August 8 ▪ Day 220

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 21:2
Deuteronomy 27–28
II Peter 1–3
Psalms 36

Verse Focus (Proverbs 21:2)

A person may think their own ways are right,
     but the LORD weighs the heart.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus is Proverbs 21:2, which says, in the CSB, “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs hearts.” Literally, the Hebrew is saying that a man’s way is right in his own eyes, so I almost started this paragraph with the NASB2020 translation, which says, “Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD examines the hearts.” But I chose the CSB for first place because to say that the LORD examines hearts is accurate, but to say that He weighs hearts seems to come a bit closer to the Hebrew wording in my mind. According to the lexicon, the word being used here means to measure, to ponder, to balance, to weigh, and to regulate; it also means to test and to prove. The other small detail is that the Hebrew tells us that the LORD weighs hearts, plural; although some translations put it in the singular in English. I think it does make a slight difference in meaning, whether heart is singular or plural — if singular, you think that God is only weighing your heart; but if plural, then you realize you are also being weighed against all the other hearts of mankind.

I also really liked the GNT, which says, “You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the LORD judges your motives.” The GNT is not a literal word-for-word translation, but it definitely gets the gist of this proverb!

The proverb implies that — despite what we believe — we may be completely wrong about our ways. But to be wrong even when we think we’re right implies either 1) lack of knowledge about God’s ways — that is, ignorance; or 2) self-deception. And it’s our capacity for self-deception that is more worrisome. It suggests that we should regularly pray for God to open our eyes to the ways that we’ve been deceiving ourselves.

The other thing that strikes me about this proverb is that if God is weighing our hearts, it may not be the particular path we’ve chosen that’s the issue so much as where our heart is before God. In other words, the “right” action may not matter if we don’t have the “right” heart to accompany that action. Say, for example, a cashier accidentally gives you too much change. The “right” thing to do is to correct the error and return the extra amount to the cashier. However, if part of you wanted to keep the money and take advantage of the cashier’s mistake, the LORD might weigh you as being “wrong” in this situation even if you actually did the “right” thing. (Well, I’m sure God would give you credit for doing the right thing, but He still might weigh you as wanting because you resented having to do the right thing.)

So to me, this proverb warns us that it’s not just our actions that matter, but also the condition of our hearts. To do right, to be right, our hearts must be in agreement with the choices we make and the actions we do (which, of course, must also be right according to God’s word). It’s a pretty tall order! And not one that most of us can do without the help of the Holy Spirit.

Father God, help us to know your Word; give us the knowledge of the right things to do and the right paths to take. Help us also to have hearts that are in agreement with you. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit. Thank you that the process of sanctification is ongoing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Deuteronomy 27, Moses instructs the Israelites to put a copy of the law onto large stones as soon as they cross into the Promised Land. Then they are to make an altar out of uncut stones, they are to offer burnt offerings to God as well as sacrifices of well-being — and they are to “rejoice before the LORD your God (v. 7).” Half the tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim, and the other half on Mount Ebal — they shall pronounce the blessings and curses that will fall upon the people, depending on whether or not they keep the law.

Moses tells them in verse 9, “O Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God.”

Then Moses tells them 12 curses that the Levites will call out to the people. With every curse, “all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen (v. 15).’ ” It is an interesting collection of curses. The first two are from the Ten Commandments, but the others come from all throughout the law. A number of them seem to have been chosen because these were ways that the Canaanites had transgressed. Verse 18 is interesting. “Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.” It comes from Leviticus 19:14, although it is not an exact quote. This law also did not appear earlier in Deuteronomy when Moses was recounting the law for the Israelites, so that’s interesting too. (Clearly Deuteronomy is a copy, but not an exact copy of all the laws that have previously been given.) The twelfth curse that the Levites shall call out is in verse 26, “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.”

Deuteronomy 28 is a well-known chapter in the Bible because it details the blessings for obedience and all the curses for disobedience to God’s law. Curiously, the curses far outnumber the blessings. Fourteen of the 68 verses deal with blessings, which calculates to 20 per cent of the total number of verses. Of courses verses aren’t necessarily the same size — so, based on the English word count, it’s approximately one quarter blessings, and three quarters curses. Does this mean, though, that there are really more curses that come upon you for disobedience? Or are the curses simply more detailed in description? And why do you think God had Moses write it this way, so that the curses are so much more elaborate than the blessings?

I like the first part of verse 11 in the blessings. “And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity.” Sounds pretty wonderful, doesn’t it? Some of the curses are truly horrifying, though — such as the cannibalism during sieges (v. 53-57)! Verse 20 struck me, too: “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do.” Perhaps not the most terrifying of curses, but one that speaks of misery to me. Verses 29b, 59, 62, and 66 were also ones that I highlighted as I read the chapter today.

2 Peter has some familiar and beloved verses. I still love verse 1:2 and 1:4. And I am encouraged, yet again, by 2 Peter 1:8. “For if these qualities [virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

But today I’m looking at these chapters from the perspective of what I learn about God. And I’m struck by Peter’s name for God in verse 1:17, “the Majestic Glory.” The Majestic Glory. Even the name conveys a sense of awe. And I suppose that’s why I like it — because even though I know God is great and glorious and awesome, it’s easy for me to forget those things. The Majestic Glory. 🙂

2 Peter 3:8-9 also teaches us several important things. “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Obviously, patience is one of those things that we learn about God.

Perhaps you remember the King James Version speaking of how God is “longsuffering.” In the New Testament, longsuffering was what the KJV used for patience. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated as “longsuffering” is usually translated into modern English as “slow to anger.” But both of these — patience, and slow to anger — are good terms to describe the quality of forbearance that God has. It’s all wrapped up into His mercy and compassion, too.

The other thing we learn is about God and time. Peter says that “a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” I think we tend to focus on the second half of that comment and think, “Oh, yes, two thousand years since Christ rose from the dead, that’s like two days to God.” But I think we should focus more on what it means that “a day is like a thousand years.” Using very rough math, that means that every single minute is like a year to God. Not that Peter was trying to be precise with his analogy! God has an eternity to listen to you and you alone.

He is outside of time. I love C.S. Lewis’ analogy of a person reading a book. In the book, Sally is about to make a decision. But the reader sets down the book, and goes to eat dinner. Perhaps a day or two later, the reader returns to the book — and Sally is still about to make that decision. No time has passed for Sally, while the reader could have been doing a million other things. That, to me, is a good example of what our lives are like. We are bound in time, going forward. But God is outside time. He’s the reader. He can see us when we’re making a decision; He can also see what happens to us before we know what will happen. A day is like a thousand years.

Psalm 36 describes God using analogies from the expanse of the heavens and the earth. Verse 5 says, “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” If you really look up into the sky it can seem endless. The blue goes on forever. Verse 6 says, “Your judgments are like the great deep.” And we catch a glimpse of the weight of God’s wisdom. There is more to every word of God than we can see or understand. He is unfathomable.

Verse 9 is a perennial favorite. “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” Open my eyes, Lord! Give me insight and vision.

Father God, thank you for being patient with us, and slow to anger. Thank you that you always have time for us. Thank you that you are the Majestic Glory. Thank you, too, for teaching us about blessings and curses. With the help of your Holy Spirit, may we obey your Word. Keep us from self-deception. Cleanse and renew our hearts this day, in Jesus’ name, Amen.