Psalm 119:1-24
Sunday, 11 July 2021
“How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.”
-Psalm 119:9
We are living in the days of covid and the wide use of “masks!” –everyone knows that they keep the unwanted germs out of our nostrils and thus acts as a filter for the air we breathe! The importance of God’s Word stored in our heart and lived out in our lives is like a filter—it keeps us from being polluted by the dirty ways of the world! In a world that is constantly warring against our souls to fit us into its “mould,” only the Word of God can keep us from straying away from God’s way! In our walk on the earth, the guidelines given in God’s Word keep from becoming “undefiled in the way.” (V.1).
Two verses from our text to focus on—one that helps you when you have veered off path- it says take heed! And the other is on a positive note—Treasure it!
V 9: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”
V11: “I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.”
To live according to God’s Word, here are a few principles from our reading:
Hide/Treasure God’s Precepts in your heart: Vs 11 tells us to store God’s Word in our hearts that we keep far away from sin. The more you store, the better you can draw out of it in need!—when in temptation, in doubt, in fear, when you feel like giving up- God’s Word is for all occasions! It convicts and corrects!
Learn & Meditate its Principles: Vs.7, 15,23 point to what the Psalmist did with God’s Word- learn and meditate! Chewing on what you read on helps you to integrate it into your day to day life! Psalm 1:2 talks of the benefit for the one who delights in and meditates God’s Word: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”
Keep its Practice: Vs. 2&4 speak of Keeping God’s Word. Principle without its practice does not benefit! It’s just not enough to read, listen, learn or meditate God’s Word, its important that we show diligence to keep doing it. Heed it! In Matt.7:24, Jesus equates a man who does His Word: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:”- nothing affected him.
Delight in its Prescriptions: The prescriptions in God’s Word are for our well- being. The Psalmist delighted in them (Vs.16,24). David said of God’s laws: “Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Ps.19:10). It would do us good if we delight in God’s counsel in His Word.
The life of Christ Jesus perfectly illustrates one who showed by example how he resisted the temptations of the devil by standing on God’s Word and declaring “It is written…” (Matthew 4:1-11), each time so that He could win over the snares put across to Him. It proves to us Psalm 119:11: “I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” Will you decide to read, meditate, store up, practise God’s Word? Be sure to reap its rich benefits all your life!
Thought for the Day:
"The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible."
(Dwight L. Moody)
Listen: ‘Living Word’