Think with the Heart; Perfect Heart; Willing Soul; David and Solomon

Humans are a more complex being than we have recognized. From the Bible we understand ourselves to be a three part being, spirit, soul, and body. We also understand that all men have spirit of man, compared to spirit of beast which is also different from The Holy Spirit; and that once a person accepts Jesus as Lord, that person receives the Holy Spirit, renewing the spirit of man into a new creation. We are also comprised of thoughts of the heart, thoughts of the brain, and emotions stemming from our kidneys. These are not synonymous places, just like our spirit, soul, and body are not synonymous. We have a brain that receives and processes information, we have a heart that has thoughts and intents, and kidneys that generate emotions based on the thoughts of the heart and the thoughts of the head. If we remember our study last week, our kidneys/reins are examined and judged. This tells us that in most cases, the majority of people have the ability to control their own emotions. Since our emotions are not an isolated aspect of our lives, but instead are reactive to our thoughts, we can, as Paul tells us, lead every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and contain our emotions until each thought is thoroughly examined. But our make-up is more complicated, and while we have been led to believe that the heart is our seat of emotions, the Bible tells us otherwise. And while our emotional responses to situations may not be perfect, it is available to have a perfect heart.  

Solomon revealed such wonderful secrets to us and as we seem to be living in the days where the knowledge of Yahweh and the end of the age is increasing, we can see why some people attempted to bury Apocryphal works. Solomon gives us great understanding regarding the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom, and revelation of our Messiah, but he also revealed many practical aspects of our human make up. Without the Holy Spirit’s help we can’t know Yahweh’s counsel.

Wisdom 9:13-18 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.15 For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. 16 And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom. KJV

Higher thinking and our ability to be a sound thinker comes from the Holy Spirit. Our own thoughts are miserable. Our body, our earthly tent, weighs down our soul, our breath life and, and our mind. We hardly guess right. Think about evolution, while there may be adaptation within the species, humans did not evolve from apes. There may have been other humanoid types in past ages, but there is a break in the evolutionary cycle, a missing link. The link is missing because it doesn’t exist. Every nine to eleven thousand years an earthly cataclysm causes the beings on the planet to become extinct. The Bible tells us an earth age is eight thousand years of which we are in the sixth thousandth year approaching the seventh thousandth year. At the end of the eighth thousand year there will be a new heaven and new earth. We surely haven’t guessed this right, but the Bible told us this for thousands of years. To learn what the Bible says is higher thinking, and deeper thinking. And at this time during this age the knowledge is increasing. But as Solomon points out, we simply guess wrong, but then we teach others in “centers for higher learning” about our guesses and people assume that our bad guesses are truth. Think about how much scientific knowledge we have labored to understand, but once again, our learning takes us back to the Bible. Even when we send probes as far into space as we can, we learn about heaven, but that is only the heavens of our three dimensions, not the multi dimensions of Yahweh.  

Ezra recounts Adam’s beginnings. Adam was made without a soul. Once Yahweh breathed into Adam he became alive and went into Paradise. Ezra notes that Paradise was planted before the earth came forward. Adam transgressed and all the generations were appointed to death until Jesus came to redeem the righteous dead, bringing them back to Paradise. Since Jesus came, the righteous do not go to the compartment of hades called “Abraham’s bay”, they go to Paradise instead.

2 Esd 3:4-7 O Lord, who bearest rule, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and that thyself alone, and commandedst the people,5 And gavest a body unto Adam without soul, which was the workmanship of thine hands, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, and he was made living before thee.6 And thou leadest him into paradise, which thy right hand had planted, before ever the earth came forward.7 And unto him thou gavest commandment to love thy way: which he transgressed, and immediately thou appointedst death in him and in his generations, of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds, out of number. KJV

Our soul is our breath life, psuche zao. It is what sets the breathing beings apart from non-breathing things like plants, rocks, or metals. Psuche is our life, without breathing we have no life. Adam was made a clay mold, then he was breathed in/on and became like the other creatures, living.

Genesis 2: 7G2532And G4111God shaped G3588 G2316 G3588the G444man, G5522[²dust G2983¹taking] G575from G3588the G1093earth. G2532And G1720he breathed G1519into G3588 G4383his face G1473 G4157breath G2222of life, G2532and G1096[²became G3588 G444¹man] G1519a G5590[²soul G2198¹living]

5590 LSJ Gloss: ψυχή breath

Dodson: ψυχή the soul, life, self (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual.

2198 LSJ Gloss: ζάω to live

Dodson: ζάω I live I live, am alive.

The Elohim/Theos blew into Anthropos’ face the breeze of living and Anthropos was born a breathing life, psuche zao. Psuche zao is technically soul alive. It sounds like an energy drink. It could also be understood as breath alive.  Prior to Adam’s creation from the dust, the Elohim created this breath life on the earth in the animals. After Adam’s creation, Adam named the previously created psuche zao, the breathing living creatures. This shows that Adam was created a higher being with authority. We know that if any humans or creatures stop breathing long enough, they physically die, or lose their life. Adam was the first Anthropos psuche zao, but Ezra told us that because of his sin, death was appointed to Anthropos. That is the loss of psuche zao. However, Jesus, the last Adam, revitalized pneuma.

1 Cor 15:45G3779S oG2532also G1125it has been written, G1096[⁵became G3588¹The G4413²first G444³man G*⁴Adam] G1519 G5590[²soul G2198¹a living]; G3588the G2078last G*Adam G1519into G4151a spirit G2227being restored to life

2227 ζωοποιέω zōopoieō dzo-op-oy-eh'-o From the same as G2226 and G4160; to (re-) vitalize (literally or figuratively)KJV Usage: make alive, give life, quicken.

Notice how psuche and pneuma are both referred to like breath. Both are zao, living breath. One living breath is for the tent/body on the earth, the other living breath is for eternity. Human psuche zao is just that, human. The pneuma of man or spirit of man that is not revitalized does not have eternal life. Pneuma is restoring to life by way of the last Adam, Jesus. Jesus said this very thing.

John 6:63G3588The G4151spirit G1510.2.3is G3588the one G2227restoring to life, G3588the G4561flesh G3756does not G5623benefit G3762anyone; G3588the G4487sayings G3739which G1473I G2980speak G1473to you -- G4151it is spirit, G1510.2.3 G2532and G2222it is life. G1510.2.3

The pneuma is restoring/revitalizing. To be re-vitalized means there must have been a vital spirit in man at one time. To “re” means to make it vital again. In other words Jesus, the last Adam fixed the damaged spirit of man, making it vital, or living, again. The flesh doesn’t help anyone. The rhema Jesus laleo’s is pneuma and zoe. We studied rhema, logos, laleo, and grapho a few weeks ago. We can see the connection here as to words, and spirit, and life. And here is something interesting to note, Kurios Theos/ Yahweh Elohim has a psuche and a pneuma.

Isaiah 42:1G*Jacob, G3588 G3816my child, G1473 G482I shall take hold of G1473him. G*Israel, G3588 G1588my chosen, G1473 G4327[²favorably received G1473³him G3588 G5590¹my soul]. G1473 G1325I have put G3588 G4151my spirit G1473 G1909upon G1473him, G2920[²judgment G3588³to the G1484⁴nations G1627¹he shall bring forth].

Matt 12:18G2400Behold, G3588 G3816my child G1473 G3739whom G140I selected, G3588 G27my beloved G1473 G1519for G3739whom G2106[²takes pleasure in G3588 G5590¹my soul]; G1473 G5087I will put G3588 G4151my spirit G1473 G1909upon G1473him, G2532and G2920[²judgment G3588³to the G1484⁴nations G518¹he will report].

We truly are created in the image of the Elohim with a psuche and pneuma. Obviously a psuche can delight, or take pleasure, it is not just the mechanic of breathing to sustain the body. Paul prays for all three parts pneuma, psuche, and soma.

! Thess 5:23G1473And he, G1161 G3588the G2316God G3588 G1515of peace, G37may he sanctify G1473you G3651perfectly complete; G2532and G3648may your entire G1473 G3588 G4151spirit, G2532andG3588 G5590soul, G2532and G3588 G4983body, G274[²blamelessly G1722³in G3588⁴the G3952⁵arrival G3588 G2962⁶of our Lord G1473 G*⁷Jesus G5547⁸Christ G5083¹be kept].

If we thought we understood it all and our human form was simple, Jesus changes the dynamics. We are to agape Kurios Theos with our whole kardia, and our whole psuche, and with our whole dianoia. Jesus doesn’t say with our whole spirit, soul and body, but our heart, soul and thoughts. Jesus has added heart and thoughts as separate places for us to consider regarding our makeup.

Matt 22:37G3588 G1161And G*Jesus G5346said G1473to him,G25You shall love G2962the Lord G3588 G2316your God G1473 G1722with G3650[²entire G3588 G2588³heart G1473¹your], G2532and G1722with G3650[²entire G3588 G5590³soul G1473¹your], G2532and G1722with G3650[²entire G3588 G1271³thought G1473¹your].

2588 καρδία kardia kar-dee'-ah Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor , “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle KJV Usage: (+ broken-) heart (-ed).

5590 ψυχή psuchē psoo-khay' From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animalsentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416] KJV Usage: heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

1271 LSJ Gloss: διάνοια a thought, intention, purpose

Dodson: διάνοια understanding, intellect, mind understanding, intellect, mind, insight.

Strong's: διάνοια deep thought, properly, the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication, its exercise
Derivation: from G1223 and G3563; KJV Usage: imagination, mind, understanding.

G1223 G3563

Thayer:

1) the mind as a faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring
2) understanding
3) mind, i.e. spirit, way of thinking and feeling
4) thoughts, either good or bad

διάνοια dianoia dee-an'-oy-ah From G1223 and G3563; deep thought, properly the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication its exercise KJV Usage: imagination, mind, understanding.

Mark and Luke add the word strength to this combination.  Love with all our might.

Mark 12:30G2532And G25You shall love G2962the Lord G3588 G2316your God G1473 G1537from G3650all G3588 G2588your heart, G1473 G2532and G1537from G3650all G3588 G5590your soul, G1473 G2532and G1537from G3650all G3588 G1271your thought, G1473 G2532and G1537from G3650all G3588 G2479your strength. G1473 G3778This is G4413the foremost G1785commandment

2479 ἰσχύς ischus is-khoos' From a derivative of ἱς his (force; compareἔσχον eschon ; a form of G2192); forcefulness(literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: ability, might ([-ily]), power, strength.

Clearly we have four different ideas as to how completely we should love God listed here. They obviously are not synonymous. Sometimes the word dianoia is translated as mind or consideration. But this word really is deep thought and intellect. It is more about thinking on or considering rather than random thoughts. We have a mind of the brain and a mind of the heart. Thoughts generate in both the brain and the heart. Ezra reminds us of this.

2 Esd 16:54 Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts, and their hearts: KJV

When Solomon was receiving the kingdom, David’s prayers over him were powerful, reminding us, like Ezra, that Yahweh knows the hearts, thoughts and imaginations of men.

1 Chron 28:9G2532And G3568now, G*Solomon G5207O my son, G1473 G1097know G3588the G2316God G3588 G3962of your fathers, G1473 G2532and G1398serve G1473to him G1722with G2588[²heart G5046¹a perfect] G2532and G5590[²soul G2309¹a willing]! G3754For G3956[³of all G2588⁴hearts G1833²inquires diligently G2962¹ the lord], G2532and G3956every G1760.1idea G1271of thoughts G1097he knows. G1437If G2212you should seek G1473him, G2147he will be found G1473by you. G2532And G1437if G2641you should leave G1473him, G2641he shall leave G1473you G1519to G5056the end

5046 τέλειος teleios tel'-i-os From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness KJV Usage: of full age, man, perfect.

2309 Dodson: θέλω I will, wish, desire I will, wish, desire, am willing, intend, design.

G138 G1014

Thayer:

1) to will, have in mind, intend
1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose
1b) to desire, to wish
1c) to love
1c1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
1d) to take delight in, have pleasure

θέλω, ἐθέλω thelō ethelō thel'-o, eth-el'-o Either the first or the second form may be used. In certain tenses θελέω theleō thel-eh'-o (andἐθέλέω etheleō eth-el-eh'-o ) are used, which are otherwise obsolete; apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138; to determine(as an active voice option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive voice acquiescence in objective considerations), that is, choose or prefer(literally or figuratively); by implication to wish, that is, be inclined to (sometimes adverbially gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to beabout to; by Hebraism to delight inKJV Usage: desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, -ling [ly]).

David’s prayer is that Solomon serve Yahweh with a perfect heart. It has to be available to have a perfect heart then, and by contrast it must also be available to have an imperfect heart. That tells us that our heart is not automatically made perfect, we have to make it so. He also prays for Solomon’s soul to be willing to serve. Again it has to be available for a soul to have a will. Our soul may be willing or may not be willing. The heart and the soul have freedom to choose. David says the Lord inquires diligently of all hearts. The Lord also knows all our thoughts and ideas. And as he continues, David points out the thoughts of the heart and shaping them.

1 Chron 29:17G2532And G1097I know, G2962O lord, G3754that G1473you G1510.2.2are G3588the one G2082.1examining G2588hearts, G2532and G25loving G1343righteousness. G2532And G1473I G1722in G572singleness G2588of heart G1594.2volunteered G3778all these things. G3956 G2532And G3568now, G3588 G2992your people, G1473 G3588 G2147being found G5602here, G1492see G1722with G2167gladness, G1594.2volunteering G1473to you.

 18G2962O lord, G3588 G2316God G*of Abraham, G2532and G*Isaac, G2532and G*Israel, G3588of the one G3962of our fathers, G1473 G5442keep G1473of them G3588the G4110thing shaped G1271of the thoughts G2588of the heart G2992of your people G1473 G1519into G3588the G165eon! G2532and G2720straighten out G3588 G2588their hearts G1473 G4314to G1473you!

 19G2532And G*[⁴Solomon G3588² to G5207³my son G1473 G1325¹give G2588⁶heart G18⁵a good]! G3588 G4160to observe G3588 G1785your commandments, G1473 G2532and G3588 G3142your testimonies, G1473 G2532and G3588 G4366.2your orders, G1473 G2532and G3588 G1909[³unto G5056⁴completion G71¹to lead G3956²all], G2532and G3588 G3618to build G3588the G2680.1furnishing G3588 G3624of your house G1473 G1510.7.3which G2090I prepared

David says the Lord examines the heart. David points out he has singleness of heart, and he prays that the Lord keep the formed thoughts of the heart of the people into the ages. In other words keep the people’s thoughts in their hearts formed for the Lord. David also asks the Lord to straighten out the hearts of the people to Him. David asks for God to give Solomon a good heart. We can see David was someone who focused on heart thoughts, heart behaviors, and heart actions. He wanted the people to be molded for God in the thoughts of their hearts and in their actions to build the temple. David also wanted Solomon to have a good heart, to observe the commands, and testimonies and orders so the temple could be built. Since these are some of David’s last words, David seems to have valued the heart. Maybe he understood that if the heart could be made perfect people would not fall away from serving the Lord.  

An example to consider for our own understanding is in raising children. When we instruct them in how to behave we may believe we have done all that is necessary for them to grow up rightly. Unfortunately that is not the case. When children misbehave, we think that if we punish them into submission we have broken their will and they will behave rightly. Again that is not the case. When children act badly, we have to examine their heart. We have to pastor their heart. We have to nurture their heart. If we want to see a change in a child’s behavior, we have to explore their reasoning’s for behaving badly. Most first born children start to feel neglected when the second born child becomes a toddler. Before that point the second born is just a “thing”. But when the second born starts to exhibit their own will, and they start to explore their environment, the parent shows more attention to the second born child. Not out of malice but simply because the first born is already trained in some life skills such as not eating toys or touching a hot stove, or pulling the dog’s tail. The first born starts to feel neglected and acts badly. This is where understanding the firstborns’ heart is important. When the child’s heart feels loved, and he feels secure and important, the first born child will behave better. Likewise in older children, bad behavior is a condition of a hurting heart. Pastor the heart, heal the child.

As we hear quoted quite a bit, David was a man after God’s own heart. We have taken that figuratively to understand that David pursues things of God. But our God, Theos/Elohim has a heart with thoughts, and these thoughts create a heart wave, a Godly EEG, similar to human EEG heart waves. The reason I say similar is that there is no corruption in Yahweh’s heart waves, but there can be in human heart waves. Let’s read from a study we did a while back.

EKG/ECG’s measure electrical responses in the heart while EEG’s measure electrical responses in the brain. Neuro-cardiology has acknowledged that the heart has its own brain, but the Bible has told us that for two thousand years. Heart waves are 50-100 times stronger than brain waves. Neuro-cardiology has found the heart to be a sensory organ that receives and processes information. The heart has its own nervous system that allows it to make efficient decisions independent of the brain and it continuously sends signals to the brain that stimulate higher brain centers increasing one’s perception, cognition, and emotional processing. The heart’s magnetic field is 5000 times stronger than the brains’ and is detectable outside the body similar to radio waves. It changes according to our emotions and can be measured in the brainwaves of the people around us. The heart of a fetus develops before the brain and in a primordial dust molded house (body), it would seem the heart has greater importance for early development. Our heart waves affect every part of our body, which could be the reason it develops ahead of other organs. So we want to consider neural heart intelligence since our heart waves are not only internal but external, effecting the world around us. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/10/mind-of-heart-ignorance-calloused.html

Samuel says to Saul:

1 Sam 13:14G2532And G3568now G3588 G932your kingdom G1473 G3756shall not G2476stand G1473with you. G2532And G2212the lord shall seek G2962 G1438for himself G444a man G2596according to G3588 G2588his heart. G1473 G2532And G1781the lord shall give charge G2962 G1473to him G1519for G758ruler G1909over G3588 G2992his people, G1473 G3754for G3756you did not G5442keep G3745as many things as G1781[³gave charge G1473⁴to you G3588¹the G2962² lord].

Acts 13:22G2532And G3179having removed G1473him, G1453he raised up G1473to them  G3588 G*David G1519for G935king, G3739to whom G2532also G2036[²he said G3140¹having borne witness], G2147I found G*David G3588the one G3588 G*of Jesse, G435a man G2596according to G3588 G2588my heart, G1473 G3739which G4160shall do G3956all G3588 G2307my wants. G1473

David may have been more fortunate than we have realized. David spent many hours alone in the fields. With no other humans to converse with, I suspect David connected with Yahweh, learning His heart and His ways. Even when David messes up, he repents because he does not want to be far from Yahweh. David connected with the heart of the Creator. I suspect this is what David did:

Ecclus 39:1-7 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate. KJV

Saul did not keep the things Yahweh charged him with. David was tuned into Yahweh’s heart waves. Like listening to a radio, David experienced Yahweh’s heart, which is evident in reading David’s last words, in his prayers during Solomon’s coronation. Solomon must have understood this as he gave us so much more information.

Wisdom 1:1-7 Love righteousness, ye that be judges of the earth: think of the Lord with a good (heart,) and in simplicity of heart seek him.2 For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth himself unto such as do not distrust him.3 For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.4 For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice. KJV

Solomon says think of the Lord with a good heart. Think, think, think. Think of the Lord. Think with a good heart and in simplicity of heart seek Him. We think with our heart. We think with our kardia. With a simple heart we seek Him. Think of Him and seek Him. Froward means habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition (Merriam-Webster); and thoughts of opposition separate us from God. Think of the Lord with a good heart, not with a habitually disobedient heart. A malicious, hateful, mean soul will not have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom. This tells us that not only do we have control over our soul, so that as David prayed our soul would be willing to serve, we can have a malevolent soul. Under the Old Covenant the Holy Spirit would not enter into the body that is given to sin or the malicious soul. Jesus’ death covered sin so that if sinful malevolent people desire, they can be connected with the Holy Spirit and change from the inside out. So far in the first four verses of the Book of Wisdom, Solomon tells us to think correctly and have a good heart. To have a simple heart to seek Him. Not to have disobedient thoughts. Not to have a malicious soul. And not to have a body subject to sin. The Holy Spirit will remove from thoughts that are without understanding. The Holy Spirit will not abide with the unrighteous. Then Solomon says that God is a witness of our reins, our kidneys, and our center of emotions. He beholds our heart and hears what we say.

Solomon puts the responsibility of our thoughts, the alignment of our heart, the condition of our soul, the emotions that we have, and our body’s desire for sin, back on us. We determine our thoughts. We determine our heart. We determine our soul. We determine whether our body sins. We determine our emotions. We determine what we speak. Solomon basically says, if one wants the Spirit of Wisdom, that one must take control over soul, body, thought, heart, emotions, and behaviors and reactions. Then the Holy Spirit will abide with the individual.

This is why Jesus said we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We have the ability to fulfill the first and greatest commandment. David was a master at understanding heart issues. This is why his prayer for Solomon is not just empty words. We can have a perfect heart and a soul that is willing to serve. We can think rightly. Our next quest for study is to look at how to change our heart, our thoughts, and our soul, for the better.