“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways; and according to the fruit of his doings.”
(Jer. 17:10)
The heart of every man is searched by the LORD Himself. When He searches, He examines intimately and thoroughly. He is an investigator. He also tries the reins. (Jeremiah 17:10) Understanding Hebrew thought, which is conceptual in its nature, can help us know what is meant by “trying the reins.” The reins (H3629 Strong’s Concordance), in Hebrew thought represent our kidneys. Hebrew thought is concerned with function. The western world’s Greco-Roman perspective focuses on appearance. Our kidneys don’t look particularly attractive, yet we can’t live without them functioning properly.
What is the function of our kidneys? The National Kidney Foundation1states:
The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions:
- remove waste products from the body
- remove drugs from the body
- balance the body’s fluids
- release hormones that regulate blood pressure
- produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
- control the production of red blood cells
Spiritually, the reins (kidneys) are a picture of our inner-self, our emotions, our mind, our innermost feelings. If our kidneys are damaged, we can be physically affected in a multitude of ways. Likewise, spiritually, if we have unhealthy thoughts, our damaged belief system may significantly affect our spiritual health, our destiny. As we continuously meditate on the Word, our spiritual kidneys are transformed (healed), just as diet and medication can restore the proper function of our natural kidneys.
The Examination Of The LORD
We are approaching the Feast of Passover. There is always preparation before this Feast. We must remember that preparation always precedes blessing. During the week of Passover, all leaven was to be removed from the houses. We, as well, must cleanse the leaven (sin) from our lives as revealed to us by the Searcher of our hearts. The Holy Spirit is the Searcher, and He will reveal to us through the Word of God everything that is keeping us from being free and healthy. Passover is a Feast of Freedom from a life of bondage and slavery. Our own faulty views may be keeping us from the freedom for which Jesus Christ paid the highest price.
PSALM 139 AND THE SEARCHER
In the beautiful Psalm 139, we learn that the Spirit of the LORD searches us and knows us. He knows when we sit down, stand up, lie down and every thought we think during our time on Earth. He “tries the reins.” (Psalm 139:13)
Though we may not always like what we are shown, we must receive God’s revelation as a treatment, such as a doctor would prescribe for a patient with damaged kidneys. In consulting with a physician regarding kidney damage, I learned that even acute kidney failure is reversible. This is wonderful news.
The Spirit of the LORD is searching the hearts of His people; He is searching the reins of His people. If the reins (kidneys) are a picture of our innermost thoughts, what we are thinking is going to bring a harvest, whether good or bad. Our natural path, even our chosen thought path will bear fruit, good or bad in some form…every time!
The Psalmist was bold, perhaps even brave as he went before the LORD and asked, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
Many Blessings,
Karen J
____________________
The National Kidney Foundation – https://www.kidney.org
