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Hearts and Minds
Jeremiah 4:14 “wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?”
Back in Exodus 35 the Heart was a major theme or word used, and we explained the meaning of “heart” in Hebrew (click here to read more). Even in this chapter, “heart” is mentioned 8 times! The Hebrew word is Leb H3820 – lēḇ, and it relates to another root word Lebab H3824 – lēḇāḇ. When we think about heart, we think mostly emotions, but actually heart has MORE to do with the mind, with understanding, with considering, with being brave even, memories, reflecting, finding resolution, having determination. In Hebrew your Heart is your inner man, and have less to do with just random emotions that we cannot explain. You have to use your mind, and have determination and courage – that is the heart. We need to control our minds and hearts, cleanse it from evil thoughts.
Circumcision
Jeremiah 4:4 “Circumcise yourselves to YHWH, And take away the foreskins of your hearts“
The Hebrew word for circumcise is Mul H4135 – mûl, meaning to cut off, destroy. Foreskins in Hebrew is Arla H6190 – ʿārlâ, which is basically opposite of Mul, to be uncircumsized. This command is given to the males, as the males are the head of the family. See our post from Isaiah 61 about the role of the man, as being the priest of the family – standing in for his family with YHWH (click here to read more).
Circumcision is cutting yourself not just mentally and spiritually, but also physically from this world – marking yourself as belonging to YHWH in heart/mind, soul and body. YHWH also sees this as a sign, from Genesis 17:11, “and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you“. But as we have seen, the heart is related to this circumcision – YHWH always looks at the heart. See the story back in Genesis 34 where Dina’s brothers insist on circumcision as a rule, but they had evil intentions in their hearts (click here to read more).
Liberty
Jeremiah 5:5-6 “But these have altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds… Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased“. Another translation puts it like this “but they too, had broken off their yokes and torn off their chains.. they rebel so often and they become more and more unfaithful.”
Only a child who grew up with discipline, with a good set of rules in the house, would appreciate the value of rules and discipline. To anyone else, they put a negative connotation to “rules”, as laws. But to the child who grew up with laws, those laws brought them protection, taught them to think with common sense and not become rebellious, but learn to love in purity. But for those who hate laws and rules, have a rebellious heart. See our previous posts on Rebellion (click here), and how rebellion is the number 1 character of ha-satan.
We have been so conditioned to think a “yoke” or “set of rules” are bad. But if we didn’t place a yoke on the ox, horses or donkeys, they would run rampant and have no idea where to go. It doesn’t mean the yoke should hurt them, as matter of fact, it is a protection and a means of guidance. The Hebrew word for yoke is H5923 – ʿōl, meaning something from above, concerning, over or a cover. The Hebrew word for bonds is Moser H4147 – môsēr, meaning to tie yourself to, to make a commitment, an oath. Marriage is a good example, some would see the oath and commitment as a good thing, while others see it as imprisonment, to be bound to something and they can’t “do what they really want”..
Yeshua’s words in Matthew 11:30, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In today’s society we are taught to break free from any rules, even the statue of “Liberty” have chains at her feet that are broken, to symbolize the abolition of slavery and the triumph of freedom. And if you do some research, the statue has nothing to do with “black slavery”. Jeremiah 5:6 says it all at the end of the verse.. everyone becomes more and more rebellious and unfaithful – which is exactly the world we are living in today.
Ancient ways
Jeremiah 6:16,19 “Thus says YHWH: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words Nor My law, but rejected it.”. Another translation says, “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the ancient, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves… but they reject My Teachings/Torah“
See our previous posts on “Ancient” (click here for more), especially with Numbers 3, and the meaning of the word Ancient, which also means “from the east”. There is an old quote, and many similar quotes like “A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows the corners”, meaning that the old ways are usually the best ways of doing things, and a lot of good knowledge have been lost and needs to be re-discovered. It is as if with time, knowledge become diluted and no one knows the real truth or power of the “ancient” ways. But YHWH tells us exactly what those ancient ways are.. in verse 19, “My words and Laws“.
The Hebrew word for Words is Dabar H1697 – dāḇār, meaning the Scripture we have, which includes the warnings and promises from the prophets. And the word “laws” in the original Hebrew is Torah H8451 – tôrâ, meaning directions, instructions, priestly directions or instructions, specials customs to teach something. Torah with all the laws, directions and instructions are found in the first 5 books of our bibles : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Click here for many more posts we have done on the topic Torah.
