“If ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgement between a man and his neighbor, …then I will cause you to dwell in this place.” Jeremiah 7:5,7
When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord spoke to him in this manner: “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” (Gen. 17:1) Why did God reveal Himself to Abraham as the Almighty God? We find here a man who is almost one hundred years old being told by God that his great responsibility was to walk before Him, and to be perfect in that walk. How can this be possible? All becomes possible in the economy of God when true faith is exercised in Christ, according to the word and will of God. Abraham is called upon to trust God completely, wholeheartedly, and consistently so, until the end of his days. This is only possible if Abraham does so by faith, appropriating the resources given by the God who is Almighty, for whom nothing is impossible in the heart, or in circumstances. Abraham is called of God to trust Him “throughly,” thoroughly, in an absolute manner. Though his walk will not be perfect in its performance, it can be perfected, first by the revelation, or vision, of the Almighty God and then by faith placed only, and wholly in God, proved by an unreserved commitment to obey and follow Christ.
How is it possible for a people, or person, even a nation, to fully follow the Lord? Jeremiah was called of God to be a prophet to Israel. At one juncture in his ministry to the people, the Lord instructs him to “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house.” (7:2) His message to disobedient Israel is this: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amen your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.” (7:3) The Lord will then qualify how they are to amend their ways and doings by telling them that it must be “throughly,” or thoroughly. Their approach to obeying God cannot be anything less than a wholehearted and thorough manner. The Lord speaks also of the execution of judgment between a man and his neighbor, which must be dealt with in the same way…throughly. This word, “throughly,” used in old English, means that there is nothing half-hearted about God’s demands. They reach to the very core of one’s being, thinking, and actions. Is it possible for a person, a people, or a nation, to respond to such a calling? The answer lies in God’s revelation of Himself to Abraham. “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be perfect.” Perfection, and thoroughness of devotion, are only possible by the grace of God, the God for whom nothing is impossible.
In David’s confessional prayer, after he had sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, he prayed using the word, “throughly.” He prays to God alone who can forgive and wash away sin: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Ps. 51:2) What was the intent of David’s prayer? It was not just that he should be forgiven, but that all the recesses of his heart, and innermost being, should be washed by the power of God, cleansed entirely from all sin. How can he pray this, and believe God for it? His vision of God resembles that of Abraham, for he sees and knows that God can, and will do this work completely, “throughly,” and that he can be restored to true fellowship with God.
In the New Testament, the believer is called upon to trust God for a “pure heart.” He is also called upon to believe God concerning the forgiveness, and washing away of ALL his sin. John the Apostle writes: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (Jn. 1:9) The believer is called upon to believe God for “perfect” cleansing, and a pure heart, just as Abraham and David were to do.
Dear Father, Almighty God, for whom nothing is impossible, cleanse us “throughly,” giving us a pure, and perfect heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.