Revelation 1:16 English Standard Version (ESV) In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Ephesians 6:17b English Standard Version (ESV) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Hebrews 4:12 English Standard Version (ESV) 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 joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Genesis 3:24 English Standard Version (ESV) He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

A two-edged sword cuts both ways. The flaming sword keeps the way to the tree of life open and also prevents any that might seek to enter that are unworthy.

The Word uttered does the same thing. It welcomes those who are chosen and rejects those that are unworthy.

Romans 10:8 English Standard Version (ESV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

The sword of the spirit cuts to the quick those who do not not wield the Word of God by faith.

It cuts both ways, to keep out those that are not of faith and to allow those who enter by faith in Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 31:28 English Standard Version (ESV) And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord.

His Word cuts both ways.

Isaiah 1:18-20 English Standard Version

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 

19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

This is the Word of the Lord given to Isaiah about Judah. This is not the Word of the Lord given to us about us. Let us reason together, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, as to how we should use this Word rightly.

The first thing that should be established is in coming together. Is this the place to do that? Is it physical or spiritual? We are all in Christ together. Is that where we can reason together?

Was Judah at that time able to come before the Lord? 

We can come before the Lord because of what the Lord has done for us, that had not yet been done in Judah. The Word of the Lord says “shall be” as in the future. That is a future we stand in. We can stand before the Lord only because of the sacrifice Christ made for us, and now here we stand.

This Word given to Judah is in full quotes. This part does not end until verse 20 and should not be parsed. So often we parse scriptures because we want to hear and believe in part but leave out the parts that might not suit us. Ignoring scripture does not make the meaning disappear.

Judah’s concerns were over their inheritance which was the land and the law was given to show them how to receive the goodness from the land. We live by grace not by law. Our provisions are not tied to obedience. We should be willing and obedient for a different reason.

The nations around Judah oppressed them and the hedge of protection provided by the Lord was lifted because of rebellion on their part. That is historical.

“The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Revelation 1:16 English Standard Version (ESV) In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

By reason of Him who sits on the throne.