The Heart of the Matter
Introduction: The English word “heart” is found 765 times in the KJV Bible: 666 times in the Old Testament, and 99 times in the New Testament. Several Hebrew words were translated as heart, and in the New Testament the Greek word translated as heart was cardia, which is used today in medical terms related to the blood-pumping organ. God has much to say to us about our heart, mind, and soul; and about his own heart for man. The following provides only a brief look at this subject.
NOTE: Bible text is from the King James Version.
A — From the Fall to the Flood
Genesis 6 “5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
Genesis 8 “21 And the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”
Comments: Over the many centuries after the fall, man's heart was continually in sin with rebellion against God. Because of the response of his heart to this condition of his creation, God brought a conclusion to those times with destruction of all which had the breath of life on the face of the earth. Then the work of altar-building and sacrifice by Noah was a sweet pleasure to the Lord. God made a promise to sustain the cycles of physical provision as long as the earth exists. God used eight people who were saved by grace to repopulate the earth, but man's heart still carried the seed of Adam's fallen nature.
B — Preparation of a People and Their Hearts
Deuteronomy 10 “16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.”
Deuteronomy 11 “13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul… 16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them. 18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul.”
Comments: God began to mark off special people with the call of Abram, and then changed his name to Abraham. Moses was selected by God to be the instrument to call out from bondage his chosen nation, and to give them the law of God. Even though God set apart his people Israel by distinctives from other peoples, his desire was for the heart of man to be inclined toward him. The law was only beneficial if it was combined with faith demonstrated by obedience and service emanating from the heart.
C — Entering the Period of the Judges
Joshua 1 “8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Joshua 22 “5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Comments: After entering the land, with many foes already conquered, Joshua directs the attention of the people to be faithful to their God, diligently keeping his commandments with heart and soul, while completely forsaking the false gods in their midst. The Lord early in chapter 1 of Joshua had directed Joshua to the commandments, and then after many good years of following the Lord himself, he passes that same instruction to the next generation, emphasizing that the manner must be by fullness of heart and soul.
D — The Beginning of the Period of the Kings
1 Samuel 13 “14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
1 Kings 11 “4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.”
Comments: When God began to establish a line of kings which would bring his planned blessings in Messiah, he rejected the first king from the tribe of Benjamin and sought a man after God's own heart. David knew that God had accomplished all good things during his reign as king. This understanding of God's working from the past up to the present, and having complete trust in his word for the future, is a key quality of the heart of David. Sadly, in the latter years of Solomon's reign he did not remain true to God alone. The account illustrates how easily we stray even from manifold blessings of God, when we follow our own heart.
E — Songs of the Heart for All Who Would Follow God
Psalm 9 “1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”
Psalm 62 “8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”
Psalm 119 “2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
Comments: The Psalms were compiled after the ark of the great flood, and before the cross of man's redemption, but they have no lack in application to our lives on this side of the cross, because of the richness of our eternal God. They have been available through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for centuries, to instruct in the development of man's heart for God. May we, who are quickened by salvation in Christ, take to heart the lasting treasure of the Psalms.
F — Why Man Falls, and the Way Back to God
Jeremiah 24 “7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”
Joel 2 “12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Comments: Following the imagination of our own heart will inevitably lead to sin, because that course has been declared by God to be continual evil. The law of God must train our thoughts. Our only hope is in God, as he gives us the heart to seek him and to return to him. We will undoubtedly receive his grace and mercy if we “rend our heart and not just our garments,” in repentance from the sin within our hearts.
G — For the Church
John 14 “1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Ephesians 5 “19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
Comments: God has continued to unfold his plan over the centuries since the cross, and all the evil which man brings forth from his own heart cannot thwart the goal of God. Throughout the various times of nations, judges, kings, and our present time of the gentiles and the church, God has always provided for those whose heart is right before him. The New Testament offers special blessing to those who believe in Christ as Savior and Lord, because our hearts are given a sure and firm comfort.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I am overwhelmed as I see from scripture what my heart can do in rebellion against you, and that this condition has been within man since the fall. All rejection of your grace is self-deception and rebellion, and all religious effort without faith is futile. Thank you Lord, for revealing truth to me through your word, that I might understand my condition, and flee from unrighteousness, to cleave to the rock of my salvation. And now Lord, strengthen me to be diligent to study, meditate on, and to heed your law, to love you with all my heart, mind, and soul, to follow in your ways and to serve you, to hold on to you only. For who am I O Lord, that you would save me, and provide blessings in my life. And if that were not enough, you have promised to prepare a place, and to come again to take me to be with you forever where you are. May I remember to continually speak to other believers in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in my heart to the Lord. Hallelujah, amen!
Published 29 May 2004; first issued 16 December 1999