The Truth In
Print Vol.
11
Issue 7, Aug. 2005
A Publication of the Valley
Necessary Acknowledgements & Requests
Concerning My Heart
By Bob Lovelace
God expects the
soul, heart, and oneself to be pure. Moreover, it is man’s duty to be as
concerned as God is about what He demands of one’s heart! How long has it been
since you asked God to look at your own heart? Perhaps you have never made such
a request to God. So, have you ever asked Him to take a look at your heart and
see if there is any wicked thing therein? One might well be thinking, at this
point, that to ask such would be a brave thing to do; it might even appear to
be a frightening thing to do being aware of wickedness within the heart!
Concerned
reader, it is appropriate to state that
one’s “desire” to be right with God would produce just such a request (Cf. Ps.
139:23-24). Why not read this brief study and compare the points with your own
heart and conscience, and this with a view to being forgiven of your sins and
maintaining a pure heart before God?
Initially One’s Soul Is Purified Through
Obedience In Baptism:
What God has told one to do in order that
they might be forgiven of all their trespasses, and thus cleansed of all sin,
is the same for all men. When Peter wrote to Christians, those who had been
saved, he said “seeing ye have purified
your souls in obeying the truth” ( I Peter 1:22). Their initial obedience is stated again in I Peter 3:21.
It is the good conscience that seeks to obey God in baptism in order that one
might have the forgiveness of all sins made possible through the blood of
Christ. Peter likened the eight souls saved in the Ark with those who are now
saved by baptism. He said, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also
now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of
a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (I Pet.
3:21-22; Cf. 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 22:16; Col. 1:13). Have you been baptized for
the remission of your sins? (Cf. Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38).
Initial Obedience Must Be Followed By Maintaining A Pure Heart:
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” (I Ti. 1:5). Notice
that this is the purpose (“end”) of instruction in the assembly as well as
elsewhere.
John stated our duty to keep our self pure.
He said: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man
that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” ‘( I John 3:2-3). Note: here “pure” means “free from
defilement, not contaminated” (W.E. Vine, A-1, 53, hagnos). Purity is part of
our example (Cf. I Tim. 4:12). It also has to do with how we think and conduct
ourselves around others, especially those of the opposite sex (Cf. I Ti. 5:2).
Here it denotes “the chastity that excludes all impurity of spirit, manner, or
act” (W.E. Vine). Above all, purity involves not sharing in other’s sins (Cf. I
Tim. 5:22).
Christians who have fallen and made friends
with the world must purify their hearts, James says (Cf. James 4:7-10). Here
the word means “to purify, cleanse from defilement” (W.E. Vine, B-2, 47,
hagneia). This is accomplished by submitting to God, James says. It involves
one’s humbling their self, repenting and confessing their sins to God with a
view to restoration (Cf. Acts 8:22-24; Ja. 5:16; I John 1:9).
Acknowledgements
& Requests Made Concerning The Heart:
David spoke “publicly” his
desire as a warning to his son Solomon. He said, “And thou, Solomon my son,
know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a
willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the
imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but
if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever” (I Ch. 28:9).
Solomon’s own desire for the
people is expressed with, "Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to
the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at
this day" (I Ki. 8:61). He wanted them to stay the way they were that day
when the temple was dedicated.
Now compare Solomon’s own
heart years later: “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. [5] For Solomon went after
Ashtoreth... and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. [6] And Solomon
did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did
David his father” (I Kings 11:4-6).
Hezekiah’s example shows why
God hears us. When he was sick and facing death we are told, “
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,
[3] I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before
thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy
sight.” Then God said to
Isaiah, “[5]
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord,
the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold,
I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord
“(2 Ki. 20:2-5).
The Bible says that God knew
David’s heart (Cf. I Sam. 13:13; 16:7). A general description of David, with an
exception being the matter of Bathsheba states: “Because David did that which
was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he
commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the
Hittite” (I Ki. 15:5). Note: In that
matter David had to purify his own heart! (read Ps. 51 with Ps. 32).
What Did David Teach About The Heart?
1. Psalm 101:1-4
A Psalm of David.
I will sing of mercy and
judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. [2] I will behave myself wisely in a perfect
way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. [3] I will set no
wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it
shall not cleave to me. [4] A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not
know a wicked person.
Note the, “O when wilt thou
come unto me?” It appears God left him alone to test him to determine what was
in his heart. Moreover, he’s making promises here! Be sure to look closely
again and identify these promises and statements that start with “I will,” “I
hate,” etc.
2. David made
this acknowledgment:
Psalm 139:1-2
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known
me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off.
3. David made
such acknowledgements because he desired to be lead in the way of
righteousness:
“Search me, O God, and know my
heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in
me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
Question: Do I
have this true desire and determination to have a pure heart? Concerned reader,
consider all of these; question yourself with, Do I ask God to do this for me?
Why would I not be able to ask such of God?
4. David knew that the righteous God tries the hearts and minds:
“Oh let the wickedness of
the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth
the hearts and reins” (Psalm 7:9).
Note: The word
“tries” ~ 1) H974 bâchan
BDB Definition: 1) to examine, try, prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to examine,
scrutinize; 1a2) to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God)
Note: Consider Hezekiah when the envoys came from Babylon (read 2 Ch.
32:31). God withdrew from him to find out all that was in his heart. Then,
afterwards, Isaiah came to him and told him he’d blown it! (Cf. 2 Kings
20:14ff).
Note: Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for
silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts (Cf. Zech.
13:9; Mal. 3:2-3).
Conclusion: Do you now understand
why there are so many in the church whose lives are filled with disobedience?
It is because there are so many who possess impure hearts! Only the pure in heart will see God, Jesus
said (Cf. Matt. 5:8; also Matt. 7:16-20; 13:47-50; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:29-5:8;
Rev. 21:27).