And he did evil, BECAUSE

Reading in 2 Chronicles 12:14 today and noticed something interesting...

It says:

14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

What is interesting is what it does NOT say. It does not say that he did evil because he failed to seek the Lord, but because he did not PREPARE HIS HEART to seek the Lord. One thing i know is that God never wastes words.Think about it; it COULD have just said (and one would have expected it to say), "And he did evil, because he did not seek the Lord."

So what does it MEAN to prepare your heart to seek the Lord?
I'm guessing it means to be in the Word, studying God's Word. I've always been astonished at how many people go to church but never read their Bibles! They don't want God. They want religion! They either want their OWN righteousness --or maybe some are just falling asleep. I am often astonished at how many church people i have met who are Biblically illiterate, just like the secular world. Some attend Bible study on Wednesday nights and that is the ONLY time they open their Bibles.What are YOUR thoughts on what it means to prepare your heart to seek the Lord?

Yes that is an interesting find. You know, the more and more I think about it, people just want to know what is right or wrong. Thats why they go to "church". They don't understand that the Christian walk is much much MUCH deeper experience. It's not so much about right or wrong as it is about learning the word of God, and abiding in Him. Heck, if it was about right and wrong, I would have been dead a loooong time ago. Living in grace is a powerful thing, and people don't quite get it. Thats why they have no grace for others I would imagine. Sorry about all the "theys". I dont mean everyone of course.

Something that has caught my eye recently is Romans 1:20-27

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

Its seems to me through these scriptures that homosexuality is a curse. It is a manifestation of the worship of ourselves! "Look at us, wise in our science. We need not God!" We (as a nation) have blasphemed Him just as Satan did and fell. That really spoke to my heart and I agree with you whole-heartedly, God does not use words frivolously.

This is a root cause why many christians are in bondage with lingering sins.

They take it for granted to seek God, and do not prepare their hearts to follow God in all their ways, neither in the morning, neither at noon, and neither at night.

Failing to prepare our hearts to seek and follow God is a prelude to a fall.

So what does it MEAN to prepare your heart to seek the Lord?

I'm guessing it means to be in the Word, studying God's Word. I've always been astonished at how many people go to church but never read their Bibles!

I wish it was as easy as "reading", but unfortunately it is not.

The scripture says "prepare your heart", not "sit and read". The Pharisees searched the scriptures day and night and sat in "Moses seat" as the teachers of their day. The Bible is not magic, where reading it will change you automatically without any responsibility on your part. It is not a magic talisman.

How does one prepare their heart? Prepare it by guarding it from evil.

Pro 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pro 4:22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
Pro 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Pro 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

A friend once told me that if you come to God's Word with your whole heart (no other idols) then you will be changed, but if you come the Word with a divided heart (harboring idols in your heart) then you will just have a religious experience.

Pilgrim

[2 Chronicles 12:14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord]

'prepared not his heart'

If you really want and love something/someone, you will ponder, meditate and treasure it in your heart. It will act out in your heart first before it becomes action.

King Rehoboam wasn't into God. He just did an outward showing of seeking the Lord. That's why he did evil.

Edit to add: he also set up Asherah poles etc (1 Kings 14). So he did evil.

Hi! 'NMatheson'

Nope! I'm not chasin' yuh around in here.
It jus' seems that you are tagged into every interesting discussion in here and have something to add to it. :)

The matter which member 'Learn' wrote about "prepared not his heart" is a gem that I never pondered much before. But it has me keenly interested with it now.

And, when I read your added comments which quoted Romans 1:20-27 I was reminded about the Scripture saying, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists", (Heb 11:6).

There are those who would protest and say: "I believe God exists!". To which I'm tempted to reply, "The God whom you imagine in your divided heart, the God whom you believe to be thinking or behaving as _______________________ (fill in the blank) doesn't exist".

Oftentimes, vain imaginations have wrongly ascribed characteristics and behavior to God which do not belong to him. And, there can always be found some foolish hearts hurrying to wrongly accuse or blame God for some tragic event. The fact of the matter is: it's impossible for God to deny Himself or give something that He does not possess from within Himself.

So, it's not for nothing that your quoted verse says, "Changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man". It is for this reason that there are numerous fraudulent gods and many false faces of God strewn across the landscape of Christian history.

Sometime ago, I heard a former medical doctor speaking about ‘phantom limbs’ being reported by patients who had experienced an amputation. He spoke of instances where patients would sometimes feel as if their amputated limb was gesturing, feeling itches and twitching.

That conversation invited me into metaphorical musings about how distorted imaginings about God can frequently rip Him away from us limb by limb until nothing remains attached but the fraudulent itch of His presence. Ideological mutilation can result in a woeful and wretched disassembling of the Christian.

There's only one thing worse than not knowing the face of God; and that's affixing a false mask on Him which denies and distorts His true appearance and being.

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Re: And he did evil, BECAUSE
by NMatheson on 2012/7/16 16:52:41

All of you have made some very interesting and thought-provoking comments and insights on this matter, thank you.
Very good points, all.

by Trekker on 2012/7/13 15:37:05
So what does it MEAN to prepare your heart to seek the Lord?

The Lord said to me...

In the day you "set it your heart" to know me the Lord your God, it is that day that I set my seal upon you and have reserved you for myself...

It means to intentionally and on purpose and with single minded resolve, set it your heart to lay hold on the God of heaven.

Psalm 42:1

Reading in 2 Chronicles 12:14 today and noticed something interesting...

It says:

14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

What is interesting is what it does NOT say. It does not say that he did evil because he failed to seek the Lord, but because he did not PREPARE HIS HEART to seek the Lord. One thing i know is that God never wastes words.Think about it; it COULD have just said (and one would have expected it to say), "And he did evil, because he did not seek the Lord."

This is a wonderful observation! Many thanks for sharing it. I will be using your comment in other threads here.... like the gun thread!

Diane

"Without faith it is impossible to please God,

Faith growth. What does that kind of preparation involve?

Diane