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Heartthrobs

Did you have a heartthrob at some point in your life?

A heartthrob, by the way, is someone who is considered to be an object of romantic desire. The word is also often used in the phrase “teen heartthrob”, referring to a young person, especially a musician or actor, who is the object of teenagers’ romantic affection.

Even the Old Testament seems to have a precursor to that!  Really?  Take a look at what Isaiah said in chapter 60:  “your heart will throb.”

So was this referencing an OT version of a hunky young Jewish man being the heartthrob for all the young Jewish women?  

Definitely not, especially as you consider that the term heartthrob can be used to simply describe a rapid heartbeat. It can also be used figuratively to refer to a passionate emotion.  And there definitely should have been a passionate emotional response to what Isaiah was saying.

“Your heart will throb” is part of verse 5 of chapter 60 which reads as follows:  “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.”

The context of the verse gives us an idea as to why their hearts would throb and it has little to do with a heartthrob, as in the object of a teenager’s romantic affection, but it had everything to do with God and His blessings being poured out:

“The splendor of the Lord shines on you” and “His splendor appears over you.” (60:1-2). Splendor here could be defined as “the brightness of His presence”.

“Nations come to your light…” (60:3).  This likely refers to God’s people reflecting the brightness of God’s presence and other nations were drawn to that light.

“Your sons come from far away…” (60:4).  As the Jewish people are drawn to and gathered around the light of God’s presence; this would cause them to “look and be radiant” and would cause their “hearts to throb and swell with joy”.  These were the very passionate emotions they were to experience.

Another aspect of the meaning of heartthrob is this:  “One who is considered pleasing to the senses, often resulting in increased respiration, increased circulation to the face, and a noticeable "pounding" in the chest.”

While that could certainly describe the teenage heartthrob experience, I’m wondering if it should actually be something we feel as we experience the brightness of God’s presence.

 May the Lord’s splendor shine on us so that our hearts will throb in the brightness of His presence!  

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