Psalms 78:6 “That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.”
Those who can “set … their heart aright” are those that God the Father “hath chosen … in” Jesus Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) and have been “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). These can “set … their heart aright” because, at the very instant they were given Spiritual Birth, they are given “faith” (Hebrews 12:2, 11:1); and their “faith” gives them the “substance” and “evidence” to lovingly know the Lord and the desire to worshipfully follow and obey Him. But, being Born Again by the Holy Spirit does not remove our human (carnal) nature from us; but, the “faith” that comes with Spiritual Birth empowers us to subdue the carnal nature and to discipline ourselves to faithfully follow the Lord. This is why our Lord issued this command: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). We are told that “Rehoboam” (Solomon’s son) “did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (II Chronicles 12:14). And James tells us that “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8). “Rehoboam” “prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” but he gave in to his carnal nature which sought wealth, power, and fame over obedience to the Lord; as a result, the nation was divided, and the people suffered. Thus, a “double minded” man teeters in his mind between his love for God and his love for carnal things of this natural world; consequently, he is unstable in everything he does; thus, there comes a point when his world begins to fall apart and he and those around him are left in misery and discouragement. Our Lord clearly tells us how to prepare our hearts and to have a stable mind; He Commanded, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33); that is, all the necessary things of life. Inherent in seeking “the kingdom of God” is praying, reading the Word of God, talking about the Word of God, teaching it to our families, and going to and being and active part of the Lord’s Church! Those who “set not their heart aright” will eventually fall in painful ruin; but, those who strive to “set … their heart aright” are blessed to “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8) and to “eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19); even as, all around them, “the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things” (Acts 4:25).