Red LIght Warning
The heart is the most deceitful of all things, and it is desperately sick. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
Deceitful – I have been reading Oswald Chambers for fourteen years. It amazes me that I can read the same page year after year and find something new there each time. Perhaps it is a reflection of my journey rather than his. Oswald has a habit of capturing the essential elements of spiritual abandonment in a unique way. His comment on the power of darkness is typical. “The recognition of sin does not destroy the basis of friendship; it establishes a mutual regard for the fact that the basis of life is tragic.” “The pure man or woman, not the innocent, is the safeguarded man or woman. You are never safe with an innocent man or woman.”[1]
Chambers helps us understand Jeremiah’s terse comment on the human heart. Psychology, culture and the arts do all they can to convince us that men and women have the innate potential for goodness. This Platonic ideal steers us toward a utopian view of politics and education. Caught in the hubris of the divine spark within, the masses are seduced by the prospect of innocence. Even the Church unwittingly follows the piper. “Oh, if we could only return to the wonderful state in the Garden. If only we could recapture the innocence of the world before the Fall.” What are we talking about!? This is crazy. Until we recognize that every man and woman purposely scurries around in the dark, we will never come to terms with God’s call to holiness. It is the absolute certainty of evil in us that is the basis of holy living. To strive for innocence is to deny the need for redemption.
The Hebrew word ‘aqov has two meanings. The first is deceitful. But this meaning is also associated with bloody footprints (Hosea 6:8), a sign of the deliberate wickedness of Gilead. Deceit is not an accident. Sin is not unfortunate circumstance. Our hearts have the insidious ability to rationalize wickedness.
The second meaning of the adjective ‘aqov is found in Isaiah 40. It means rough and bumpy, difficult to travel, harsh. This adjective is applied to John the Baptist. Perhaps it also helps us understand the true nature of our self-seduction. The heart is rough. Its ways are difficult. It can easily make life a harsh reality. Smooth talking does not excavate its untrustworthiness.
Failure to acknowledge the red-light warnings (or the red-blood cries) of the Bible’s view of the heart will leave us standing next to Havvah, wondering if we really don’t have the right to listen to ourselves. After the Nazi extermination of the Jews in Poland, Heschel said, “The pessimists went into exile. The optimists went into the ovens.” Innocence is never safe. Only sinners rescued from themselves truly see the desperateness of Man.
Topical Index: deceitful, ‘aqov, rough, Hosea 6:8, Isaiah 40:4, Jeremiah 17:9, heart
[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 24th
“Only sinners rescued from themselves truly see the desperateness of Man.”
And only sinners rescued from themselves truly understand or appreciate the gift of Yeshua, His sacrifice, and the mercy of YHVH. Having crawled through the mud, I appreciate being clean so much more than if I’d never been filthy.
Skip, thanks for the webinar this morning! It was great! It was really cool to put voices (and some faces) with names and posts. Thanks for setting it up!
A.
Amanda,
Sorry you were not feeling so well this morning. Get better so the next time you will be willing to show yourself. You are right. It was a good Webinar.
The recognition that we ALL have deceitful and desperately sick hearts will hopefully lead us to more compassion, forgiveness & understanding of our families, friends and foes. This is a community sickness that we all deal with in different stages, yet it’s so easy for us to judge others if their journeys towards holiness don’t look similar to ours or aren’t moving as quickly. This must be part of the sickness…our inclination to judge. I speak from experience.
If I’m not constantly on guard against my good intentions, seems I inevitably begin drifting from the Father. Problem is I’m a lousy guard and I can’t trust my heart. I’m learning that only the Spirit can keep guard over me, examine my heart, and call out the warnings. EVERYTHING comes back to the Shema:
“Hear, O Israel YHVH our God, YHVH is one. 5 You shall love YHVH your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these commandments I give you today are to be in your heart. (Deut 6:4-6 )
“The sum of Your word is truth and EVERYONE of Your righteous ORDINANCES is ETERNAL.”
(Psalm 119:160)
Praise YHVH He offers a simple and free perscription for our sick hearts!
Exactly why we need each other. We are usually blind to our own good intentions.
There is no doubt about my condition. Among sinners, I may be chief or at least near the top. I am most in need of the intercession of the Father. I guess my one bit of knowledge that keeps me from despair is that I am in relationship with the Father through the Son and have some assurance that it is well with me in wat is most important. I have been adopted by the Father and live in that hope.
The heart is the most deceitful of all things, and it is desperately sick. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
Romance Satire
Comedy Tragedy
Jesus is the romantic Hero who focuses on his love for the Father.
Jeremiah is the satiric hero who focuses on the Heart of Darkness.
Remember Captain Kurtz in Apocalypse Now or Gulliver in his Travels.
We don’t want to end up like them, the Objects of Satire 🙂
We want to be the Subjects in this Romance of Life, this Passion Play.
I may “overexpose” myself here, so I need to be careful. -(especially sister Judi, in “judging” one who belongs to the Father!) -Amen! Tread so lightly, carl.
First, a “self” confession. I am a simple man and I love simplicity. That said, I will proceed (cautiously) onward. (I hope I don’t step on my tongue in the process!)
I am (probably) one of the few, who don’t read Oswald Chambers. (please don’t dislike me because I don’t care for Oswald. I just don’t. – Now, to the “why.”
The title of his devotional is wrong. Right from the get-go I am prejudiced against him. (and here I haven’t even read his book- what is wrong with me?) lol!
“My Utmost for His Highest” is the title. What’s so wrong with that? Sounds good to me! (that is.. to my “Greek” ears.. – hello?) “My utmost”- (I don’t like it.. it’s “too Greek!”
Here’s the title I prefer..(hey- it’s his book-write your own..) How about “His Utmost For My Highest”- ahh.. much preferred.. (But, then again, it’s just “personal preference”.. right?
Don’t go dissin’ Oswald Chambers now, after all.. -who am I? –
So, please, I ask that you (dear reader) not be offended by this- it’s “just me” speaking.. – And I’ll hurry my apologies to Oswald as well.. (Greek thinker that he is..)
Hi Carl,
No problem, I don’t know Oswald Chambers.
But agree with his point that you can’t trust an innocent man.
An innocent man has no experience; he has not yet been tested 🙂
The “heart” is deceitful.. It has been said.. “the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart”. In Hebrew (we do pay attention to the Hebrew..-right?) – “lev.”
“Lev”- the authority within. The question we need to ask is: “Who’s in charge?” Who is our authority? Who is our leader? Guide? Mentor? Friend?
But, as Jeremiah (the weeping prophet) states- “the heart is deceitful..” If we cannot trust our own heart, then whose heart can we trust? (-things that make you say hmm…)
I really do believe we know (yes, epignosko) the answer to this crucial question. “Knowing” the answer, what is left for us to do now?
Submit, commit, don’t quit- get fit.. We’ve got some work to do! We have now a more clearer indication than when we first begun what Yeshua meant when He said, (-we do pay attention to what He says, right?)- “not my will, but Thine be done..”
Hi Carl,
Let’s start at the literal level. We are using English.
Where is the heart? Are we talking about the physical heart? I don’t think so. Is the heart inside of us or outside of us? Or both? Is it a metaphor? Does it just exist in language? Is language inside of us or outside of us? Or both?
It has been said The “heart” is deceitful..
But t has been said his “heart” is good..
My point here is “can be” is probably more useful than “is” in this case.
Although I could not find the scripture this morning, as I recall, it has been written (lev or deut) that the laws are written on the heart.
If I’m wandering around with Max, my dog, I don’t carry my Bible: I look into my “heart” to check the rule book for trhe next play 🙂
Our Bible, our “authority” for life is what we need for daily guidance and direction. In the Bible is contained everything we need for life and godliness. (even when your wandering around with Max!) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path..
You and I have walked similar paths and yet we are (plenty) different. This is not necessarily a “bad thing!” Your background is Catholic, mine is Southern Baptist. May I say (for each of us)- LORD, forgive us both! (-Why do I ask forgiveness?)
Because “we” do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of G-d. G-d’s word (yes, our Bible) is our authority for life. His words, His teachings, His instructions (Torah) are what we need to live abundant and victorious lives right here, right now, on planet earth. His words give us life. “We” really do need to pay attention (heed) to the words of our Father. Our Bible is our Him book. We can know Him, but only as we spend time with Him (that is the way we come to know anyone BTW, is by spending time with them and observing their words and actions) and absorb His words into our hearts. Let’s spend some time looking into the “heart”. (Uh-oh..)
I don’t mean to take up “band-width” but here is a word-study on “heart”. Hope this helps. BTW, Skip has covered this also in days gone by..
Ancient Hebrew Word Meanings
Heart ~ lev
By Jeff A. Benner
“Here is an example of our modern western culture still using a concrete object to express an abstract idea. We often associate the heart with emotions such as love and kindness as in “He has a good heart”. This is also true with the Hebrews who saw the heart as the seat of emotion. But unlike us they also saw the heart as the seat of thought whereas we see the brain as the seat of thought. To the ancient Hebrews the heart was the mind including all thoughts including emotions. When we are told to love God with all our heart (Deut 6:5) it is not speaking of an emotional love but to keep our emotions and all our thoughts working for him. The first picture in this Hebrew word is a shepherd staff and represents authority as the shepherd has authority over his flock. The second letter is the picture of the floor plan of the nomadic tent and represents the idea of being inside as the family resides within the tent. When combined they mean “the authority within”.
We need to be very careful when we “look into our hearts.” – Why? As Jeremiah just said- “the heart can be deceitful.” Especially the unregenerate heart. The stony heart. The heart of flesh.
A man outside of Christ. As Yeshau has said, “you (and I) must be born again!” We must receive a new heart from Him! A new mind-set! A new attitude. A new birth. A new family. A new desire. As He has said, “I make all things new” and again- “if any man be in Christ- He is a new creation!” (2 Corinthians 5.17)
Now, for some “good news.” (Amen!) Our Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2.16 – “we have the mind (lev) of Christ!” I’ll need to pause here for a “woah!” – Say what? -We have the mind of Christ? If it weren’t for black ink on white paper, I’d find it hard to believe, but what can we say? – “it is written”, brother! – Hallelujah!
Give Max a pat on the head and enjoy today- G-d is working in and on each of us to transform us into who He wants us to be. “It is G-d who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Our job is to cooperate with His program! Our Abba’s full blessings to you today.. He is LORD!
Nice comment, Carl. Just one small thing. John 3 doesn’t say, “You must be born again.” The is evangelical theo-speak. Look up the Greek word. It is never translated “born again” except in this very useful verse (useful for those who wish to push the “salvation” message). Yeshua says something that Nicodemus would clearly understand as Jewish. It’s not what we usually think.
What was Yeshua saying to Nicodemus in John 3:3? Why is Yeshua’s name- “Salvation?” Why is salvation offered to the Jew first?- and also to the Greek? What was the purpose of crucifixion of the Christ? Why this statement in Hebrews 9:22? “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins?” (Leviticus 17:11) ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ Is it the blood that makes atonement for the soul? What is meant by the instructions of YHWH in Exodus 12:7: “Then take some of the blood and put it on the two sides of the door and over the door of the house where the meal is to be taken.” What is meant in Exodus 12:13 “But the blood on your houses will be a sign for your protection. When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” -Was this lamb’s blood? Why did John the Baptizer say when he saw the Christ- “Behold, the Lamb of G-d which takes away the sins of the world?” (John 1.29)
What was Rabbi Shaul trying to say in Romans 10.1: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved?”
“When we are told to love God with all our heart (Deut 6:5) it is not speaking of an emotional love but to keep our emotions and all our thoughts working for him.”
Thanks Carl!
Lots of good stuff; let me just pick one bone with Jeff Benner. (Heart ~ lev By Jeff A. Benner)
It doesn’t make sense to say “love God with all your heart” and then say you are “not speaking of emotional love.”
To be touched by God is an emotional experience.
And if I can remember the 10 Commandments, then I can always look into my Heart/Mind for guidance, and feel safe leaving my Bible at home when I’m out walking Max 🙂
“To the ancient Hebrews the heart was the mind including all thoughts including emotions.”
Just to clarify, “the heart” most definitely includes the emotions! But my favorite of all is the “all”. We are to love the LORD (our G-d) with “ALL” our heart, soul, mind and strength. The definition of heart, soul, mind and strength pales into insignificance beside the little/big word “All!”
I assure you dear brother (and all who read this) – this man’s emotions are very much involved in the worship of YHWH! He is Worthy!
“But my favorite of all is the “all”. We are to love the LORD (our G-d) with “ALL” our heart, soul, mind and strength.”
Hi Carl,
Good point! I was just thinking about your comment above while shopping at Safeway and on the way home a flash of light seemed to strike my forehead.
It was sort of funny because I had gone to the store to buy apples in the first place, but had left the store with a $1.00 movie (The Road) and some fudge brownie ice cream.
When I realized I had forgotten the apples, I also remembered a key Hebrew concept that we had left out of our discussion of “ALL” our heart, soul, mind and strength.”
Of course the key concept is the YEZER HA-RA’.
So when I got home, I went to the JewishEncyclopedia.com and looked it up only to find some very interesting information regarding the topic we were discussing.
YEZER HA-RA’
Evil inclination or impulse, popularly identified with the lusts of the flesh. The idea is derived from Gen. viii. 21: “the imagination of the heart of man is evil from his youth.”
Yet from the use of the two “yods” in Gen. ii. 7, the Rabbis deduced that there are in man two Yeẓarim: the good (Yeẓer Ṭob) and the evil (Ber. 61a).
Cain defended himself before God for having slain Abel by arguing that God had implanted in him the Yeẓer ha-Ra'(Tan., Bereshit, 25 [ed. Buber, p. 10]). “It lies at the door of the heart like a fly” (Ber. 61a; comp. Beelzebub).
Yet in a way the Yeẓer ha-Ra’, like all things which God made (Gen. i. 31), is good. Without it, for example, a man would never marry, beget, build a house, or trade (Gen. R. ix. 9).
Therefore, man is enjoined to love God with both the Yeẓarim implied in “WITH ALL THY HEART” of the Shema’ (Sifre, Deut. 32 [ed. Friedmann, p. 73a]).
It would appear that the Yeẓer Ṭob comes with reflection, and at the age of bar miẓwah or confirmation, because it is said to be thirteen years younger than the Yeẓer ha-Ra’, which is an inborn impulse (Eccl. R. ix. 14).
The Yeẓer Ṭob delivers the citadel of the body from the Yeẓer ha-Ra’ by means of temperance and good works (Ned. 32b).
The “little city” of Eccl. ix. 14, 15 is interpreted by the Targum and Eccl. R. (ad loc.) as the kingdom of the heart, and the “great king” who comes against it as the Yeẓer ha-Ra’.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=39&letter=Y
The YEZER HA-RA’. Yes. Amen.
When we pray (we do pray, right?)- deliver us from evil, does this prayer include the Yezer Hara’?
We do not have to teach children to be selfish. One of the first words to proceed forth from the mouth of a toddler (other than McDonald’s) is “mine.” My toy. My truck. My sandwich. My territory. We are (all) born this way- with a strong sense of self. We really have not yet developed an “others” mentality. We must be taught to share what we have and who we are. Someone must teach us.
G-d is our Teacher. We are the students. We are the learners- the talmudim. We (each and all) are in the process of learning- “I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good thing.” Say what? And again the scriptures say- “for without me, you can do nothing.” And again.. “not I, but Christ.” As we have learned from brother Skip this “but” is a big one! And even the “not” is emphatic!
This very small “not I, but Christ” is a game-changer. For lack of a better word, I’m going to use the English word “change.” (I’m now thinking of my life B.C. and A.C.- before Christ and after Christ) and thinking of the changes that have taken place. – Short version: “radical change.”
Let us look at the life of Rabbi Shaul. (BC and AC). What was the yezer hara’ displayed for us to see “before Christ?” (it wasn’t pretty- was it?). And then AC (after Christ)- Paul had an “encounter” and a major one, no doubt.. Saul became Paul. A new name. And along with a “new name”, came a change in the yezer hara’- the desire of Paul’s heart (our word for today-lev). Paul had a radical turnaround occur and we (you and I) are witnesses of these things. Paul’s life is displayed on the pages of G-d’s book for us to observe. We (visibly) “see” the before and after of Paul’s life. That man underwent some serious changes.
Now, to “fast-forward” two thousand years (or so) to today. We gotta bring this into closer focus. As the scripture says- “what does this mean?” If any man- (a very inclusive group of words)- “any man” includes “all”- does it not? If any man be “in Christ”. Ah- now we have narrowed this down a bit to those who are “in Christ”.
This is today’s mystery- What does this mean? “in Christ?” May I ask myself this question today? Am I “in Christ?” (there are hundreds of blessings to those who are “in Christ”)