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NOT A HEART THAT REGARDS INIQUITY
TUESDAY, JUNE 15
Psalm 66:13-20

James 4:8-10

 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,

the Lord will not hear…”

 

NOT A HEART THAT REGARDS INIQUITY
 
In Psalm 66:18 (“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”), David expresses a significant truth. He has just described the afflictions of the righteous, which the Lord permits: “Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water” (vv 11-12). But out of all these afflictions the Lord has brought deliverance and even blessing: “but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” (v 12). This is because, as David affirms, “God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer” (v 19).
 
How we need the Lord, if we are to endure through the afflictions of life! Is it not our greatest comfort and stay that we can go to Him in time of trouble, and be assured that He will hear us? Then, dear reader, we must surely be greatly concerned about anything that might cause Him to turn away our prayers!
 
But if we “regard iniquity” in our hearts, we can be certain that He will not hear our prayers. The word “regard” here has the sense of looking on something with approbation. In other words, if we but harbour in our hearts an approval of what the Lord forbids, we disqualify ourselves from His presence.
 
Make no mistake, our God is holy. To His own people He said, “when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isa 1:15). What is the use of the prayers loudly and loquaciously offered to God in professing churches full of idolatry? What is the use of the frenzied chants and screaming multitudes that attend some modern “evangelistic” rallies? As well might these latter-day prophets call upon the name of Baal, and leap upon his altar (cf. 1 Kings 18:26), as think to gain an audience with the thrice-holy God, while their hearts are full of sin! No, if we would truly “draw nigh to God,” we must heed the accompanying commands: “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).
 
THOUGHT: “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.” (Ps 97:10)
PRAYER: Father, help me to hide Thy word (not iniquity) in my heart.

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