Memory Verse Day 22: We’ve been deceived

This sobering verse is actually in the middle of a beautiful passage.  God is pleading with the people of Judah – asking them to turn from their sin and trust in Him.

The people had turned from God, worshipped idols, forsook His law.  In the midst of all this, they had trusted in their own goodness, they had trusted in alliances with other nations.

But they were deceived.

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD." God says in verse 5.  That person is like a shrub in the desert.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD." He says in verse 7.  That person is like a tree planted by the water.

Then comes verse 9.  Although this truth should be clear to them – they have sinned, and need to turn to the Lord – they don’t see it.  They believe themselves to be innocent, maybe even persecuted and poorly treated by God.  They believe that other nations, even nations that have been treacherous in the past, can save them.  Why trust in God?

The heart is deceitful above all things.

People trust in the most ridiculous things today.  Everyone seems to think that what they’re doing is right and good and wise.  It’s other people that cause the problems.

The heart is sick.  Who really even knows the heart?

The next verse has the answer – "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

No matter how we justify ourselves, God knows the truth.  Phrases like "I’m not as bad as…" or "At least I didn’t…" or "I had to because…" or "I deserve a little…" or "I haven’t done it since…" – these just don’t cut it with a righteous judge who knows the heart.

So this drives us to the only answer the Bible ever gives – turn from your sin and trust the Lord.  Repent and believe.

Remember, we’ve all been deceived.  By our own hearts.