Topical Bible: The Heart: God: Establishes

◄ The Heart: God: Establishes ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical theology, the heart is often seen as the center of human will, emotions, and intellect. It is the seat of moral and spiritual life, where decisions are made and intentions are formed. The Bible frequently speaks of God’s role in establishing the heart, emphasizing His sovereignty and active involvement in shaping the inner life of believers.

God’s Sovereignty in Establishing the Heart

The Scriptures affirm that God has the power to establish and direct the hearts of individuals. Proverbs 21:1 states, "The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases." This verse illustrates that even the hearts of rulers are under God’s control, highlighting His supreme authority over human affairs.

God’s Work in the Believer’s Heart

For those who follow Him, God’s work in establishing the heart is both a promise and a process. Psalm 112:7-8 describes the righteous: "He will not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is assured; he will not fear, until he looks in triumph on his foes." Here, the steadfastness of the heart is linked to trust in God, suggesting that God establishes the heart through faith.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks to the Thessalonians about God’s role in strengthening their hearts. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 assures believers, "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." This strengthening is part of God’s protective and nurturing work in the believer’s life.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in establishing the heart. Romans 5:5 declares, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a transformative presence that molds the heart to align with God’s will and purposes.

God’s Promise of a New Heart

The promise of a new heart is a central theme in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. Ezekiel 36:26 proclaims, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This promise points to the transformative work of God in renewing the inner being of His people, making them responsive to His commands and desires.

The Heart Established in Love

The establishment of the heart is closely tied to love, both God’s love for humanity and the love that believers are called to exhibit. Ephesians 3:17 speaks of Christ dwelling in the hearts of believers through faith, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love." This rooting and grounding in love is part of the divine work of establishing the heart, enabling believers to comprehend and live out the fullness of God’s love.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of God establishing the heart underscores His active role in shaping the moral and spiritual life of individuals. Through His sovereignty, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the transformative power of His love, God establishes the hearts of those who trust in Him, guiding them in righteousness and steadfastness.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 112:8
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire on his enemies.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Thessalonians 3:13
To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Corinthians. God's Yea; Man's Amen
... is yea,' and the hopes and shadowy fore-revelations of the loving heart of God are
confirmed by the fact of His life and death. God establishes, not 'commends ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/ii corinthians gods yea mans.htm

Letter viii. --violent Temptations.
... But as for the pain, anguish of heart, spiritual desolation, humiliation, and ... these
dreadful feelings arise from the submission that God establishes in the ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter viii violent temptations.htm

God's Slaves
... is perennial, and that our own righteousness establishes no claim ... exhaust the truth
of the relation of God to any ... that has not faith in his heart, because such ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/gods slaves.htm

What Proves God's Love
... and the expression also means to recommend, to set forth in such a way as to appeal
to the heart, and God does both in that great act. He establishes the fact ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/what proves gods love.htm

Job --Groping
... man. It is in the heart of man that God establishes His temple. His high
throne is prepared and set up in the heart of man. His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/vii jobgroping.htm

The Ray and the Reflection
... Paul said, 'God establishes His love towards us, in that while ... of Christ is the one
demonstration that God loved us. ... heart I made; a heart beats here, Face, My ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the ray and the reflection.htm

A Description of Mystical Theology, which is no Other Thing than ...
... us to practise the sacred infusions and minglings of our spirit with God's; the
other establishes in us the solid resolution, the constancy of heart, and the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i a description of.htm

Explanation of the Preceding Chapter.
... it, as another S. Michael, and establishes the powers and ... by this word of steadfastness:
Who is like to God? ... which ought to draw the human heart into rebellion ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii explanation of the.htm

The Sad Case of a Relapse into Known and Deliberate Sin, after ...
... For God establishes his covenant, not to remove the sense of every ... steps as these,
then immediately fall down before God, and pour out your heart in his ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xxiii the sad case.htm

Piety.
... It establishes an intimate union between God and the Christian soul, for it is an
affection composed of the most generous qualities of the human heart. ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xi piety.htm