BULLETIN ARTICLE
20 October 2019

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

What does it mean to have clean hands and a pure heart?
Pure heart refers to being God-fearing; a desire to be found pleasing to him.
Clean hands points to having honourable dealings with people; to keep your word; to bless the person rather than shortchange them. That certainly does not mean a list of do’s and don’ts. It means sticking by a life principle that guides our right actions.

Genesis 37-38 is the narrative on two brothers, Judah and Joseph, sons of Jacob (Israel). There are a few striking things about the two siblings.

Judah’s character at this point in his life as a father of his household was unable to demonstrate purity in motives and even tried to cover up by showing himself as religious. Judah’s two sons had died one after the other, after each marrying Tamar, his daughter-in-law, in turn (a cultural norm in those days). Hoping to protect his third son from a similar fate, he told her that the marriage to the sibling of her late husband would be delayed for a few years till the lad was older. It is quite obvious that he also had little intention of fulfilling the marital rights of the young widow in his household. And so, when he heard of Tamar being with child, he emphatically expresses his desire to be rid of her by wanting her to be burned to death. It was to his advantage to put up a righteous and religious front while achieving his less than honourable motive. It was only when his evil motive was exposed, he admitted that he had been dishonourable in his dealings with Tamar.

In contrast, Joseph was faultless in his character with regard to his master Potiphar and with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was entrusted to be in charge of Potiphar’s household which speaks volumes of his work standards and honesty. Then he encounters sexual temptation in the form of a sensuous inviting wife of Potiphar. Joseph’s response reveals his God-fearing attitude and to act in a manner that refused to betray his master’s total trust in him in all matters. Even if it eventually led to his bearing the slanderous accusation from the jilted Potipher’s wife, Joseph bore the undeserved outcome of being imprisoned. The fact remains that Joseph’s sense of identity was neither defined by his job status nor by what others thought of him. Rather, it was to be unwavering in being found blameless before God in each and all circumstances.

Proverbs 3:3-4 expresses of clean hands and a pure heart in another way:
“Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart.
If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.”