Deuteronomy 30:6-10 – The need for a circumcised heart

Circumcision was the act where the foreskin of the male genital was cut off. In Genesis 17 we are told that it was the sign of the covenant that God had with Abraham. It was an outward sign that marked Abraham and his descendants as God’s consecrated people. This sign would help them to remember that they belonged to God. But it was possible for some to go through the physical circumcision but would not act and live as God’s covenant people. They could go through the motion but not really embrace and live out what was required of them in this rite. That's why there was a need for another circumcision, the circumcision of the heart. Deuteronomy 30:6-10 speaks of this circumcision. Notice that this was an act that God Himself would perform on them. Verse 6 explicitly said, “Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of  your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.”

What is this circumcision of the heart and what does it mean? This is an act where God consecrates His people to Himself and renews their hearts enabling them to live for Him. In this act, God would purify their desire to love Him. Hence, their obedience would be an outflow of that love. It would not be a rigid, legalistic attempt to keep the law to gain the favor of God. Whether we know it or not, if we ever want to truly live a life that will please God and delight His heart, we need His enablement. Jesus underscores this in John 15:5. He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” We need God to give us the desire as well as the willingness to obey and live for Him.

The result of a circumcised heart guarantees God’s blessings. Their experiences would differ from those with uncircumcised hearts. While they would enjoy God’s blessings, the people with uncircumcised hearts would suffer the curses. They would walk in obedience, reap rich rewards, and enjoy prosperity in every area. There would be fruitfulness in their work. And in the family, their number would increase. In livestock, their herd and flocks would multiply. In their crops, they would experience bountiful harvests. Just picture the scene in our minds. God delights over His people and grants them blessings beyond measure, and the people loving, obeying, and rejoicing in Him. Here we recall the words of the Prophet Zephaniah who says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy (Zephaniah 3:17).” This is the desire of God for us in Christ.

In these verses, we see the need to live a life of consecration. At the altar of sacrifice, we must give our lives once for all to Christ. But in our journey with Him, there will be many more altars of rededication, where we constantly align and renew our commitment to worship and serve more faithfully and dedicatedly. Let us do it now!