Encouragement

The Two Tablets

by Terry Barlow
02/12/15
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   I thought it was only the law that Jeremiah portrayed as being inscribed on the human heart in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31, v.33) until I re-read the beginning of Jeremiah chapter 17 and found this: ‘The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus. With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts.” Wow” Those are hard hearts that require an iron stylus and the hardest of hearts whose engraving requires a diamond point. A progression is suggested here; hearts that are already hard are becoming even harder until they are irretrievable.

 There is a sharp contrast unfolding before our eyes. The ones who trust in their own strength and in idols and whose hearts are turned from Yahweh are like shrubs in the desert or a parched salt land that is uninhabited. There’s a sense of isolation implied. They cannot see when good comes. They are habitually negative in their outlook. Its not that good isn’t coming, but even when it does they do not recognize it. That’s such a bad place to be, like a double bind.

 But the chapter goes on to say that, on the other hand, the ones who trust in Yahweh are like trees planted by the river that send their roots toward the stream (the word of God) and do not “see” when heat or drought comes, when difficulties arise. It’s exactly the opposite of those trusting in themselves, these whose confidence is in God are so genuinely positive it’s as if they don’t see any bad, only potential for ministry and for more glory and praise to flow to their gracious God. Rivers and abundant sources of water tend to be at the center or near thriving settlements and teeming activity. Rather than isolation there is engagement with the world around on every hand.

  How is such a sharp contrast possible? Because of the forgiveness of wrongdoing that Jeremiah mentions in verse 34 and the indwelling Spirit of God in softened and softening hearts, that, out of their own gratitude, want to know their God more and more intimately, the One whose Son was sacrificed to make this vision of fruitfulness an abiding reality.