Conjunction Junction What a Function!

"Conjunction Junction what's your function?"

Many a Saturday morning I sat in front of my TV as School House Rock taught me about conjunctions, the magic number 3, the shot heard 'round the world and how bills became law.  I didn't know that a simple song like "Conjunction Junction" could help me appreciate my Bible more, but it has.  Conjunctions are some of my favorite words in Scripture.  Four years ago I wrote about Great Buts of the Bible and today I want to look at the some amazing verses where the word 'and' makes a world of difference.  Pay close attention to the word 'and' to see the difference that it makes.

Psalm 63:11-12a

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong,

AND that you, O Lord, are loving."

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful AND just AND will forgive us our sins AND purify us from all unrighteousness."

Psalm 100:5

"For the LORD is good AND His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Exodus 34:6

"And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate AND gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love AND faithfulness."

Romans 3:26

"...He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just AND the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

Psalm 46:1

"God is our refuge AND strength,

an ever-present help in trouble."

Daniel 9:9

"The Lord our God is merciful AND forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him."

Psalm 145:8

"The LORD is gracious AND compassionate,

slow to anger AND rich in love."

There are certainly more verses that feature the little word 'and' but the ones above are so great and definitely worth meditating on.  See, God often takes two characteristics that seem opposite, like justice and mercy, and says the word 'and' instead of 'or'.  That to me is dumbfounding.  God takes terms we think are contradictory and is able to be both without contradiction.  

Also, God is infinite.  I think this means that our eternity with Him will be filled with 'ands' as we delve deeper and deeper into who God is.  God is an unending being with unending knowledge about Himself to be learned.  It's as if we will be forever saying "And then He's...".  To coin a phrase (though I'm doubtful it will ever be repeated) God is full of inexhaustible andness.

Pay attention to the little words like 'and' while you search the Scripture today.