Circumcise Your Heart
Deuteronomy 30:6
The concept of circumcision needs to be understood from a biblical perspective, it originally represented YAHveh’s (the LORD’s) seal of His covenant with Abraham. But YAHveh extended this covenant sign to have broader significance and ultimately to be applied to the hearts of Jews and Gentiles who desire to have an obedient personal relationship.
Circumcision was the outward sign that the individual’s identity had a distinguishing mark, which separated him from the world and consecrated him in total submission to the service of the Almighty. Originally, this sign of circumcision was for the physical foreskin; then later and more importantly, it became an issue of one’s heart. The unseen circumcised heart would be outwardly marked by holy behavior and attitudes. Those circumcised in heart would live distinctly differently and separately from the pagans, who did not truly know, love, and worship YAHveh.
YAHveh longs to circumcise a people to Himself. This circumcision of the heart is designed to separate us from the defilement of the world and the preoccupations that can become idols that rob us of the focus and obedience to our holy Creator and Savior.
Circumcision refers to YAHveh’s appointed sign of the covenant beginning with Abraham requiring commitment to YAHveh alone whom he would trust and serve. In essence summarized in these words: ‘If I am not loyal in faith and obedience to the Lord, may the sword of the Lord cut off me and my offspring as I have cut off my foreskin.’ Thus Abraham was to place himself under the rule of the Lord as his King, consecrating himself, his offspring and all he possessed to the service of the Lord.” Footnote to Genesis 17:10, The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, 1985).
A remnant, circumcised in heart and purified from defiling influences, will move from the outer court of the uncircumcised into close proximity as a priest moves into the Holy of Holies with intimate face to face worship with the Holy One. YAHveh requires circumcision of the heart for Jews and Gentiles— male and female, in order that we may live in His holy presence now and eternally. “Moreover YAHveh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YAHveh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live [ultimately in the eternal Holy of Holies].” (Deuteronomy 30:6)
This may very well be the last generation to be given the opportunity and privilege to enter the eternal Promised Land through our Passover Lamb’s (YAHshua’s-Jesus’s) blood. We are much like the Israelites, who had wandered for forty years following the Exodus from Egypt and were required to be circumcised again before they could receive their promised blessings. The Almighty said to Joshua, “Make for yourselves flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.’ So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth [the hill of foreskins]” (Joshua 5:2-3).
Those who rebelled against YAHveh died in the desert. Through forty years of wandering in the wilderness, YAHveh had purified and prepared a remnant who would heed and obey His voice. This generation had to be circumcised to the Holy One of Israel before they entered and posses the Promised Land. And their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; …Then YAHveh said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt (world system) from you”(Joshua 5:7-9). The Almighty was saying, “I have circumcised you to Me separating you from all idols and preoccupations that separate you from loving, serving, and worshipping Me.”
Our Almighty Redeemer looks at our hearts. He is calling to men and women who are willing to accept the flint knife of circumcision. Circumcision was and is a scriptural prerequisite for the redeemed children of the Most High. YAHveh’s (the LORD’s) commandment still stands: “Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more. For YAHveh your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords…” (Deuteronomy 10:16-17)
The apostle Paul reminded both Jews and Gentiles of the basic issue—circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). In Colossians he wrote: “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh [separated from all unrighteousness unto YAHveh’s holy standards] …” (Colossians 2:11 KJV — emphasis added).
The Mighty One warns all who will listen and heed through His prophets. “Behold the days are coming,” declares YAHveh (the LORD), “that I will punish all who are circumcised [only in the flesh] and yet uncircumcised [in heart]… for all the nations are uncircumcised [of heart], and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart” (Jeremiah 9:25-26).
How far the Judeo-Christian values have strayed from YAHveh’s original Commandments and covenant. So few are truly circumcised in heart! Churches, synagogues, and other meeting places are filled and pews are warmed by untold numbers of lukewarm, professing believers who love their lives, this world, and their traditions far more than they know and love God. A dedicated remnant, circumcised in heart and consecrated to His service, will joyfully renounce their worldly preoccupations (idolatrous rebellion), their love for anyone and anything that stands between them and YAHveh.
The Scriptures indicate that no Jew or Gentile uncircumcised in heart, shall enter God’s eternal, holy sanctuary or partake of His eternal Passover (see Ezekiel 44:9 and Exodus 12:48) Isaiah prophesied of a day when the holy city of Jerusalem would no longer be profaned by the uncircumcised in heart: “Awake, awake, clothe yourself in your strength, O Zion; Clothe yourself in your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. For the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you” (Isaiah 52:1).
YAHveh’s (the LORD’s) cry in the book of Jeremiah emphasizes this point: “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to YAHveh and remove the foreskins of your heart… Lest My wrath go forth like fire and burn with none to quench it” (Jeremiah 4:3).
The Mighty One of Israel our Redeemer is looking at our hearts. YAHveh (the LORD) wants to cut away like a foreskin the reproach, defilement, and hypocritical compromise of our half hearted lip service and love and preoccupations of this temporal world. He desires to see a “hill of foreskins” from a holy (separated) remnant that are willing to undergo the pain of circumcision of the heart, in order to forsake everything for Him and Him alone!
Prayer:
Circumcise our hearts O sovereign Father. Reveal Your truth that we may be made whole. Consume us with Your fire of compassion that burns away the chaff within our souls. O YAHveh, all consuming fire − hear our hearts desire. Purify our hearts from deep within that we Your people recognize our sin. Make us Yours from now until forever. Set us apart a new man from the old and keep us closely bound to You in Spirit our precious Master Shepherd of the fold.
