Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Deuteronomy 11-13.
God thinking to himself in Genesis 8:21:
"for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth..."
I have noticed, and my ESV Study Bible notes have commented that:
"Deuteronomy constantly addresses the “heart” of its audience: embracing this law, seeking the good of this people, is the right response to God's grace and the embodiment of virtue."God desires that we devote to him more than merely robotic acquiescence to his laws. He jealously desires our hearts, souls, and minds.
In fact, as difficult as it is to understand, God will even send tests to his loved ones to help us see the condition of our hearts.
God knows our hearts, and he knows that when things are going really, really well for us, as it soon will be for Israel in the Promised Land, that our hearts have a great propensity to become self indulged, and arrogant.
Over, and over again, in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is going to instruct the people of Israel to obey God, love God, and to guard their hearts.
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn." (Deuteronomy 10:16)
As peculiar as this sounds to our modern ears, God is asking Israel to take his covenant with them, and drive it to the very core of their hearts and souls.
We would do well to do the very same thing.
