Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Oy. Y'all, I am struggling with the demands of the season. Got a bit convicted this morning about not putting a priority on the Scripture digging. So I'm repenting and...putting it at the top of my list today, lol.
Anyway, we are cruising through the Bible on a long slow journey looking at the use of 'Heart/ Hearts' as listed in the NIV Exhaustive concordance (Zondervan, 1990), and we are now in the Psalms.
Ps. 41 is one of David's, and he is relating how his enemies...and some of his friends... have gossiped about him:
Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad. -- Ps. 41:6; 'Heart' is Strong's H3820, which we've seen frequently.
David is describing an individual who comes and speaks kindly to him, whilst looking for dirt to spread around about the king once he leaves. We are familiar with the idea of hiding God's word in the heart (we'll get there when we hit Ps 119) ...but it is apparent that other things can be hidden in one's heart as well. Like details of another's hardship...which sometimes get masked as 'prayer requests'.
Of course, David's trust is in God, who vindicates him, but it is a good moment to mention...checking one's motives.
I have a notation in my Bible that Ps. 42 begins 'Book II'. I suppose I could chase that down and learn about the structure of Psalms and all, but that's not my purpose here, so cruising on to the next mention of 'heart/hearts' brings us to Ps. 44, written by 'the sons of Korah'. This is a lament of those who do not perceive why God is letting them go through hardship.
Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. -- Ps. 44:18; 'Hearts' is once more H3820.
If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he know the secrets of the heart? -- Ps 44:20-21; H3820 again.
Not unlike Job, the psalmist(s?) struggles with understanding what has happened, although this is on a national, not a personal, level. However, there is no questioning 'Why'...just a plea for God to rise up and deliver his people. This isn't a 'God knows my heart despite my actions' situation...this is a genuine 'my heart is clear and God can see it all' mystification...but still resting on the assurance that God cares and does redeem.
Ps. 45 is another by the sons of Korah, and it is labeled 'a wedding song', extoling the qualities of the groom and the bride.
My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. -- Ps. 45:1; 'heart' is, again, H3820. The psalmist is introducing the poem, moved in his heart by the occasion.
For a poem about love, it's kind of odd that the only other reference to heart is a verse celebrating the king's military might
Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. -- Ps. 45:5; H3820 once more.
Literally, the vital organ of the heart here; the psalmist is declaring victory over the enemies of the king.
Psalms 46 is also written by the sons of Korah; I'm going to quote two verses for context:
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea -- Ps. 46:1-2; keeping the string going, that's H3820 again...the midst, center. A description of a true natural disaster.
Cataclysmic events should not spark fear. Interesting and timely, given the cataclysmic events (storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods) that have happened of late. The earth is groaning...which is pretty far afield from my topic but worth a mention.
One more verse today; in the 49th psalm, also from the sons of Korah.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding. - Ps. 49:3 Batting a thousand today; that's H3820 again.
The psalmist is pretty confident that the revelation in his heart is something worth sharing. The first two verses are actually encouraging folks to pay attention as he shares what he has seen/heard/ understood.
I suddenly feel like I have something in common with this unknown poet, lol. Maybe he would have been a blogger...if blogging had been a thing...
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