The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

The word deceitful comes from the root word, “`aqab”. It means to “supplant, defraud, assail insidiously, attack at the heel, or circumvent”.

This definition brings to mind the story of Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac. The name Jacob literally means "heel holder" or "supplanter".

“And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them” (Genesis 25:24-26).

While Rebekah, Jacob and Esau’s mother, was pregnant, “the children struggled together within her” (Genesis 25:22). The struggle between the two brothers didn’t stop after birth but continued on during their entire life. This is a good analogy of the struggle each person has with their heart.

Esau was born first. “And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob” (Genesis 25:26).

Being the first born son, Esau was to inherit all of his Isaac’s property and rights. But Jacob had other ambitions.

On Isaac’s deathbed, Jacob deceived his father to get the birthright which was due Esau. How often has our heart deceived us, blinded us to what is right so as to get what it wanted, even if it was wrong? The heart is deceitful because the heart is also lustful.  The heart too, has objects of desire and will, “supplant, defraud, assail insidiously, attack at the heel, or circumvent” our very soul, body and spirit to get what it wants.

Jacob and Esau were twin brothers, but the lust and desire for power and property blinded them to their love and relationship.

Our heart can deceive us similarly. The heart’s power of love, lust and passion can overpower anyone, if they deviate from the word of God and leave the protection of His presence. Things such as infidelity and homosexuality come to mind. The heart wants, it then deceives by justifying, rationalizing, excusing and finally permitting the act.

The deception of the heart isn’t relegated to people or sex. The heart can want money and things and cause the mind to justify, rationalize, excuse and permit.

The heart, “who can know it?” The heart, acting outside the realm of God is lust. At first, the feeling of lust generated by the heart may be perceived as love. But all things outside of God’s will, will eventually turn ugly. Maybe not today or tomorrow and maybe not during this lifetime. But anything outside of the kingdom of God is sin, and sin leads to death.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16).

That deceitful heart, operating outside of God, generates lust, lust leads to sin and the final destination of sin is always death. Remember LSD: Lust, Sin then Death.

When we operate outside of the domain of God and solely upon our hearts desires, we are operating in a spiritual minefield with our eyes and ears closed shut. We are ignorant of this fact because he have been deceived by the darkness of sin. Sin sees no dark corners. How can it without the light of righteousness to illuminate it? Jesus Christ is our light.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

Fortunately for us, God does not want us to die, He wants us to live!

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die…But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? (Ezekiel 18:20-23)

Even though our eyes and ears may be shut to the Lord. Even though we may be operating under the full force of sin. Even though we have been deceived by our own heart, God will always show us the path to salvation. God will always show His chosen people the way.

“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins”. God searches are heart and is not reluctant to show us what He finds. You can’t repent of sin if 1. You don’t know what sin is and 2. Are unaware of its presence.

“I try the reins”, the literal translation is “God will test and prove the kidneys”. Kidneys were believed during this time to be the seat of all emotions.

God will make known to us our thoughts, feelings, intent and actions. A child of God will be proved by God and we will know right from wrong, righteousness from sin. A child of God will seek out God and ask Him to do so. Why? LSD-Who wants to die? And what better way to glorify God and to show your love and obedience to Him than to ask God to search out and find the sin within so as to repent from it? God will absolve you of all sin IF you repent of it. God asked, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.” (Psalm 139:1-5)

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.” (Psalm 139:12-13).

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

The heart within the realm of God seeks to love and worship God and to love and edify its neighbor.

The heart operating outside of God is a deceitful, lusting beast seeking self-gratification. Truly the definition of sin is being self-centered and seeking self-gratification.

Let God in, let Him reveal your sin to you so you can live!

Choose life! That’s what God wants you to do. Lean on God, learn from God. Do follow your heart if it leaves the pathway of righteousness. That is certain death.

Bill Hitchcock