Written in the heart: a warning to Judah

Sunday, 9-3-14, these are notes taken during my personal devotion at my in-laws home in Tanjung Tualang.

Reading from Jeremiah 17:1 - 10

(1) Written in the heart
Just like the expression used in Jeremiah 31:31ff where YHWH promised to put his Torah into our hearts, here Jeremiah 17:1,2 tells us that Judah's sin is written in their hearts:

• with an iron pen
• with a diamond point
• engraved on the tablet of their heart and on the horn of their altars.

(2) The Curse before the Blessing
YHWH tells Judah of the Cursed Man (v.5,6) first, before He tells of the Blessed Man (v.7,8). This appears to be a solemn warning to Judah

(3) The Cursed Man (v 5,6)
He trusts in man and makes flesh his arm.
His heart departs from YHWH
He is like a shrub in the desert:

• he does not see good coming
• he inhabits parched places

(4) The Blessed Man (v 7,8)
He trusts in YHWH.
He puts his hope in YHWH.
He is like a tree planted by the waters, with its roots spread out:

• he does not fear heat coming
• he has green leaf
• he will not be anxious in times of drought
• he will not cease to yield fruit

(5) The Deceitful Heart (v 9,10)
It is deceitful above all things.

• desperately wicked.

None can understand it.
Only YHWH searches the heart (see Psalm 139:23,24, where David asks God to search his heart)
and tests the mind.
YHWH rewards every man

• according to his ways
• according to his doings (fruits)

Only God can see our hearts and minds while we order and amend our ways and deeds.