Don Friesen
According to Bill Richardson's book, Old Father William's Well-Ordered Universe (2008), on April 21, 1915 the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), a troubled soul "who wrestled with many demons, ...heard a clamour in the sky above, ...looked up and saw a flight of sixteen swans. The pattern they made, ...and their raucous trumpeting, inspired the theme that became the finale of Sibelius' Fifth Symphony." (Richardson, page 271)
Seventeen years and one day later – on April 22, 1932 – a flock of fifty-two wild geese was struck by lightning while flying over Elgin, Manitoba. Anyone on the ground that day had to dodge the pelting earth-bound birds! The geese were gathered and distributed to everyone in town: "Manitoba manna," straight from heaven.
Swans flew over Sibelius, and Sibelius made music. Geese flew over Elgin, and the Manitobans made dinner. Different people have different perspectives on things. One person looks at a bird and sees grace and beauty; another person looking at the same bird sees fresh meat!
Paul's Counsel regarding Points of View
The Apostle Paul reflects upon paradoxical perspectives of life in 2 Corinthians, noting, for example, that God decided to put spiritual treasure in fragile clay pots! (2 Corinthians 4:7) He also notes that "though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day." (4:16, TEV) Even "though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day." (4:16, RSV) Paul notes the paradox that while on earth each of us has a body – which he compares to a tent, a flimsy, temporary dwelling – in heaven we have a house, "a house not made with hands, (but an) eternal (home)". (5:1) Several times Paul alludes to things we can see, and things that are not as visible to us but that are, nonetheless, significant. (2 Corinthians 4:4, 18; 5:7) And twice he mentions that "for this reason" we never become discouraged. (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16, TEV)
In today's reading Paul tells the Corinthian congregation that he wants them to "be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart." (2 Corinthians 5:12) That phrase, regarding outward appearance versus the heart, caught my attention, in part because it carries an echo of an Old Testament incident. At one point in Israel's history Israel needed a new king to replace King Saul. Saul didn't know that a new king was needed – which adds to the palace intrigue – but God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king, one from the clan of Jesse. Samuel didn't know which one of Jesse's sons was the king-in-waiting, but Jesse's sons all lined up, one as handsome and gifted as the next – but – one by one God voted them off the list of potential royalty. (1 Samuel 16:1-13) The first was Eliab, the oldest of Jesse's sons, but God told Samuel, "Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him...." (1 Samuel 16:7, TEV) The "Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
No doubt this phrase was in Paul's mind as he reflected on the human penchant for focussing on form rather than on substance. The Amplified Bible brings out the contrast more vividly, Paul encouraging the Corinthians to "have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them." (2 Corinthians 5:12, AMP)
How Do we Look on the Human Heart?
How do we look upon the heart? Like swans and geese flying overhead, there are different ways of looking at them. A cardiologist, for example, might look upon the human heart as a muscle, a muscle that pumps blood to the various parts of your body. If pressed, he or she would go into more detail, pointing our the two auricles and the two ventricles, the valves that connect them, and the arteries that go out from the heart. Ask a cardiac surgeon, a more hands-on doctor, how he looks upon the heart, and he would have to rip open your rib cage and sort through the innards he finds there to give you a definitive answer.
Another way to look upon the heart is through the eyes of comedy. Robin Williams underwent a heart valve replacement last fall, about the same time I did, and recently he and David Letterman spent the better part of a hour discussing their respective heart surgeries. Robin Williams opted for a valve from a cow, noting that since the surgery he has enjoyed grazing. He could have opted for a porcine valve, he said, in which case he would be hunting for truffles.
The human heart enjoys frequent reference in our literature and speech. One of our former prime ministers entitled his take on federal politics, Straight from the Heart (1986), the same title Bryan Adams used for a song (Cuts Like a Knife CD, 1983) he wrote several years earlier. Titles and references reveal a variety of perspectives on the human heart, from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1899) to Jean Vanier's Treasures of the Heart (1991). We refer in our speech to bleeding-hearts, which does not sound good, and is not intended so. We may speak of someone with a jaundiced heart, someone who has a wounded heart, a broken heart, or someone who has had a change-of-heart. We may describe a person as light-hearted. It's interesting that no other human organ serves our speech quite as well. We wouldn't describe someone's banter as light-lung-ed, or talk of someone's change-of-pancreas – unless, of course, the pancreas was actually replaced!
The human heart often serves as a spiritual metaphor for what is in our innermost being. The heart, in biblical literature, is considered the centre of spiritual activity as well as all other activities of life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deuteronomy 6:5; 26:16; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33) The heart is regarded as being the seat of the intellect and of the will, much as Derek Suderman pointed out when he was with us earlier this year. The heart is considered the centre of emotions, decisions, passions – the centre of most of we attribute to the core of our being. It is the seat of memory and intelligence; It is the home of our decisions and intentions. It represents the will that conceives and undertakes our intentions and designs. The heart is the centre of will and purpose. (Deuteronomy 8:2; 1 Kings 8:17; Jeremiah 23:20). To "incline the heart," a common biblical expression (Joshua 24:23; 1 Kings 8:58; Psalm 119:12; Proverbs 2:2), is to express intention to comply; the heart represents volition, conscience and intentionality. And as crucial as the heart is to the health of the human body, so the spiritual state of our hearts is important to our overall spiritual health.
The Bible's Points of View on the Human Heart
In what other ways does the Bible view the human heart? Well, Jeremiah, for example, doesn't trust it! He says, "The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse – who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NRSV) You may be familiar with the King James version of that expression: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...." (KJV) It's "beyond cure," says Jeremiah. (NIV) Mind you, Jeremiah was speaking to a specific occasion of Judah's unfaithfulness. His warning, however, serves to remind us that the Scriptures are aware that the human heart is capable of much wickedness.
In medical matters we often ask for a second opinion regarding a dire diagnosis, so I did a quick survey of the psalms – it being the home of many spiritual metaphors – and there are definitely differing points of view regarding the human heart. On the one hand is a dismal point of view, complaints about those who "close their hearts to pity; ... (and) speak arrogantly." (Psalm 17:10) The psalms complain of those with "mischief ...in their hearts (28:3); those whose "hearts ...devise wrongs (and) ...deal out violence on earth" (58:2); and those "with speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war". (55:21) There is "evil ...in their homes and in their hearts," says the psalmist. (55:15)
The psalmist also contends that it is utter foolishness to say in your heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) Equally foolish are the wicked who "boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain" (10:4), as well as those who speak with a double heart" (12:12) and those whose "hearts overflow with follies." (73:7) The psalms complain of those who have "stubborn hearts (81:12), those with hardened hearts (95:8), those "whose hearts go astray" (95:10), those who suffer from "perverseness of heart" (101:4), and those who have "an arrogant heart". (101:5)
On the other hand, the psalms rejoice in those who are "upright in heart" (7:10; 32:11; 64:10) and who love God with their "whole heart". (9:1; 86:12) The psalms laud those "who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart" (15:2), and "those who have clean hands and pure hearts". (24:4; 73:1) The psalms hold up as praiseworthy those who keep the "law of ...God ...in their hearts" (37:31; 40:8) "Give me an undivided heart, reads Psalm 86, verse 11. I think our ancient spiritual ancestors knew more about cardiology than we may think! About a decade ago a pacemaker was implanted in my heart, essentially because my heart was divided against itself. The two chambers were not talking to each other, or perhaps one started talking in a different language without benefit of a translator. A divided heart will not function properly, biologically or spiritually!
There is rejoicing in the psalms when the heart functions properly. "My heart overflows with a goodly theme" (45:1), a "noble theme" (NEB), says one psalm. The psalms laud those whose hearts rejoice in God's salvation. (13:5)
The psalms also contain prayers of the heart, telling God, for example, "I treasure Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11) Another prays, "Turn my heart to Your decrees, and not to selfish gain." (119:36) "Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart." (90:12) "When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations, (God), cheer my soul." (94:19) Yet another: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord...." (19:14)
There is in the psalms a conviction that God is the One "who fashions (our) hearts" (33:15), the One who created (NIRV) our hearts, and who is able to strengthen (10:17) our hearts, heal our hearts, transform our hearts, and put joy in our hearts. Listen to Psalm 4, verse 7: "You have filled my heart with great joy. It is greater than the joy of people who have lots of grain and fresh wine."
The Human Heart Is Subject to Malfunction
I have no doubt that God, looking upon our hearts, can see all manner of deceitfulness and wickedness, and the Scriptures – the psalms, at least – seem to indicate that the people of God know that God can see the spiritual malfunctions of their hearts. "God ...knows the secrets of the heart" (Psalm 44:21), says the psalmist. God can see the callouses on our hearts, where we have stifled impulses of generosity, or pushed away the urge to be kind to someone who has wronged us. God can detect the hardened heart, a heart that's no longer supple and that restricts the movement of God's Spirit.
I was curious, after doctors replaced my aortic valve, whether the defective valve was a rare uni-cuspid valve, as my cardiologist had surmised, or a bi-cuspid valve, more common but still less than ideal. The surgeon told me that my valve had calcified into some deformed shape and was not recognizable as one or the other! It had calcified. I really did have a hardened heart – but you already knew that.
No doubt our hearts, spiritually speaking, develop deformities of one kind or another. There may be some callouses on the compassion chamber of your heart. Perhaps the chamber of your hearts that inspires commitment has developed a malfunction. Maybe the ventricle that channels your devotion to God is not receiving as much spiritual blood as needed. God is the ultimate heart specialist, and is quite aware of hearts that have gone wonky. However, God also looks on our hearts from a unique vantage point.
In the sixteenth century a Dutch painter by the name of William Scrots became the King's Painter to Henry VIII (1491-1547). When, following Henry's death, Edward VI (1537-1553) ascended to the throne, Scrots continued as King's Painter. We don't know much about Scrots except that he had a great interest in ingenious techniques, and the most remarkable work (1546) attributed to him is a portrait of King Edward. It's called an anamorphic portrait, designed to amaze the viewer and display the skills of the artist! It results in a distorted image, and one might imagine that the king felt he was being mocked when he first saw it. The portrait shows his head ballooning in the back, a bulging forehead in the front, a nose that resembles a beak, and a chin that appears almost non-existent. It is not a flattering portrait!
The painter, however, showed the king how by squinting at the portrait through a peephole in the side of the frame, a better representation – free of deformities – could be seen. One of those who saw it at the time described Edward as having a "handsomely proportioned countenance."
Paul: We no long Look upon the Heart from a Human Point of View
Perhaps Scrot's painting is an object lesson pertinent to the way God looks upon the heart. The distortions of our hearts are readily visible to God, but from a Divine vantage point the human heart is also viewed redemptively, as an object of God's love and transforming grace. Where we might see what is ugly and weak and in decrepit shape, God sees beauty and strength.
In our reading from the Epistles Paul writes that no longer do we "regard (any)one from a human point of view...." (2 Corinthians 5:16) "If anyone is in Christ, (that person) is a new creation: everything old has passed away; ...everything has become new!" (5:17) Everything has become "fresh and new". (PHL)
God has a unique vantage point upon the human heart, and it's evident, already, in the Old Testament story of Samuel's search for a new king. When the handsome and vigorous Eliab stepped up, Samuel, upon God's instruction, said "No". And as each brother, in turn, stepped up, not one got the nod of approval. Samuel went through the whole bunch, and not one of them received the nod. Very puzzling! Out of desperation Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons. "Only the youngest," replied Jesse, "and he's out taking care of the sheep." (1 Samuel 16:11, my paraphrase) There really wasn't much sense in fetching him, except that he turned out to be the very one that God wanted as king. I like that story because for once the youngest in the family is the favoured one.
David was an unusual choice, and as we look back on his life we may still wonder about God's choice. Among other things, David was a greedy, womanizing, power-hungry megalomaniac, but God must have seen something from His vantage point not visible to us, and legend has it that he became the greatest king Israel ever had!
The Old Testament Gideon is another example, another unusual choice. Israel was being crowded by the Medianites, God wanted Gideon to lead Israel into battle against the Medianites, and Gideon said, "Say what!?!" He couldn't believe it! "My clan," he told God, "is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am (its) least important member...." (Judges 6:15, TEV) It took some persuading for Gideon to believe that he was God's choice. God's choice of munitions for Gideon's group is also unusual! First God reduced the size of Gideon's group (Judges 7), which was small to begin with, and for weapons God chose trumpets and jars with torches inside them! (Judges 7:16) I doubt those were on display at the recent Lansdowne arms show!
God's unique vantage point on things is also evident in our Gospel reading, where something that appears insignificant surprises us. A mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, when planted, grows to a height of fourteen feet! The tallest bush in all of Israel! God looks upon the heart, and like the tiny mustard seed, which at first sight does not reveal the size and scope of what it will become but which can shelter many of God's creatures in its branches, so God looks upon us and encourages us to become what it is evident to God we can, and with God's grace, will become.
It's an encouraging parable, and whoever has ears to hear, let him or her hear the mysteries in the heart of God and have faith in what God has in store for us.
Quotations of Scripture are from the New Revised Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.