Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 109 God Cares About Our Heart, Not Externals.

Psalm 119:34  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 

In our previous posts, we have studied what the Psalmist meant when he prayed for understanding from God and his commitment to keep His law. 

In this post, we will seek to understand what the Psalmist means by observing the law with his whole heart. 

One simple truth is that it is not enough to keep God's law, unless we keep it with all of our heart. 

God requires our whole heart in serving Him. Our heart is a fountain of good and evil and we must diligently guard it and look after its spiritual condition. 

External professions of faith have no real value. 

Acts 5:1-6  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2)  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3)  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4)  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5)  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6)  And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 

Ananias and his wife Saphira, joined the believers within the early church, but both forfeited their lives by lying to the Holy Ghost. 

They conspired to lie to Peter about the transaction price so that they could keep some of the money for themselves.

Their hearts were not right with God and this is why they were covetous enough to lie about the proceeds from selling their land.  

Judas was a "disciple" of Christ by his outward profession, but Satan entered his heart (Luke 22:3). 

Simon Magus was baptized as a follower of Christ but his heart was not right with God, because he thought he could buy the gifts of the Spirit with money (Acts 8:21). 

External conformity is also of no value. 

Matthew 23:1-7  Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2)  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3)  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4)  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5)  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6)  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7)  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 

Doing things to be seen as righteous by other people is wrong. The Pharisees were obsessed with external activities that made them appear as godly men. Yet, their hearts were not converted to Christ and were full of wickedness Matthew 23:25-26).

They loved to pray in public places so that other men would see them praying, and conclude that the Pharisees were deeply religious (Matthew 6:5). 

They had a trumpet sound when they put in an offering so that everyone knew they were giving an offering to God (Matthew 6:1-4).

They disfigured their faces when they fasted, so that everyone knew they were fasting and were pious men (Matthew 6:16-18). 

Jesus saw right through their pretentious ways because He saw the evil in their hearts. 

Always remember that God looks on our heart. 

1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 

Samuel was a prophet, priest and judge. He sought out the next king for Israel from among the sons of Jesse. Samuel looked at Eliab and was certain that he was God's choice. 

Notice what Jehovah said to his prophet. Do not look at externals, for I look on the heart. Thus, we too, must remember that God knows our heart. 

Matthew 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Jesus put it this way when speaking of the Pharisees and religious externalists. They draw near to God with their mouths. 

That is they paid lip service to God, but they remained unconverted. Their hearts were far away from the Lord. 

Guard your heart, believer. 

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

King Solomon was given a wise heart from God. He was also very well instructed in moral, godly behavior by his father, King David. 

The wisest man we know of tells us that we must keep our heart. To keep it means to guard it for the issues of life come out of the heart. 

Our heart is wicked and we need a new heart from God.

Matthew 15:18-20  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19)  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20)  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 

Jesus told us about all the wicked things that can come out of our heart. Essentially, evil thoughts, evil words and evil actions can erupt from our heart. 

Therefore, we must guard it, keep it and monitor it, so that we are aware of our hearts condition. 

This connects with all the teaching about our old man and old way of life, versus the new man and new heart and new spirit we have in Christ. 

We must choke off anything that stimulates our old man ( a wicked heart) and fill ourselves up with God's truth that nourishes our new man (the new heart from God).  

Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. 

Ephesians 3:14-19  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15)  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16)  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17)  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Here is one of Paul's prayers for the believers at Ephesus, and it certainly is a prayer for all believers. 

Christ Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith. The Spirit of God indwells each believer by faith. His presence makes our bodies part of the temple of the living God. 

Our heart, the seat of our emotions, our will, our mind and affections, is the chief place of His habitation in us. 

Joined with Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, live holy!

1 Corinthians 6:15-20  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16)  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.  17)  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18)  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Paul demonstrates how abominable it is for a believer in Christ to commit sexual sin. We are part of Christ's body. How could we join Christ's body to a harlot?

Our body is the temple where the Holy Spirit resides. How could we join this holy temple with the sin of fornication? 

Bottom line, we are bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Our body is no longer ours to command but His. Therefore, our chief aim in this life is choosing to avoid sin and instead, choose to live for God's glory (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 

What can we give God for His rich blessings? Our heart.

Psalm 116:12,13  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13)  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 

We cannot work or earn our salvation. God freely bestows it upon all who call upon His name with repentant faith. What can we give back to Jehovah, in return for all the benefits He lavishes on believers? We can give Him our heart. 

Jehovah knows us intimately. 

Psalm 139:1-4 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2)  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3)  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4)  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 

Our All Glorious God searches our hearts. He knows when we sit down and when we are standing up. He knows our thoughts and all of our ways of life. He knows our words before we speak them. 

God searches out the hearts of men (1 Kings 8:39). He tests our hearts with His righteousness (Psalm 7:9).

We might fool the people around us and present ourselves a morally sound and religious, but God knows us. He knows our heart. We cannot fool Him. 

Therefore, the Psalmist urges us to be transparent before Jehovah. Repent and confess our sins and failures to Him. He is merciful and ready to forgive. 

Sinners can repent and turn in faith to Christ and He will give them a new spirit and a new heart. He did this for me and He will do this for you. 

God says "Give me your heart."

Proverbs 23:26  My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. 

King Solomon wrote the Proverbs and he spoke these words to his son. His words certainly capture what our heavenly Father wants from each believer in Jesus Christ. 

If we give God our heart, we will be able to set our eyes to observe or walk in His ways. 

We will find God if we seek Him with all our heart. 

Deuteronomy 4:29  But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

The Psalmist said he would observe the law of God with his whole heart. Moses urged the new generation of Hebrews to do just that. Seek Jehovah with all their hearts and He will be found, and will commune with them.

Fear God and love Him with all our heart. 

Deuteronomy 10:12,13  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13)  To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 

Learning to fear, or respect God is the path to wisdom. He requires that we fear Him and walk in all His ways. How can we do this? By loving Jehovah with all our heart and soul. 

When we keep His commandments, we will find that this is the place of blessing and it is very good for us. 

Jehovah will give us a new, pure heart. 

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Ezekiel 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

The pure in heart can see God. However, to have a pure heart means we must receive a new one from God. He promises to do this when we call upon Jesus Christ's name in repentant faith. 

He will remove our old, rotten, stony heart and give us a new heart that is tender toward Him. He will plant a new spirit in us that wants to live in accord with God's law. This is connected with the new birth (John 3:3-5).

Thoughts to Ponder...

Revelation 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus is still calling on people to repent and be saved, as His gospel is shared. He is calling on His people to open the door of their hearts, wide open to Him. 

Jesus promises to reside in our heart and commune with us for all of eternity.

Will we do as the Psalmist is teaching us? Will we observe to keep the holy law of God with your whole heart?

God promised to give those who call upon Him, a brand new heart and a new spirit. He will transform us in to new creations in Christ. He will give us a brand new way of life to go with that new heart and new spirit. 

I pray for each believer in Christ reading this, to receive encouragement in their walk with the Lord. May God strengthen us, lift up our weary eyes so that we may behold our glorious savior and King, Jesus Christ.

I pray for anyone who is not yet born again, that they might read and respond to this truth by giving their heart to Christ. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is faithful and true to His Word. 

Bob