Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
A day late, but, well, life happens, lol. Today our cruise through the NIV84 looking at verses containing 'Heart' or 'Hearts' has brought us to Jeremiah chapter 16.
This chapter opens with God's instruction to Jeremiah to NOT get married and have children, due to the judgement coming upon the land; he is also not to comfort mourners or join celebrations....because the time was soon to come when no one would be able to mourn the dead or celebrate a marriage. And, of course, the people were going to complain and wonder what they have done to deserve such judgement. Generations before had forsaken God and worshiped idols.
"But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his own evil heart instead of obeying me." -- Jer. 16:12; 'heart' is Strong's H3820, Leb - inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
This is not just the cumulative error of the nation, but also the result of individual error among the people. They were following their own systems, values, opinions, etc., instead of following God's instructions.
I told you Jeremiah hits hard in the current day...
Chapter 17 is a contrast between the heart that trusts God, and the heart that doesn't...
"Judah's sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars." Jer. 17:1; 'Hearts' is H3820 again.
Their deliberate choice to not follow God is not something that can be overlooked; it is plain and obvious, affecting their behavior and their worship.
This is what the LORD says, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." -- Jer. 17:5; 'Heart' is, once again, H 3820.
I know we usually associate 'strength' with, like, military strength, as in the kings who made alliances with pagan nations rather than trusting in God to deliver them when they were threatened by foreign armies (and were called out on it)...but I think this also applies to human reasoning...or expecting political leaders to solve all the problems. It has a broader application than just political alliances. It kind of puts a demand on all of us to see where our trust truly lies.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." -- Jer. 17:9-10; 'Heart' is, again, H 3820 in both verses.
I have mentioned this before but it is worth hammering home. God knows EXACTLY what is in an individual's heart. He KNOWS where we are ignoring that nagging thing that tries to remind us of the right thing; he KNOWS where we are choosing to believe a narrative that indulges some desire that is not entirely admirable. He KNOWS. We can fool others, we can even fool ourselves, but we can't fool Him.
Chapter 18 begins with the famous trip to the potter's house, where Jeremiah watches a potter remake a defective pot into something else. God explains the lesson of the potter, and instructs Jeremiah to warn the people of impending disaster and exhort them to repent and change....
"But they will reply, 'It's no use We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'" -Jer. 18:12; 'heart' is, once more, H 3820.
I can't imagine someone actually verbalizing that response, but I can very well see them shrug off Jeremiah's warnings as the ramblings of a crazed fanatic...which, in effect, is the same. No understanding of their situation, and no intent to change anything about their daily life.
Sort of like getting that speech from the doctor about changing diet and exercise habits....which I just heard this week and am struggling with, lol (transparency....). Hearing is one thing. Heeding and applying is something else altogether.
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