Put Into Their Hearts
Morning Bible Study Lesson
"And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee." (Exodus 31: 6 KJV)
"And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan." (Exodus 35: 30-34 KJV)
"Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it." (36: 1, 2)
"And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart." (I Kings 10: 24 & II Chronicles 9: 23 KJV)
The above verses answer the ancient question of Job, who asked;
"Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?" (Job 38: 36 KJV)
Lord God puts or places within the heart, mind, or soul of man, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, be it earthly or heavenly. God also puts his own Spirit within some, together with his fear, spiritual wisdom and understanding, his words of truth, or his laws, and various other Christian virtues and graces.
"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." (Psalm 51: 6 KJV)
And, such as he desires he gives to such as seek it from him. He puts in the inwards parts of the soul the things enumerated in the above passages. He puts thoughts and desires into men. He does this both to lead and to test them.
When God puts a thing into the heart, effects occur. Thus, in the above passages, when God puts his Spirit and his wisdom and fear and truth into a man's heart, that man's heart is said to "stir" him to activity, to duty and obedience.
"Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing (thought, purpose, or intention) as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 7:27)
"And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy." (Nehemiah 7:5)
God was credited with giving the good thoughts to these servants to do the good deeds they desired to do. The Lord led their hearts and minds and he did this by both "taking out" of their hearts what is evil and false, and in return, "putting in" their hearts what is good and true.
Great deeds begin with great ideas, with a vision or imagination of some perceived good or some nobel end. God is the author of them.
"Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea." (Numbers 16: 28 NIV)
God "put" the "idea" into the heart and mind of Moses to offer himself to Israel as a Deliverer. Moses did not take credit or responsibility for it. If the idea "popped into his head," so to speak, it was because God caused it, or begat the idea.
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31: 33 KJV)
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." (Jeremiah 32: 40 KJV)
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 11: 19 KJV)
"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." (Ezekiel 36: 26 KJV)
(See also Hebrews 8: 10 & 10: 16)
"And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart." (Jeremiah 24: 7 KJV)
These passages describe the conversion experience of the Christian, under the New Covenant (Testament), as God "putting" within his heart or inner being some divine virtue or grace, such as love for or fear of God, or one of his gifts, such as wisdom and understanding, or his laws.
What does it mean for God to "put" something within a man, within his heart and mind, or within his soul or spirit?
God plants or deposits. He produces within the heart thoughts and feelings and in this way leads and tests men.
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (II Corinthians 2: 21, 22 NIV)
"Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (II Timosthy 1: 14 NIV)
These verses are in harmony with all the preceding. The Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, is "put within" a renewed and regenerated sinner, together with all the fruits and graces thereof. He implants his fear, and his love, and his word, into the hearts and minds of those who believe in Jesus. He "pours" into the soul (or "sheds" it) his love and presence.
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 5 KJV)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour." (Titus 3: 5, 6 KJV)
God does this work of "pouring" and "shedding," of placing within a man his gifts and graces. He may do it sovereignly and discriminately, without the permission or petition of the one upon who's heart he is working, or he may do it at the request of his creatures.
"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased." (Psalm 4: 7 KJV)
"But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you." (II Cor. 8:16)
Precious other things that God authors in the hearts of his people! He puts within their hearts joy and gladness, and "earnest care" for one another, and for the truth.
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." (Rev. 17:17)
Here is an instance where God puts into these men to do an evil thing, to unite their kingdoms to Antichrist. It served to test them. It also served to fulfill the ancient prophecies and decrees of God.
"But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations." (Isaiah 10: 7 KJV)
Here the Assyrian king, the one who conquered the northern tribes of Israel, invades Israel with one intention in mind, but God accomplishes his own intentions thereby, all without the knowledge of the king. So too with the "ten kings" who allign themselves with the chief enemy of Christ.
"And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him..." (John 13:2)
Satan and evil spirits have the power both to "snatch from" the heart and also to put within it, evil intentions, ideas, and purposes. Evil thoughts often arise in the minds of men from his instigation. (See Matthew 13: 19)
Of course, men also are able to put things into the thoughts of others. Parents hope they "instill" or "plant" good virtues into their children. Sadly, criminals "inspire" other criminals, putting evil thoughts into the minds.
Both Jesus and Paul spoke of those things that have, or have not, "entered into the heart of man." (I Corinthians 2: 9 & Mark 7: 9 KJV) They enter in various ways and come from various sources, and for various ends. It should be the desire of every man for God to put within him all that is good and holy, and to take away all that is evil.
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24: 45 KJV)
He opened their hearts and minds in order that he might put within it his wisdom, Spirit, and grace, and his blessed gospel truth. He opened their hearts as ground is opened for planting seed.
Friend, ask God to operate on your heart, to put within it what is pleasing to him.
posted by My Daily Bread @ 10:39 AM
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