Jer 17:12 | KingComments | STEP | If the way of blessing and the way of curse are so clearly presented in the verses above, why does a man still choose the way of sin? The reason lies in his heart. The source of all the trouble a man brings upon himself is his heart ( ; ). Hence we are called to “watch” over our hearts “with all diligence, for from it [flow] the springs of life” ( ). The heart means the total inner man, including his thinking. From the heart come the will and actions. The heart is also desperately sick. No one can fully fathom his own heart (cf. ). The question of is answered in . Man does not know his own heart, but the LORD knows and searches it perfectly ( ; ; ). With that knowledge, He can also make a perfect judgment in accordance with the fruit of his deeds, which come from the deliberations of his heart. By the fruit of his deeds the tree, man, is known ( ). To the believer this is an encouragement and to the unbeliever a threat. The example of the partridge hatching eggs it did not lay shows that the young she wants to show off are not her own ( ). So it is with wealth that has not been honestly obtained. This hypocrisy comes from the deceitful heart. The time will come when this becomes clear and then he will lose everything and become known as a fool himself (cf. ; ; ). Opposite all the appearances and uncertainty of the previous verse, there is one certainty for the believer and that is the glorious throne of God on high ( ). Opposite the riches that are lost like that, there is the eternal throne of God. That is the place of the believer’s sanctuary. Therefore, we must seek the things that are above ( ). There is the “hope of Israel” ( ). Those who turn away from Jeremiah, who speaks God’s Word and calls for repentance, have only the firmness of the earth and that is no firmness. Those who are written in the earth will soon be erased and forgotten, as wind and rain do to what is written in the dust of the earth. It clearly draws the impermanence of man. Only the LORD, the source of living water ( ), gives safety and security. Those who forsake Him are lost. ‘Being written down on earth’ is contrasted with ‘being written in the book of life’ ( ; ; ).

‏ Jeremiah 17:12

The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart

If the way of blessing and the way of curse are so clearly presented in the verses above, why does a man still choose the way of sin? The reason lies in his heart. The source of all the trouble a man brings upon himself is his heart (Jer 17:9; Mt 15:19). Hence we are called to “watch” over our hearts “with all diligence, for from it [flow] the springs of life” (Pro 4:23). The heart means the total inner man, including his thinking. From the heart come the will and actions. The heart is also desperately sick. No one can fully fathom his own heart (cf. Psa 64:6).

The question of Jer 17:9 is answered in Jer 17:10. Man does not know his own heart, but the LORD knows and searches it perfectly (Heb 4:12-13; Psa 7:9b ; Psa 139:2-6; Jn 2:25). With that knowledge, He can also make a perfect judgment in accordance with the fruit of his deeds, which come from the deliberations of his heart. By the fruit of his deeds the tree, man, is known (Mt 12:33-35). To the believer this is an encouragement and to the unbeliever a threat.

The example of the partridge hatching eggs it did not lay shows that the young she wants to show off are not her own (Jer 17:11). So it is with wealth that has not been honestly obtained. This hypocrisy comes from the deceitful heart. The time will come when this becomes clear and then he will lose everything and become known as a fool himself (cf. Lk 12:20; 1Sam 25:25; Pro 23:5).

Opposite all the appearances and uncertainty of the previous verse, there is one certainty for the believer and that is the glorious throne of God on high (Jer 17:12). Opposite the riches that are lost like that, there is the eternal throne of God. That is the place of the believer’s sanctuary. Therefore, we must seek the things that are above (Col 3:1).

There is the “hope of Israel” (Jer 17:13). Those who turn away from Jeremiah, who speaks God’s Word and calls for repentance, have only the firmness of the earth and that is no firmness. Those who are written in the earth will soon be erased and forgotten, as wind and rain do to what is written in the dust of the earth. It clearly draws the impermanence of man. Only the LORD, the source of living water (Jer 2:13), gives safety and security. Those who forsake Him are lost. ‘Being written down on earth’ is contrasted with ‘being written in the book of life’ (Exo 32:32; Lk 10:20; Rev 20:12 ; Rev 21:27).