1970’s Steely Dan had very much to say about addiction. In fact, it could be argued that their song “Do it again” gives a clear picture of corrupted human nature. The human heart is always after something, informing the mind to justify the object of its selfish desire. Jesus made a profound statement about the human heart. (see Mark 7:20-23)

St. Paul writes in Rom. 7:15-19:

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Steely writes, in “Do it Again”:

Now you swear and kick and beg us
That you’re not a gamblin man
Then you find you’re back in vegas

Jesus is well aware of your human nature, and is not counting on your old heart to change (though we should change), but has sacrificed his perfect heart for your old bad heart. So that the Father looks down on you and declares you innocent. This is what it means to be a justified sinner. But there is one more part to this….Christ gives you the Syro-Phoenecian’s heart (cont. Mark 7:24-30). Not a heart that looks to the law for justification, but looks to Christ (Rom. 3:28). A heart that is weak and cries to Christ in the darkest moments of despair. This is the “New Heart” (Ezek. 36:26) , this is “faith”. It is not a heart of power and innocence, but a heart that confesses Christ as the forgiver of my sin, and as my Savior. So as both hearts operate in us, we can move freely into the future knowing that Christ is in charge of our destiny and will save us, despite the fact we “go back jack, do it again”. That is my thought for the day. P.S. Check out the awesome guitar solo in the clip below.

COMMENTS

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4 responses to “Steely Dan and the Heart”

1. DZ says:

   09/02/2009 at 1:39 pm

   Such an amazing song! And a very powerful interpretation. Thank you Matt.

   Reply
2. Todd says:

   09/02/2009 at 8:44 pm

   Steely Dan preaching the bound will..Great thoughts Matt!

   Reply
3. jedhed says:

   09/03/2009 at 9:32 pm

   That's Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on guitar for you young ones out in the audience.

   I was a big fan of the Dan back in the day and for the better part of 8 years they could do no wrong as far as I was concerned. They had an eye for characters that inhabited a world that was one part glamorous and two parts seedy. Everyone had a fault that made them worthy of a great song.

   However, once I started to meet some of the folks that they sang about I started to lose my appetitite for their records. The junkies, sex addicts, two-bit gamblers and groupies are all real and very sad. Now I hear Do It Again and I think of the guy in my office who spends his lunch hour scratching lottery tickets.

   Steely Dan identified the problem, but they offer no hope – just a cynical worldview and a good riff. Thanks be to God who offers a way out. Let's make sure our hearts tuned in to what Gods wants us to do – namely to speak the gospel into their lives.

   Reply
4. melanie magee says:

   09/06/2009 at 10:35 am

   jedhed said it.
   God has the way out.

   love SD. grew up on them [in HS]
   "skate a little slower now"
   not many bands that write/sing as well these days.

   Reply