S) "9 The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB)
O) Some of the older translations say the heart is "desperately wicked;" and, while that is not untrue, it removes the context of this passage. Sin is very much like a sickness of the heart. Undiagnosed, people will still show symptoms, but they will be confused, shocked, outraged, or hopeless because they can't seem to fight the symptoms, no matter what course they use: drugs, exercise, positive thinking, or anything else. They are trying to treat the symptoms without understanding the sickness. While the heart is deceitful in many, many ways (more than all else, it says), the deceit that is at work in this passage, really is a lack of human ability to see, I think. In fact, in the very next verse, the LORD repeats a truth about Himself that He has revealed over and over, that He alone is able to see what is really in the heart of man. The kingdom of Judah was about to receive the God's unmitigated wrath, and they were not going to understand why, because they could not see that their hearts were sick. Even though they saw some of the symptoms (which they tried to treat with their various idolatries), they would not listen to the truth that the LORD revealed to them over and over through the prophets, the good kings they'd had, or the Law.
A) The best response, is to echo what Jeremiah said in v.14. Through Jesus Christ, we believers were given the authority to heal in His name. Laying hands on the sick to recover is a very real miracle that still occurs today (I have been physically healed a few times in my own life). I see no biblical basis to believe in the cessation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, physical healing serves the primary goal of glorifying God. In that sense, I should see physical healing as most important to nonbelievers, because it shows them the love and power of the LORD, and that He lives. As a Christian, the most important healing that I could want, has to be a spiritual healing. The most important part of me that could be healed, is not my body, and that doesn't change regardless of my physical health status. The Bible makes it clear that I am not long for this world, even if I live to be 120 years old! Much, much more important than that, is that God continues to bring healing to my sick heart, because I am still prone to commit sins.
P) Father, You alone could solve the problem of sin. You are wise, loving, just, and merciful. In Jesus Christ, I have the salvation I seek. In Him, I can be healed of the sin that plagues my heart. I know that I will not be completely healed until I am glorified with Christ, though. So heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise. Receive all of the glory, honor, and worship. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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