Blogging Bible Study: the Heart of the Matter - Proverbs, part 3

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Verse 1 in chapter 10 of Proverbs begins "The proverbs of Solomon:" ...and we begin a journey through a rather random compilation of Solomon's wise sayings; some of which get repeated.  So we're not really going to be dealing with a general train of thought, as we were in the earlier chapters we covered.  So I'm just going to take the next 7 verses that mention heart/ hearts  as 'all I can manage today', lol.  Our first stop is Proverbs 10:8 - 

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.  'Heart' is Strong's H3820, leb- inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding; which is the most common Hebrew word that we have seen.

This is a common device for Hebrew poetry...a phrase that is stated, and then either confirmed or contrasted.  We will see (statement) and/ but (statement) over and over again as we look at these proverbs.  Remember the earlier posts in Proverbs, in which we found that the heart is where instruction is either embraced or rejected...this is echoing that.  One whose heart has wisdom to accept instruction is compared to someone who babbles his own mind instead...and has a less than desirable outcome. 

Moving on to verse 20 of the same chapter:

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  Heart is H3820 again.  

'Tongue of the righteous' would mean the words, speech, or teaching from a righteous person...contrasted with the heart (where wisdom is embraced or rejected) of a wicked person.  One has great value...the other has little.  Interesting that these two proverbs flip the discussion; the first is heart vs speech; the second is speech vs. heart.

The next one is...ominous...

The LORD detests men of perverse heart but delights in those whose ways are blameless.   -- Prov. 11:20; Heart is H3820 again.

Now we have God's perspective on the heart...and having a perverse (H6141 -Iqqes: Twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted) heart is, well, a problem.  How do we reconcile that with 'God is love?'   The word the NIV translates as 'detests' is H8441, toeba -- a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.  It might be a shade more accurate to say 'A perverse heart is an abomination to the LORD', which is actually pretty close to the King James.   That actually makes the action of the statement on the heart...it's the perverse heart that's doing the thing; it wasn't initiated by God.  If a thing is detestable, abominable...then the reasonable reaction is to despise, detest, abhor that thing.  However, the ball is in the heart's court.  God does provide a way to correct and renew a perverse heart....and thus become a delight.  This isn't two different people here...it's two different life choices.

Pauses to think on that a moment before continuing...

I  am quickly coming to expect that any verse with 'heart' in it in Proverbs is going to expound on the same theme.

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. -- Prov. 12:20; 'Heart' is once more H3820.

Deceit and joy seem to be different kinds of things...like, deceit is an action while joy is an emotion or experience.  How does our impression of 'deceit' (H4820 - mirma: deceit, treachery) change if we consider it to be a state comparable to 'joy'?  As in, deceit has an effect on the individual...comparable to the effect of joy?  Deceit as an emotional state?  The result upon oneself from plotting evil...planning wrong doing...  I am suddenly reminded of a post I recently saw on social media, talking about a particular actor who was constantly in character of the villain he portrayed (I am deliberately being vague to avoid search engine hits) .  Problem was, that character was so dark and so twisted that the actor couldn't shake it off...and died of a drug overdose soon after completing the filming.  Even actual pretend evil...had a horrible effect.

A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.   Prov. 12:23; 'heart' is H3820 once again.  

This brings to mind a modern proverb...maybe from Will Rodgers?...'Better to keep one's mouth shut and be considered a fool than to start talking and remove all doubt.'  This one is hard, for one who has just discovered she's in the half of the population that has a continuous inner narration going on.  I have words  coming out my ears, lol, and too often I have spoken when it would have been much better to hold my peace.  In those cases I usually didn't have all the background info, or I had heard something out of context, or whatever, and by talking I proved that I didn't know squat about the subject. Because it was a heart-level ignorance.  Folly.   Ouch.  Humiliation is bitter...but it isn't fatal and can be educational.  If we allow it.

An anxious heart weights a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  Prov. 12:25; 'heart' is ...you guessed it...H3820.    

Another video I recently saw on social media (Facebook Reels is a bottomless time-sucking pit, but there are some gems there.  I'm not sure if that's good or bad...) made the point that studies have shown that all it takes is 8 minutes with a friend to help pull someone out of a anxious spot.  "Do you have 8 minutes?" became, to the individual and a friend, a code phrase meaning...'I really need an encouraging word right now'.  I think that's a great idea. Encouragement is a gift...and it doesn't cost anything but  a few minutes of time.

The last verse for today is Prov. 13:12, which is a familiar one:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  Of course, 'heart' is H3820.

Funny thing about humans, though...we focus on the deferred hope and kinda ignore the fulfilled longings.  Sure, there are things that I have been hoping for ...for years...and if I focused on those things I could get very, very blue.  But in so many ways I am living my dream...and I tend to take that all for granted. The antidote to the 'hope deferred' illness is...gratefulness for the fulfilled longings.  

And that is a good selah spot to stop for this week...

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Proverbs, Part 2

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Well, our little trek through the Bible looking at verses the Exhaustive Concordance based on the NIV 84 lists as containing 'Heart'/'Hearts' has us solidly in the book of Proverbs.  We're looking today at the rest of the chapters covering fatherly advice to a son, picking up in chapter 5, where the senior is envisioning what the young person will say after spending a lifetime of indulgence and waywardness (specifically if he gets involved in a relationship with an immoral woman)

At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.  You will say, "How I hated discipline!  How my heart spurned correction!  I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. -- Prov. 5: 11-13; 'Heart' is Strong's H3820, Leb, which is one of the two most common words for 'heart' -  inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding. 

It's interesting that, while the passage goes on to encourage marital fidelity, 'heart' is not in that discussion...although 'love' is mentioned in verse 19.   But 'heart' is seen as the place of either embracing or rejecting instruction.

We have several 'heart' references in chapter 6; gonna list them all together and then discuss.

A scoundrel and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart --he always stirs up dissension.  Prov. 6:12-14; 'heart' is H3820 again.

In the list of things that God hates (Prov. 6:16) -- 

a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,  -- Prov. 6:18; 'heart' is H 3820.

Encouragement to pay attention to one's elders:

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  Prov. 6:20 - 21; 'heart' is, again, H3820.

And, warning again against an immoral woman,

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes  -- Prov. 6:35; 'Heart' this time is Strong's H3824, lebab, the other most frequently used word - inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.

Mostly in chapter 6, we see warnings against people with bad character...with an emphasis on avoiding getting involved seduced by someone with low morals.  The text is specific about a immoral, seductive woman, but I think that's because it's aimed at a son.  It would apply equally for a daughter to avoid being seduced by some guy who offers her ...something other than a marriage covenant...in exchange for her affections.  Remembering ...and following...the wise instruction of one's elders can help avoid such traps.

Moving on into chapter 7, we have a repeat of that charge

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.   - Prov. 7:2-3 ; 'Heart' is H3820 again.

And, also an echo of the warning against the seductress

Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. -- Prov. 7:25; heart is once more H3820.

So. Many. Warnings against falling into a relationship with an immoral woman.  I have to think it was a real issue.  Especially considering that Solomon himself was not immune to the influence of women.  Was this Solomon instructing his son in a  'do as I say not as I do'?  Was it David's instruction to Solomon, that Solomon eventually forsook?  Or the general writing of other authors who observed the whole mess and wanted to use it as a warning?  In any case, it is still sound advice...a person who genuinely cares for another will not take advantage of that person.  In any way.  If there is an individual who is trying to wheedle or seduce his or her way into a too intimate relationship... consider it a red flag.  

Remember what your parents taught you.

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Proverbs, part 1

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Well,  our tour through the Bible looking at verses containing words the NIV 84 has translated as 'heart/ hearts' has brought us to the book of Proverbs, which is going to be rather disjointed, I think.   Proverbs itself is rather disjointed, being a collection of wise sayings, and generally speaking (there are a few exceptions), one verse really does not relate to the one before or the one after.   So I decided to just kind of see if/where any natural selahs hit...but, in the interest of not spending another 5 months in one book I am going to try to squeeze in as much as I can.  I found,  if I counted my scribbles correctly, about 68 verses to look at, so even going 8 ish verses a week...it's going to take a minute.

But we don't have a deadline, so...it's all good, right?

Of course, we start off with one of the exceptions; Proverbs 1: 20 - 33 are written as if Wisdom were personified and calling to mankind.  We have one verse in that passage to consider:

If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. -- Prov. 1:23; 'Heart' is  Strong's 7307, ruah  - wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being.  We have encountered this word a few times; if my count is right, this is the 4th time the NIV has translated 'ruah' as 'heart'.

This is a different concept that the typical words...that focus on mind, will, heart, understanding, etc.  This carries an emotion with it;  a passion.   I can see that 'heart' is a reasonable translation, given the context and the way we use 'heart' today.  In the previous verse, Wisdom has chided the oblivious population,  saying, in effect, 'how long are you going to hang on to your ignorance?'  It's a call to repentance, to give up what the base nature wants and to seek a better way.  All it takes is that decision, 'I'm done with this nonsense'...and Wisdom will be there to teach us.  

Read the whole passage; it's a good challenge.

Proverbs 2 - 7 is a father instructing his son in the ways of wisdom; just keep that context in mind as we look at the following verses....

We have a long if/ then exhortation in chapter 2; I'll include a bit for context but I can't type out the whole thing, lol...

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding.... Prov. 2: 1-2.

There is more if- then in between, but the next verse w/ 'heart' emphasizes 'then'....

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair -- every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Prov. 2: 9 -10; both instances of 'heart' are  our friend H 3820, Leb.  inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.  

Apply the heart to seeking wisdom, and wisdom will enter the heart.  Just stop and think for a moment what impact that would have on one's life...to have wisdom resident in the heart. But what struck me is that wisdom is something to seek, and it comes into the heart from outside.  It's not something I come up with...it's external.  

Moving on to Proverbs 3:

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,  for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   -- Prov. 3: 1-6;  all occurrences of 'heart' are H 3820 again.

The last two verses are very familiar...but I'm looking at the passage here as a whole; we are to keep the father's commands in our hearts, along with love and faithfulness, and to put the trust of the entire heart on God. As in, it all depends on him.  Not one whit on me or my abilities or the actions of anyone around me.  Everything depends on him....

I have three more verses in Proverbs 4 that I'll look at today...

When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live."  -- Prov. 4:3-4; 'heart'  is, once again, H3820.

I think it's worth noting that, so long as Solomon followed God whole-heartedly, everything he put his hands to flourished...but , as we saw when we were in 1 Kings, when he let his heart stray, things started going downhill pretty fast.  

Did he forget his father's instruction?  Or get too familiar with it, so that it lost tits perceived value?

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  -- Prov. 4:20-23.  'Heart' in verse 21 is the other of the two most frequently seen Hebrew words, Strong's H3824, lebab -inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.  Verse 23 is, again, H3820.

The heart is the wellspring of life.

What happens to a polluted well?  What comes from a polluted well?  No wonder the importance of keeping wisdom and sound teaching in the heart.

We'll finish up these chapters on Wisdom next week.

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Psalms, part 14 , Ps. 141- 150

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Well, we have persevered and now we are at the end of Psalms...looking at  verses containing 'Heart/hearts'  in the NIV 84 translation.  We only have three verses in the last ten psalms to look at today.

Psalm 141 is one of David's...

Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.  -- Ps. 141:4; 'Heart' is Strong's H3820, Leb, one of the two most frequently used Hebrew words  -- 'Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding' 

This verse actually strikes me as a plea to resist the camaraderie, the  fellowship, the approval of hanging with bad characters; y'know...peer pressure.  To be part of the crowd, breaking the rules, feeding the appetite...the Psalms are often talking about suffering at the hands of such folks; in fact, this same Psalm goes on to ask for protection against their traps...but here is a request to resist the temptation to join them.  Which is a real threat.  Joining the crowd who doesn't give a hoot about righteousness or justice, who twist language around so that words don't mean what they mean,  who seek power and pleasure can seem to be the best/ easiest thing to do when one is worn down, and I think it's interesting that this is mentioned as an occasion to ask for divine assistance.  The affirmation of that bunch is a siren song of its own; we need help to stand firm against it at times.

Psalms 143 is also one of David's psalms, this verse needs the preceding one for context:

My enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.  So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.  -- Ps. 143: 3-4; 'Heart' is H3820 again.

Here is the state of one who is worn down; weak, fatigued, fighting to hold on to what is right and true. Of course, the Psalm goes on to declare David's trust and hope in the Lord, but this is the confession of his condition before he encourages himself by remembering God's love.

And, finally, the last mention of 'heart' in the unattributed Psalm 148:

He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart.  Praise the LORD.   -- Ps. 148:14; 'heart' is ...not in the original language.  We go from 'near' (Strong's H7138 - qarob  - 'near, nigh, at hand' ) to 'Praise' (Strong's H1984, halal, which is one of the seven main Hebrew words used for 'Praise')...which begins the final phrase of the verse.

So this actually would read 'people near.  Praise the LORD.'  The King James translates this as 'a people near unto him.' as did the Amplified,  the ESV,  the NLT, the NASB...  all the translations kind of filled in the 'near to what' blank, but only the NIV used the phrase 'his heart'.  Now, I do believe 'near to him' is implied there; that makes sense, and it sort of follows that a people near to God would also be near his heart, however..I can't dig into any depth based on implication.  The people of God are near.   But that's pretty deep all on its own...

Blogging Bible Study - The Heart of the Matter : Psalms, Part 13, Ps 121 - 140

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Literally just walked in the door from a 9 day vacation, lol, but I'm determined to not get any behinder...

In our perusal through the scripture looking at the verses in the NIV 84 containing 'heart/hearts', we have arrived at the Songs of Ascent...the thirteen psalms immediately following Ps. 119.  These psalms are supposed to have been recited as one climbed the Temple mount.

Confession time:  when I was a kid, we were awarded check marks in Sunday School for 1) bringing a Bible to church 2) studying the lesson ahead of time 3) reading extra chapters in the Bible and 4) bringing a visitor.  I didn't have much opportunity to get points for #4, but I made sure to do  1 - 3.  HOWever, there were many weeks in which my 'extra chapters' were Ps. 120-126, read in the car on the way to church.  7 chapters, so it looked like I read one chapter each day.  It's shameful to have been so conniving as a kid, and rather embarrassing to admit now...but I do have a lot of familiarity with those 7 psalms.   

Only one of them contains the word 'Heart,' and the author is not noted:

Do good, O LORD to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. -  Ps. 125:4; 'Heart' is a word we've seen only once before, Strong's H 3826, libbah - which is the feminine form of H 3820 and is defined as 'heart'.  Period.  I am not sure why this form of the word is preferable here, although I am sure there is a reason.  But there's no question about the translation.

'Upright in heart' is a concept that has recurred in the Psalms;  it's Strong's H3477, yasar...right, upright, straight.  Probably not me as a kid trying to look more spiritually disciplined than I was.

The next verse we'll consider isn't until the 131st Psalm, which is why I am covering so much territory today. We are still in the Songs of Ascent; this one is attributed to David:

My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  - Ps. 131:1; 'heart' is Strong's H3820 - leb, which we have seen often -- inner man, mind will , heart, understanding.   This is a good verse to ponder...a proud heart and haughty eyes seem to be equated with being concerned with great matters/ things beyond understanding.  Does this mean we aren't to seek and inquire after great and wonderful things?  I don't thing so...but I do think it means we aren't to claim any special knowledge or insight into things that are beyond human comprehension.  I am not entirely sure, however, what those great and wonderful matters  actually are.  I certainly cannot claim any authority to  make pronouncements on something that only God has the perspective to determine.  Like the contents or intentions of someone else's heart.

Psalm 138 is another one of David's psalms; we have left behind the Songs of Ascent at this point.

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise. -- Ps. 138:1; 'heart' is Strong's H 3820 again.  I am tempted to go down a rabbit trail after "gods", but I'll just tell you it's Strong's H 430, elohim, and let you look it up and draw your own conclusions.  'whole' is Strong's H 3605, Koi, -- 'all, the whole, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything'. No divided loyalties or mixed allegiance here; the Lord is the one who is loved and praised.

I'm going to list two verses here, just because the first verse feels incomplete without the second.  Psalm 139 is one of David's more popular psalms:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  -- Ps. 139:23-24; 'heart' is Strong's 3824, lebab, the other of the two most used words, 'inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding'.

Once more we come to the concept of God knowing one's heart...and once again that makes me tremble a bit. Consider my youthful self...while the adults who taught the class may have been impressed with my consistency, God knew my heart.   He knew my motive, as a 12 - 13 year old, wasn't pursuit of Him through the scripture...it was to gain favor with folks whose opinion mattered to me.  It was to look good.  That's what it means for God to know one's heart, folks.  He knows the TRUE motives and priorities.  

That should shake us all up.  

Which is why I included the second verse...it's not the end, if we're in error.  God can correct the offense in us, and lead us into better habits, if we're willing to let him.

Stepping all over my own toes here but I'll go on...

I need two verses to get the whole sentence for this week's last reference; this psalm was also penned by David:

Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. -- Ps. 140:1-2.  'Hearts' is H3820 again.

This is timely.  My social media feed is full of people 'stirring up war'...over politics, over someone else's expression of worship, over technology, over medicine...you name it, SOMEONE has an inflammatory statement to make about it.   Are these all evil people?  Maybe some, who are deliberately trying to raise a ruckus, have a malicious motive, but I think most of them are just people who feel very strongly about a position and somehow think that by using strong language someone who's in an opposing camp will see the light.

Nope.  Don't wanna bust any bubbles, that that ain't gonna work.  We are not going to do the work of the kingdom by stirring up war.  There is warfare to fight, to be sure, but...it matters who shoots first.

Consider how David classified folks who 'stir up war'.  But one might say, 'I am not devising evil plans!  I am raising awareness about (XYZ)!'  Oh, certainly.  But is that awareness being raised by simply laying out facts, or with angry words and loud accusations, from a place of hearsay and rumor?  It matters.

Remember, God KNOWS the heart....

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Psalms, part 12, Ps. 119

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

I know, I know, this is a day late.  I hit some boggy spots along the way and it just took a while...but, here we are...

As I mentioned two weeks ago, there are no 'heart/hearts' references in Ps. 113-118.  So, today, we are diving into Ps. 119.

Not gonna lie, this is going to be a DEEP dive and will probably be the longest post of the whole series.  After all, I did a WHOLE 6 MONTH STUDY on Ps. 119 back in 2016, so you know there's a lot here.

Now, Ps. 119 is an unattributed acrostic poem, with 22 stanzas, one for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.  Each o f the 8 verses in each stanza begins with that stanza's letter; ie, each of verses 1 - 8 begin with the letter 'aleph' each of the verses 9 - 16 begin with the letter 'beth', etc. The subject of the entire psalm is God's word...his word, his decrees, his laws, his statutes, his precepts...all the synonyms.  So I would expect all the verses containing 'heart/hearts' to have to do with how God's word impacts the heart.  

I'm just going to list them all out and then we'll look at the overall themes that develop.

As always, I'm working in the NIV 84, which is the translation that corresponds to the exhaustive concordance that I used building the list of references to check.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.  -Ps. 119: 2, 'heart' is Strong's H 3820 (leb), which is one of the two most common Hebrew words translated as 'heart'.  

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.  -- Ps.119: 7; 'Heart is Strong's H 3824 (lebab), the other most common Hebrew word translated as 'heart'

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.   - Ps. 119: 10-11, both instances of 'heart' are H 3820 again.

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. - Ps. 119:30  Ok...this one is weird, because, according to the interlinear text of Ps. 119 in  the Blue Letter Bible site, there is no word that is translated as 'heart'.  That second phrase has two words, H4941, mispat - a verdict (favorable or unfavorable, pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree)...abstractly, justice...  and H 7737,  sava --to level, i.e., equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust.  One of the verb tenses does include the meaning 'to set, place' I checked several translations and the NIV is the only one who employs the word 'heart' here; the rest all pretty much say 'I have set your judgements before me', with 'before me' indicated as being implied.  Literally, 'I have chosen the way of truth, your verdict is set.'  I don't know enough to know if the subject of that second phrase is still 'I' or if it is just a declaration about the establishment of God's judgement. If we understand the subject to be 'I', I don't think it's a huge stretch to set God's judgements in one's heart...but that's not exactly how the original language reads.  (I didn't expect to run into new grammar issues here, lol...moving on,,,)

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free -- Ps. 119:32...more interesting translation.  'Heart' is H 3820 again, but the phrase 'you have set my heart free'  uses H7337, rahab,, which actually means 'be wide /large' or 'grow wide/large'; widened, enlarged, relieved, or 'expanded with joy'.  Again, not a huge stretch from 'expanded with joy' to 'set free' ...but it is a difference.

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. -- Ps. 119:34; 'Heart' is H 3820 again.  

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. -- Ps. 119: 36; 'Heart' is H 3820.

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. -- Ps. 119:58; H 3820 again.

Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,  I keep your precepts with all my heart.  Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. Ps. 119: 69-70;  both heat and hearts are H 3820.

May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. -- Ps. 119:80; H 3820 again.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.  My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.  -- Ps. 119:111 - 112;  both instances of 'heart' are H 3820.

I call with all my  heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees -- Ps 119:145; H 3820 again.

Rulers persecute me without case, but my heart trembles at your word. -- Ps. 119:161; 'heart' is, once more, H 3820.

OOOOkkkkaayy...that's the lot of 'heart/heats' verses in Ps. 119.

The first thing that jumps out of me is the repetition of 'all my heart' (vs. 2, 10, 34, 58, 69,  and 145); we can included in this mindset the phrase 'my heart is set' (vs. 30...sort of, lol, and vs. 112).  This is a reflection of commitment and dedication, and has two applications...to seek/ pursue/ call (upon) God with all the heart or obey/keep the commands/ precepts/ law with all the heart.

A whole-hearted pursuit of God results in whole-hearted obedience. But I also think that without whole-hearted obedience, any pursuit of God is less than whole-hearted as well.  They are interlocking.  You can't have one without the other.

But I also see the psalmist asking God for help in that dual pursuit ...' Do not let me stray' - (vs. 10); 'Turn my heart toward your statutes' (vs. 36); 'May my heart be blameless'  (vs 80).    A reminder that, while we may have the best intentions, we still require divine assistance ...i.e., grace... to remain true.  Fortunately, God is always generous with his grace and gives it abundantly to those who truly seek it.

The final thing I see here is the effect the word/precepts/ statutes/ laws/ etc. has upon the heart that is devoted to it....it brings blessing (vs 2), prompts praise (vs 7), keeps us from sin (vs. 11), provides a path and brings growth/ freedom  (vs 32) bring delight and joy, (vs. 69 and 111), and  inspires awe and trembling (vs. 161)

 A good little exercise for anyone who thinks pursuing God through studying his word is not worth doing...

How much is a drop?

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Image from vecteezy.com ; used under free license

It was my turn to play the role of Grandma last Friday, as the Princess was away on her annual work conference and someone needed to supervise The Little Prince and his brother, Brother Bear, since her hubby couldn't take off work.  We had fun, but I didn't get to do my deep dive into Ps. 119.  Planning to hit that tomorrow....

But there has been something rumbling around in my spirit for a while so I'm going to try to share it....

You all remember the events that happened at Asbury two years ago...google 'Asbury outpouring' and you'll get a reminder if you don't.

At that time, I had a, well, I guess a spiritual picture of a vast reservoir, held back by massive gates, towering into the heavens.  The liquid in the reservoir was golden and thick, like honey, with a  light of its own, and from that reservoir one drop fell upon that campus.

One drop.

At the time, I was flabbergasted by the sheer enormity of the reservoir.   It was completely out of scale of anything earthly...like the Hoover Dam looming over a child's sandcastle at its base.   What would happen if those gates opened?  Nothing on earth could withstand the resulting flood.  

I pondered that for a while, then kinda filed it under 'interesting thoughts' and went on with life.

But last month that whole scenario replayed itself in my mind when I was in a prayer meeting.  Only this time, what stood out to me was the drop, and I heard in my spirit

"You called ONE DROP an outpouring."

That shifted my prayer.  Folks, we pray for an outpouring...but we don't have any idea what that really entails.  I think the outpouring is coming, on his timetable, and it's not up to us to pray it down but to be ready when it happens.  A drop here, a drop there is just a glimpse of what will happen when God sends the flood.  We won't have time to argue about whether or not it matches our theology.  My prayer is now...God, get us ready.  Grow us up.  Turn our gaze to what truly matters.  Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize things that are merely distractions.  Open our ears and our eyes to hear and see what we need to hear and see.  And give us grace for each other's fears and foibles so we can all serve the kingdom together.

Amen.