Welcome back, everyone, for another deep dive. This time, you've given us a pretty interesting collection of sources all about axes in the bible.

Yeah. Should be fun.

But we're not just talking about chopping wood here.

Right.

We're gonna be digging into what these tools actually meant to the people who use them.

I think we might uncover some pretty surprising stuff about, you know, wisdom and skill.

I think so too. What really stood out to me when I was looking at these sources Oh. Is that there isn't just one word for acts in the Bible.

Oh, yeah. That's a great point. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, actually, it lists 9 different terms. 9.

9. Wow. Yeah. I guess they took their axes pretty seriously.

They did. Yeah. Yeah. And a lot of these terms, they refer to very specific types of axes. Like, you've got garzon

Yeah.

That usually describes a large axe, like the kind you'd use for, you know, some heavy chopping. But then you've got quartum, and that's more like an adze. Like an adze. Yeah. Kinda like an axe with a curved blade. You know what's interesting? They still use Aziz today. Carpenters in Syria still use them.

Oh, wow. So it's for more like delicate woodworking.

Exactly. Yeah. It's like think about the difference between, like, a lumberjack's ax and, like, a sculptor's chisel. Totally different tools for different jobs.

Right. So we're seeing right from the start that the ancient Israelites, they had this whole vocabulary for axes They did. Which tells us how important these tools were in their daily lives.

Absolutely.

But the sources you gave us go way beyond just talking about the physical tool itself. They really dive into, like, the symbolism of the axe.

They do.

Especially in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Yeah. Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse 10 uses this really powerful image of a dull ax. It says, and I'm paraphrasing here, if your ax is dull, you're gonna need a lot more strength to get the job done. But skill skill is what brings success.

Okay. So on a practical level, like, we all know a sharp ax makes the work easier.

Absolutely. Way more efficient.

But it feels like the verse is going deeper than that.

Oh, it totally is. It's like it's connecting that physical sharpening of the ax Yeah. To sharpening our mind.

It's like if our thinking is dull, if if we aren't prepared, if we don't have the skills Right. We're gonna have to work way harder to get anything done.

You got it. And that's where wisdom and skill come in. They're like the sharpening stone for our minds. They help us work smarter, not harder. And, you know, what I love about this metaphor is it's so concrete, like, we can all picture and act Totally. And it connects that image to these, you know, kind of abstract concepts of wisdom and success. It makes them way more relatable.

Yeah. It's not just some vague saying about being wise. It's something you can really grasp.

Exactly.

Speaking of grasping things, I stumbled across something pretty interesting about axes in the bible. You know, the Hebrew word, barzal.

Yeah. Barzal means iron. Right.

Okay. But according to the encyclopedia, it's used sometimes where it seems like it's actually talking about an axe.

That's really interesting. Makes you wonder if maybe iron axes were around earlier than we thought.

Yeah. Kind of a little archeological puzzle there.

I love it.

But getting back to that wisdom in Ecclesiastes, you know, one of the sources you sent, the axe's dull parable. It takes that whole idea of the dull axe and applies it to needing to constantly work on your skills. Yeah. Always sharpening them.

Right. And that is so relevant for us today.

It is.

Doesn't matter what you do. No. You can't just sit back and think you've got it all figured out.

You gotta keep getting better.

Gotta keep honing those skills.

So how do we know when we've become a bit dull? What are, like, the signs that maybe our axe needs sharkening?

Okay. Well, think about it this way. Are you finding yourself struggling with things that used to be easy?

Oh, yeah.

You know, are you putting in more and more effort but not seeing the same results? Or maybe you just don't feel challenged anymore.

Or, like, you're just not as effective as you used to be.

Exactly. Those are all signs that maybe it's time to focus on some still development.

Yeah. Some tough questions to ask ourselves there. But okay. So let's say we are feeling a little dull. What can we do about it? How do we sharpen ourselves?

Well, the article talks about a few things. One is deliberate practice, like, really focusing on your weaknesses and putting in the work to get better.

Okay. So not just going through the motions. No.

No. No. It's about being intentional. And then getting feedback from others is huge.

Oh, yeah. That's important.

Because they can see things that we might miss.

Right.

And then, of course, never stop learning. Always be looking for ways to expand your knowledge and skills.

Makes me think about those amazing craftsmen described in the Bible.

Oh, yeah.

Like, Bezalel and Oholiab.

Oh, right. The ones who were chosen to build the tabernacle.

Yeah. They were incredible.

Yeah.

They had such an amazing level of skill and dedication.

Oh, absolutely. They're a perfect example. And, actually, the Acts as Dole parable talks about them

Yeah.

And also about the skilled musicians who are a key part of worship.

So it's saying that the Bible values practical skills.

It does, but it also talks about the importance of spiritual skills too.

Okay. That's really interesting.

Yeah.

And that brings us to the last source we're gonna be looking at for this part of our deep dive.

Okay.

A blog post called A Lesson from a Dull Axe.

Love that title.

Me too. This one goes in a more spiritual direction.

Interesting.

It's not about sharpening your skills in, like, carpentry or music.

Right.

It's about sharpening your spiritual understanding.

So instead of sharpening your tools, you're sharpening your connection with

Your relationship with God. Oh. Exactly.

Okay. I see.

And the author of that blog post, they make the argument that we need to sharpen our spiritual understanding just as much as we need to sharpen our practical skills.

I like that.

Yeah. And we do that through studying scripture, seeking wisdom, trying to live our lives in a way that lines up with god's will.

So it's about more than just achieving success in the world.

It is. It's about this deeper kind of success, like living a life that is pleasing to God. Yeah. And this blog post, it reminds us that we have access to, like, the ultimate sharpening stone.

What's that?

The Bible itself.

Oh, nice.

It's full of wisdom and guidance Right. You know, to help us achieve that true lasting success.

And I love how all this it all started with these ancient Hebrew words for axes.

Right. And now we're talking about this really powerful metaphor for growth in any area of life.

That's so cool. That's what I love about these deep dives. You never know where they're gonna lead.

This deep dive, it's really got me thinking. If our lives are like axes, what kind of wood are we each trying to chop?

Oh, that is a good question. What are our goals, our dreams, our purpose?

Exactly. And what are we doing to sharpen ourselves to make those things a reality?

I hope our listeners are asking themselves those questions too.

Me too. That's where it gets really real.

It does. It's so easy to get caught up in the ideas, but the real value is when you start applying them to your own life.

I think that's a great place to pause for now. We've got lots more to discuss about these axes and wisdom.

We do. But for now, I think our listeners have got plenty to think about.

Yes. It's a good question to think about. Yeah. Our lives as axes and the wood we're trying to chop Mhmm. Really makes you visualize things.

It does. It really does. And I'm wondering, like, you know how we talked about all those different Hebrew words for axe? Yeah. Maybe those point to the different kinds of wood we encounter in life.

Oh, interesting. Okay. I see what you mean. Like, some goals are pretty straightforward. Right? Others, they're more complicated, kinda naughty, maybe need a different approach, different kind of sharpening to really tackle them.

Totally. It's like if you're a skilled woodworker, you're not gonna use just any old axe for every job.

Right? Exactly. Gotta choose the right tool. And for us, I guess that means figuring out what skills, what wisdom we need to actually reach our goals.

Yeah. Maybe that means learning something totally new or practicing a skill we already have.

Could be. It's all about, like, paying attention. Right. Like, what woodworker wouldn't use a dull axe? We gotta notice when our own skills are getting rusty or when our thinking's gotten too rigid.

Oh, yeah. That's a big one. And that sharpening, it might look different depending on what you're trying to do. Like, if it's about, say, spiritual sharpening

Okay.

Maybe that's more about prayer, meditation, studying scripture, things like that.

But if it's more, like, professional skills you wanna improve Uh-huh. Then you might need to take some classes, find a mentor. Just make time to practice.

It all comes back to being intentional, doesn't it?

It does. You can't just, like, hope your ax will sharpen itself. Yep. That Gotta put in the effort.

Just like Ecclesiastes says, skill will bring success. It doesn't mean it'll be easy, but it means being prepared and getting better all the time makes a real difference. And that success, it can look like so many different things.

So true. Landing that dream job, mastering a hard skill, feeling closer to god, even just managing your everyday life better. It's all success.

Isn't it wild how we started with those ancient Hebrew words for axes? And now we're talking about growth in, like, every area of life. I know. Right? That's what I love about these deep dives.

Me too. It's those unexpected connections, finding wisdom in these surprising places. Mhmm. And those connections, they lead to more questions, which is a good thing.

Oh, for sure. Means you're really thinking about the material.

Yeah. And speaking of good questions, I keep coming back to that one you asked. Like, what wood are we each trying to chop? Our goals, our dreams, what makes us tick?

I think about that one a lot too. What are our listeners passionate about? And what steps are they taking to sharpen themselves so they can make those things happen? That's where the real work is.

It's easy to just, like, enjoy thinking about the ideas.

Totally. But the real value is putting it all into practice.

Exactly. It's like taking those ancient metaphors, those tools they give us, and making them personal.

I like that.

Like, they become part of how we make decisions, how we live our lives, hopefully, for the better.

Totally agree. It's like we've got this incredible toolbox full of wisdom and practical advice, but it's up to us to pick the right tools and use them to build something meaningful.

Yeah. That's a great way to put it. And that's what I think makes this more than just a fun conversation.

It is fun.

It is. But it's about, like, taking action, you know Mhmm. Using these tools and actually making changes.

Oh, absolutely. Like, we can talk all day about axes and metaphors.

Right.

But if it doesn't lead to some kind of growth, what's the point?

Exactly. And, you know, we've been talking about sharpening ourselves in a lot of ways, our skills, our thinking, our spiritual lives. It's making me wonder, though Yeah. Are there times when, like, sharpening one part of ourselves could actually make us dull in another area?

Oh, that's a really good question. Like, you get so focused on your career, maybe you neglect your spiritual life a little bit or the other way around.

Right. Or maybe, like Yeah. I don't know. You spend so much time studying scripture, you forget to actually, you know, practice those teachings in your everyday life.

I think you're right. It's about balance, isn't it?

It is. Like you said before, there's all kinds of wood out there. We gotta know which ax to use for which job and make sure we're not neglecting any part of ourselves.

Exactly. Like, sometimes you need that big Garson for the tough stuff. Yeah. But sometimes you need that quardom for the more delicate work.

That's a good way to think about it.

It is. And, you know, it's not just about individual balance either. Think about Bizalel and Oholyab again.

Okay. Yeah.

They use their skills. They created something amazing for their whole community. Oh, that's her. They're sharpening. It wasn't just for them. It helped everyone.

Wow. That's such a cool way to look at it. Yeah. So it's not just about, like, chopping our own wood. It's about what we can build together.

Yes. Like, when we sharpen ourselves, we can inspire other people to do the same.

It's like this this ripple effect of growth. Yeah. I love that. Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground in this deep dive.

We have.

We started with a few Hebrew words for ax.

That's right.

And we ended up talking about wisdom, skill development, even how we can impact the world around us. I

told you these deep dives were fun. Never know where they'll go. And, you know, you gave us some fantastic sources to work with. Oh, thanks.

I tried to pick some good ones. Yeah. I have a feeling our listeners have got a lot to think about.

They do, especially that question about what kind of wood they're trying to chop. I'd love to hear their answers. Maybe they'll share some thoughts with us on social media.

That would be awesome. And if I could just leave everyone with one final thought.

Okay. Go for it.

Never underestimate the power of a well sharpened ax. Oh, well. In all its forms. Right? Yeah. It can help you make a path, build something amazing, even inspire other people along the way. So keep sharpening, keep striving, and keep creating.

That's perfect. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Well, thanks for joining us for this deep dive into axes and wisdom. Until next time, keep those axes sharp.