1 Chronicles 17:2 “Do All That in Your Heart…”
Pastor Andy highlights 1 Chronicles 17 where Nathan tells David to "do all that is in your heart, for God is with you," then gets corrected by God that same night. This exposes the tension between our culture's emphasis on following your heart and Jeremiah 17:9's warning that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. For centuries, western culture exalted intellect over heart, which now has cropped up many current political divides. Despite David having a special heart that God chose, this same heart committed adultery and murder.
The Old Testament commands circumcision of the heart in Deuteronomy 10:16 and promises in Deuteronomy 30:6 that God will do what we cannot. This happens through faith in Acts 15:8-9 and confession in Romans 10:9-10, resulting in becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). As Christians, we choose to surrender to God's Word and let Him reign over our hearts, giving direction when we're tempted, because God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20).
Exact Scripture References:
1 Chronicles 17:2-3
Jeremiah 17:9 (the heart is deceitful above all things)
Proverbs 4:23 (keep your heart with all diligence)
1 Samuel 16:7 (man looks at outward appearance, God looks at heart)
1 Samuel 13:14 (God sought a man after His own heart)
Psalm 51 (Create in me a clean heart)
Deuteronomy 10:16 (circumcise the foreskin of your heart)
Deuteronomy 30:6 (God will circumcise your heart)
Acts 15:8-9 (God purifies hearts by faith)
Acts 8:37 (Ethiopian eunuch's confession)
Romans 10:9-10 (confess with mouth, believe in heart)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation in Christ)
Colossians 2:11 (circumcision made without hands)
Hebrews 4:12 (Word divides soul and spirit, discerns heart)
1 John 3:20 (God is greater than our heart)
Keywords and topics:
"Do all that is in your heart" - 1 Chronicles 17:2
Nathan's correction by God
The deceitful heart - Jeremiah 17:9
Cultural emphasis on following your heart
Into the Wild and Eat Pray Love movies
Living authentically vs. God's truth
Western exaltation of intellect over heart
Political divide: logic vs. feelings
David's special heart yet sinful actions
Proverbs 4:23 - Life springs from the heart
Old Testament descriptions of the wicked heart
Circumcision of the heart - Deuteronomy 10:16
God's promise to circumcise hearts - Deuteronomy 30:6
Purifying hearts by faith - Acts 15:8-9
New creation in Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:17
God's Word reigns over the heart - Hebrews 4:12
Moving forward trusting God's direction
Forgiveness when wronged
Generosity vs. selfishness with money
God is greater than our heart - 1 John 3:20