Part I – A Turned Away Heart 

Deuteronomy 29:17-19 NIV 

 “You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold. Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.  When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, "I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way." This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.” 

The Lexicon Transliteration for the word turn is parah.  Parah is a verb meaning to turn toward, from or away.  Let’s attempt to put this in perspective.  This scripture is speaking to the Israelites.  At this point in the passage they have left Egypt lead by Moses.  They have journeyed through towns and villages and basically been exposed to the gods of those other peoples.   

I love God’s Word.  It is timeless!  The LORD command still rings truth.  Regardless of what one has been exposed to, the command is still applicable: do not allow it to turn your heart away!  When man’s hearts are turned away, they turn toward something.  I’ve have found that that “something” is generally a lie, an exchange of God’s best for something immediate.  Turned away to some imitation, only to realize it does not ultimately fulfill. 

I want to focus our attention on this turned away heart.  In searching scripture, I found 11 different passages when I searched with key words, turn away heart.  The above mentioned verse is the first mentioned; the last is found in Hebrews.  The point I want to make is this: throughout scripture man’s hearts have turned away from the LORD.  Each circumstance may differ, but the action is the same.  The individual’s heart turns away, rejecting God.  It’s important to note, the Amplified Bible includes in their translation this: “[mind and] heart.”  Not only does the heart turn away, the mind does too.  I think it is very safe to say that wherever the mind will take you, the heart will follow.  Give that some time to settle in. 

This is close to my heart these days.  I know it is easy to find one’s self with a heart turned away.  I personally sense it in the days that we are living that the heart is being tempted to turn away.  I feel it, I hear it in conversations and if you look close you can see it in the face of men, inside and outside of the walls of the church.   

Side note:  One of PureHeart Ministries focuses in the coming months will be to stand in the gap for those weighted down by the world, life, marriage, work, kids.  It’s hard to carry the weight of all that without something breaking.   

The word picture I get is of one literally turning away from God in such a way that they have their back facing him and their eye, focus, attention, heart and intentions are facing in the opposite direction of Him.  Just picture that! Rather depressing, isn’t it? Especially when you consider that we as followers of Christ are to walk with Him face to face.  

Next week, we’ll take a look at a heart that can turn back. 

I want to end with these questions: 

How are you like the Israelites? What is bidding for your attention as you pass through this side of eternity?