This must have struck the people of Israel as a very curious promise. What could it men to have their hearts circumcised? Circumcision was a right and duty securing entry to God’s Covenant for the children of believing parents. Surely the circumcision of their hearts would be of a similar nature?

That a spiritual act is envisioned here is evident by the focus on the heart and soul, the inward and intangible aspects of a person’s life which are, as we have seen, such prominent features of the worldview of God’s Law. God promised that a day was coming when He would do something to renew their hearts and souls so that they would be able to know His blessings and keep His Law (vv. 7-10). Israel was familiar with the existence of the Spirit of God, since He was reported to have attended to the original creation and had been given to their elders for a season. But here God was pointing the people forward to a time when the Spirit would come among them in a more universal, personal, and permanent way.

Ezekiel foresaw this day (Ezek. 36.26, 27), as did Joel (2.28ff). Jesus specifically promised the Spirit to all His followers as an indwelling, teaching, and convicting presence, so that they could know eternal life (Jn. 14-16). While the Law is not as specific concerning the Spirit as subsequent revelation would be, it did point the people forward to a day of greater fulfillment, when God Himself would do something within their souls to fulfill all the promises and demands of His Covenant.

That “something” would be the gift of His Spirit (Acts 2, Gal. 4.6).

T. M. Moore

For more insight to the nature of God’s Covenant, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store. Visit our website, www.ailbe.org, and sign up to receive our thrice-weekly devotional, Crosfigell, featuring writers from the period of the Celtic Revival and T. M.’s reflections on Scripture and the Celtic Christian tradition.