God in His grace allows us a glimpse of the beauty he has wrought.

Hard times can make pleasantness become bitter especially when we fail to see the hand of God.

Naomi's planned and executed move to Moab resulted in tragedy to her family but God used it to bring goodness and mercy to the whole world.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 KJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV

  

So how insignificant do you think your life to be?

Did Naomi know she was to become the ancestor of our Messiah? Not in her wildest dreams...well maybe it was her hopeful thought at the beginning which was the dream and hope of every Jewish girl.

Naomi however lost that hope with the death of her sons and husband. All seemed physically impossible now...but who's looking at the physical?

A lesson from father Abraham is echoing here!

Naomi did not take into account the quiet, devoted foreigner by her side.

Do not ever think anything or anyone is too insignificant for God to use! For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 KJV

God used Aaron’s rod, David’s sling, the jawbone of an ass, a little boy’s lunch and some jars of plain water. God can use you even though you may feel insignificant, useless, overlooked and under achieving! He just requires you surrender into His hands and He will shape your life like the potter shapes the formless clay into objects of beauty and usefulness.

  

it’s the record of the outcome of logic and love

Orpah followed logic and outward appearance while Ruth followed her heart.

All reasoning agreed with Naomi's logic and argument.

Loyalty and love surpasses logic and argument.

Loyalty and love move into uncharted territory without thinking about the consequences.

Loyalty and love remains undaunted in spite of future forebodings and uncertainty.

Loyalty and love cares not what the future holds but rest on the God Who holds the future!

Loyalty and love determines to adhere to its object and will not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Loyalty and love is till death do us part.

We never hear of Orpah again but as children of God through the Messiah, the Kinsman Redeemer we rejoice in Ruth’s decision today!

Naomi had some quality that inspired a unique love and devotion in her daughters in law

The book of Ruth majors in women, both Jewish and Gentile. Out of the bitter came forth sweetness. What urges a young woman to leave the security of her homeland, the familiarity of her neighborhood and closeness of family and journey to a strange people, place...?

it’s a journey on the same path but in opposite directions!

Naomi took a journey out of worry and necessity while Ruth took a journey of love and compassion. Ruth was not ignorant of the customs and cultural difficulties she will encounter but went nevertheless.

Naomi took a journey of convenience while Ruth took a journey of inconvenience.

Naomi's journey appeared logical while Ruth's journey seems illogical

Naomi's journey was to foster well being of self while Ruth's journey was to unselfishly foster well being of her mother in law.

Naomi's journey ended in disaster Ruth's journey ended in eternal blessing.

Naomi's journey started out full while Ruth's journey began with nothing.

Ruth’s famous declaration of absolute commitment forever immortalizes her love, devotion loyalty and determination to never let go! How about us?

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Ruth 1:16-17 KJV

  

It is interesting to note and examine the rich typology that saturates this tiny tale of eternal significance.

Naomi is Israel. Death of sons and husband brings loss of hope. Israel stands alone. Only a part of the church is willing to stand with her. Israel then returns to destitution and is supported by the Church. Naomi represents Israel, first living in the land, then dispersed in AD 70, to return again in 1948 but has to wait until after the harvest before redemption occurs. Leaving Bethlehem the house of bread and going into Gentile land is like Israel being displaced and scattered to the nations.

Elimelech means “My God is King” Naomi means “Pleasant” Mahlon means “sickly” Chilion means “pining”. Ruth means “friend” and Orpah means “stiffneck”

Both Ruth and Orpah typify Christians

Ruth is a type of the Spirit filled church, the Gentile bride of Christ who crosses Jordan into the land as a friend of Israel. Ruth is the Gentile Christian who crosses over into spiritual fullness.

Orpah represents the Christians who remain uncommitted and move back into the world, losing their identity and testimony! Orpah is the Christian who refuses to move into full commitment and does not go on to maturity in the faith.

Naomi and Ruth returned during the barley season and Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest or from Passover to Pentecost before finally becoming the wife of Boaz. The church as a result of the death and resurrection of Christ at Passover came in to existence at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit!

Boaz means strength and he represents the Kinsman Redeemer or Messiah who redeems us. The Kinsman Redeemer must be a close blood relative, a wealthy person and one who is willing to pay the redemption price! More on this later!

The Book of Ruth - a movie

The Greatest Story Ever Told!

THE WORD OF HIS COVENANT!

Isaiah 55:1-13 KJV  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.  4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.  5  Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.  6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

We were born naturally into this world. We have grown and developed naturally and we have used our mind in an obvious natural manner because that's all we knew. Now the Word says that the natural man receiveth not the spiritual things neither can comprehend them. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

Nicodemus was given a crash course in what it means to perceive and understand things spiritually: John 3:1-6 KJV There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Exactly! That which is born of the flesh is flesh and can never, ever be spirit. Only that which is born of the Spirit. When you are born of the Spirit then you are born again and ONLY then can you see the Kingdom of God, and begin to grasp the things of the spirit. Alas too many of us fit in with the church in Galatia who were asked: Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  Galatians 3:3 KJV

Many times we reason and think things out in the natural mind and do not consider that the natural mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. 

The natural mind sees the horses and chariots of Syria; the spiritual mind sees the horses and chariots of fire and the hosts of heaven

The natural mind sees the horses and chariots of the mighty Egyptian army; the spiritual m sees the salvation of God

The natural mind sees just blood applied to the door posts and lintel; the spiritual mind sees the protection of the Blood Covenant!

The natural mind sees a barren aged woman and a very old man; the spiritual mind sees the seed of promise born from them!

The natural man only sees the well watered plains of Sodom and is deceived; the spiritual mind sees the future kingdom of God and is not fooled!

The natural mind sees Goliath fearful and terrorizing; the spiritual mind sees Goliath on the ground and headless

The natural mind sees giants and feels like grasshoppers; the spiritual mind sees the giants as bread to eat!

The natural mind sees the ark as an exercise in futility and mocks; the spiritual man moves into the ark and is safe!

The natural mind sees the walls of Jericho as impregnable; the spiritual mind sees Jericho as a defeated foe.

The natural mind sees plain water in the jar; the spiritual mind sees wine

The natural mind sees only a little boy's lunch; the spiritual mind sees 5,000 plus fed!

The natural mind sees a four day dead man in a tomb; the spiritual mind sees the resurrection

Those who move from the spirit to the flesh are described as carnal and ... they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:5-7 KJV 

There is something about the Word of God that we need to get right in our spirits. 

Remember! God DOES NOT lie! 

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  Numbers 23:19 KJV

God CANNOT lie! In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2 KJV

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:  11  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV  

  

 God's children do not judge people, things and appearances with their natural minds but by the Word of God!

There is the general Word of God which will be fulfilled regardless of the efforts of man. The destiny of this world and the kingdoms of this world are in His hands. The will of God moves on irrevocably to His final conclusion of it all according to His prophetic Word regardless of whether we believe it or not, regardless of how we fight against it!

There is however the abundance of specific promises to His children that can only be activated by something called faith! As partners in His Blood Covenant we are heirs to these promises.   Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Hebrews 6:17-18 KJV 

 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 KJV 

Remember! Faith is integral and important to the believer if they will profit from God's Word.

For God's promises to us to become effective in our lives we need to have it mixed with that mysterious ingredient called faith! 

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  Hebrews 4:2 KJV

So what is this thing called faith? The Bible gives a definitive statement on faith:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Faith is essential if we will please God! 

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 KJV

How do we get faith?

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  Hebrews 4:2 KJV For the Word to be profitable it must be mixed with faith. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17 KJV

Yes! Faith comes by hearing but this kind of hearing is by the Word of God. So there is a hearing and a hearing. There is a certain way in which we need to hear that produces faith by the Word of God. Remember Jesus said many times "he that hath ears to hear let him hear!" Ears are obviously made for hearing with so Jesus is obviously trying to get a message to us.

So we can hear yet not hear. You can listen to the Word of God preached and yet it does not take effect in your life because it is not mixed with faith. It is not mixed with faith because you only heard with the natural ears. The only part of you that received the Word was the natural part which assimilated it and stored it as so much knowledge ...if it actually did that much! 

Moving backwards in the verse we observe that this special hearing comes by the Word of God. We therefore need to get into the Word by listening and believing it; by reading, studying meditating and memorizing. As the Word gets into our mind and as we meditate on it, we build up a storehouse in our mind. We get His promises into us and it is as if we create a pool of his Word. Then the Holy Spirit will take that Word and ignite it so that it explodes into our lives where it does exactly what it says! An illustration of this is found in John 5 at the pool Bethsesda. It’s an ordinary pool until an angel troubles the water when it becomes health to the one who gets in. We need to move past the natural reasoning of the mind and believe the Word just as God spoke it. It become a specific word to our spirit and becomes effective. The Word moves from the general to the specific, it moves from the impersonal to the personal, it moves from the passive to the active and God speaks into our heart and faith comes! Then whatsoever HE says unto you do it! For that is when the water is turned into wine. That is when 5 loaves and 2 fishes feed 5,000! That’s when the leprosy disappears! That’s when the impotent take up their bed and walk. That is when the blind wash and see! That is when the dead become alive!

The promises of His covenant with us are unshakeable, unfailing and forever! They become effective when we begin to move away from our natural feelings and sense of what’s normal. The sea holds us up when we step out at His command! We are going over to the other side and not under because HE said so!

About overcoming, the Word says: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:10-11

The work that Christ accomplished and their confession and belief in that work resulted in victory over the enemy. Their confession, witness and report testified to their absolute faith in the accomplished work of redemption through the Blood to the point where they were willingly staking their physical life on that confession of their faith in His Blood.

Habakuk’s confidence in God’s ability to perform what he has promised is made plain: And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:2-4 KJV 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  18  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19 KJV 

God promised that His word will not return void to Him but will accomplish what he sent it to do! For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:10-13 KJV 

The Word of God like snow and rain that bring seed to the sower and bread to the eater will be fulfilled.But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  Matthew 4:4 KJV

The enemy's words bring death and steal the life away when we give heed to them. The Word of God brings life to all who put their trust in them. Man lives by the Word of God.