‘Hook’in Up Words’

How many of us remember the Saturday morning (or after school) Schoolhouse Rock commercials? Sing with me, ‘Conjunction junction what’s your function… hookin up words, phrases, and clauses.’  Amazing how that lil tune stuck in my head after all these years.  Yes, a cute railroad analogy song to help us use connecting words with purpose.

When studying the bible we do the same thing. We are to take notice of such words as: therefore, because, rather, however, and yes even …IF (see John 15)   There is yet another that packs a huge punch when used in the text.  “So that.”

In Exodus “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of Him will keep you from sinning!” (20:20)   “Jesus says, ‘I have told you all this so that you will not go astray’. – John 16:1  Paul in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”   In Hebrews, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (4:16) Paul again, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.”  (Ephesians 1:17)

Depending on the translation, ‘so that’ is used roughly 700-950+ times in the entire bible.  THAT is a considerable amount of connecting.  In the New Testament, the word is hina (hee-naw) meaning, ‘for the purpose of, in order that it might be.’  Jesus says “You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” – John 14:13  You ask in My name, it will be done for the purpose of the Father getting the glory!  ‘So that,’ amazing connecting words! Defining words. Words that point. The divine goal is to bring the Father glory!

May we slow’r down, take pause; take notice of ‘hookin up words, phrases and clauses’ so that we may know Him better for the purpose of bringing Him glory.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds. – Hebrews 10:24)