Day 169, Year 1 

Do You Have a Door in Your Heart or Just a Wall?

“If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver.” (Song of Solomon 8:9a NASB)

Today’s verse mentions that some people’s hearts could be like “walls.” In the biblical era, the walls of a big city could be inhabited, so it was possible to “build upon her a battlement of silver.” In fact, some people’s “hearts” are locked and bolted, as if they have no doors of hearts. Their doors are no longer useful, turning into walls in disguise. As Jesus said, those who climb into a person’s heart from somewhere else are bandits. When they occupy a person’s heart, that person becomes a “thieves’ den” with no door. These people could be divided into two categories: active and passive. The active ones are the thieves, who intentionally distort their hearts, walk on a deceitful path, and “build on” their hearts “a battlement of silver.” Such doors are difficult to open. Meanwhile, the passive “thieves’ den” are the victims. Although their doors have become walls due to the work of thieves, these people want to change very much. The following explores what those who want to change can do.

When people’s hearts have experienced robbery and destruction, they naturally become fearful of being hurt again, and thus lock up their hearts. As a result, the “door” of their heart can turn into a “wall.” If this is indeed the case, two things need to be done. First, exterminate everything related to “thieves” within us. Second, seek Jesus to heal our hearts so that the original “doors” could be reinstated to be usable. Only then will we be able to open the doors in response to Jesus’ knocking.

In my experience, some people who were accustomed to being oppressed found it difficult to believe in Jesus. It is because they are accustomed to authority as oppressors. But He is not a thief nor presents Himself to us as an oppressor. To drive the “thieves” out of a person’s heart, not only must the oppressors be expelled, but our habitual mindset of enduring oppression must also be changed. Sometimes, we even need to confess to Jesus our twisted mentality of not loving righteousness but willingly accepting oppression. Only upon receiving His forgiveness and righteousness could there be a true reconstruction of our hearts and the related doors, subsequently enabling us to respond to His knockings properly. If oppressed hearts are not healed, they would likely view Him as a dictator or abuser. But He desires to have normal human interaction with us. Thus, we should reclaim the good human nature God created for us, such that we have the opportunity to rebuild our hearts’ doors, which Jesus can enter.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you think your “heart’s door” is locked and bolted? If so, what might be the reason?

2) Do you think you have the normal human nature created by God that allows you to interact with Jesus in a healthy way? If you lack something, how would you rely on Him to rebuild your heart?