Do Something!

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourself a new heart and a new spirit for why will you die, O house of Israel.   Ezekiel 18:31 (translation – R. North TDOT)

New – It’s a new year, at least according to the astrological calendar of the heavenly cycles.  Whatever calendar you follow, Ezekiel’s exhortation is the proper one.  Do something about your present state before the Lord all you who have dark corners in your lives.  Get rid of the past!  Make yourself a new heart!

That’s right.  The Hebrew uses the verb ‘asah (to do, to make).  This is not waiting for grace to arrive unannounced.  This is not surprised by joy.  This is get-up-and-get-it-done religion.  First, cast off your transgressions.  In Hebrew, hashlichoo (cast away from you).  The verb is shalak.  Throw them away.  Get rid of them.  Toss them out of your life.  Why are you holding on to what will kill you?  Could it be that you are afraid to trust God to care for you so you need just a little bit of self-protection in case things fall apart?  Could it be that you have not embraced the paradox of trust?  Would you rather die than venture the gain?  No!  Throw them out!

And in the process, make yourself a new heart.  Va-ashoo lakem lev hadash.  YOU make yourself a new heart.  Wait!  I thought only God could do this.  I thought that grace was His prerogative alone.  I thought I was hopelessly lost in my sins and without His rescue there was nothing I could do.  Ezekiel says, “What’s the matter with you?  Get up and do something about this state you are in.  Take action.  Change yourself!”  And Paul adds, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (pause) for it is God who works in you.”

Once again we encounter the Hebrew word hadash (here translated “new”).  By now we know that the primary meaning of hadash does not fit our idea of brand-spanking-new-never-seen-before.  In Hebrew thought, hadash is more like something that was already there but not revealed or something that was once old but is now restored.  “Get yourself a renewed heart!” says Ezekiel.  Now we see why part of the task is up to us.  God can provide the forgiveness to remove the guilt, but we have to bring the repentance to initiate the process. In doing so, we are active participants in renewing our hearts.  The man who sits in the bleachers watching but never entering the game being played on the gym floor cannot score points.  Even if he is called to join the team, he must get up and move on to the floor.  He must cast off his lethargy and make something happen.

It’s so much easier to hold God accountable for my laziness.  “If God really wanted me to change, He would make it happen.”  Wrong!  God never does what He expects us to do.  Ezekiel makes it abundantly clear that God expects us to renew our hearts.  He isn’t going to do that for us.  We have to throw away the impediments to righteousness.  We have to step up to the line.  He’s waiting for us to make a move.

Topical Index:  new, hadash, make, ‘asah, Ezekiel 18:31