The Altar and the Heart | Week 11
Week’s Passage: Jeremiah 17
InTro
Got anything for that?
The writer tells a story which humorously illustrates Darren, a troubled man unable to sleep due to guilt from his actions, seeking help from a therapist. He acknowledges that his restless conscience is the issue but humorously asks for a way to weaken or remove it rather than address his wrongdoing. This reflects the human tendency to avoid confronting the true state of our hearts, deceiving ourselves into believing we are better than we are.
This week’s lesson emphasises the importance of examining the link between our worship practices and the condition of our hearts.
InGest
This is a Warning
Jeremiah’s ministry to Judah, from 627 to after 587 B.C., occurred during a time of severe spiritual decline. Appointed as a prophet in his youth, Jeremiah warned of Judah’s impending Babylonian captivity due to their unrepentant sin and idolatry. He described their sins as deeply ingrained, symbolised by being inscribed on their hearts with a “pen of iron.” Despite God’s covenant commands, Judah’s idolatry had corrupted even their children’s memories, contrasting with God’s call for parents to teach His precepts.
Jeremiah highlighted the unreliability of the human heart, prone to self-deception, and stressed that only God can accurately assess spiritual conditions. Feeling his own need for renewal, Jeremiah prayed for personal healing and restoration.
God urged Judah to return to Sabbath observance, seeing it as a sign of their loyalty. Failure to honour the Sabbath would result in Jerusalem’s destruction. Judah’s broken worship and disobedience reflected the spiritual decay in their hearts, leading to the nation’s downfall.
InTerpret
Transformed Heart
Even in Israel’s later history, God sought transformation in the hearts—or “mind hearts”—of His people, representing the center of thoughts and desires. Scripture emphasises the heart as the source of actions and decisions (Prov. 4:23; Mark 7:21). Despite King Josiah’s reforms to remove physical idolatry, the people’s hearts remained idolatrous, showing that external changes alone are insufficient.
Jeremiah and other prophets called for a deeper, internal reformation, urging a return to true worship of God. The focus on the Sabbath in Jeremiah 17 highlighted the need to rebuild devotional altars and renew their relationship with God. Ellen White emphasised the mind as the seat of worship and control over the body, noting that genuine worship renews the heart, transforms the mind, and fosters a deep connection with God.
inVite
Heart Trouble
According to the World Health Organisation, Cardiovascular disease is a global crisis, but spiritual “heart disease” caused by digital immersion is even more concerning. With over 5 billion internet users spending billions of hours on non-spiritual content, our hearts are constantly shaped by what we consume.
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21 and 6:33 to prioritise God’s kingdom, as our hearts follow what we treasure. To guard our hearts (Prov. 4:23), we must use media intentionally to enhance worship and spiritual growth, ensuring our focus remains on God amidst digital distractions.
InSights
Hearts Far from God
Josiah’s reforms cleansed the land of idolatrous shrines, but the people’s hearts remained unchanged, and their spiritual backsliding posed a critical danger. Jeremiah urged the nation to return to God’s law, emphasising the teachings of Deuteronomy and calling them to “ask for the old paths” for spiritual blessings (Jeremiah 6:16).
Jeremiah warned about the sanctity of the Sabbath, promising blessings for obedience, including enduring prosperity for Jerusalem (Jeremiah 17:24-25). However, disobedience would bring destruction by fire. He passionately appealed to the people to repent, break up their spiritual stagnation, and cleanse their hearts of wickedness (Jeremiah 4:3, 14). His messages highlighted the importance of loyalty to God for the nation’s survival and prosperity.
InQuire
- How does the spiritual condition of one’s heart reflect the condition of their worship altar?
- Why did God select Jeremiah, a young man (Jer. 1:7), to deliver such a powerful call to repentance?
- What does it mean to worship God with our lips and not with our hearts? (Matt. 15:7–9)
- How is obedience to God an act of worship? Explain from Matthew 15:7–9 or other texts.
- When we give our hearts to God, what changes will be evident in our lives?
