This week we continue looking at what David writes in Psalm 119. It starts with the most critical question we all need to ask. How can a young man keep his way clean? We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory – Rom 3:23. God is a holy God, and if we want to represent Him in any way, we must start with sanctification and purity. We know that all men have failed to be holy or pure and that our best efforts are just filthy rags compared to His righteousness. Thank God that He never left it up to us but that He made the way. David is going to give us the answer.
Psa. 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.
Psa. 119:10 With my whole heart, I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Many people have struggled to live a surrendered life or a life that speaks of someone that wholeheartedly follows the Lord. David says of his own decision to commit to following God that he will do it without withholding one bit for his own desires. Surrendered people, not committed people, are the mark of our walk in the Kingdom. Jesus clearly states that if we don’t take up our cross and follow Him, we are not worthy of the Kingdom.
Psa. 119:11 Your Word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Psa. 119:12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
The next secret that David shares with us is that he has hidden God’s Word in his heart. How does that happen? In the Old Covenant, they did not have God’s Word written on their hearts – Deut 6:4-6. That was a promise for the New Covenant – Jer 31:31-34. David lived lightyears ahead of his generation. Later in this Psalm, he says: “I will meditate on your precepts.” The vital thing to see is that hiding God’s Word in your heart helps you to not sin against God. That is the blessing that he asks for even more: Teach me Your statutes.
The Word for “teach” is also the Word for a goad or prod. It was a long stick with a sharp hook that farmers used with their animals. When the sheep would run off, the shepherd would grab him and pull him back. With cattle is it was used to prod or poke them. The point was sharp and would hurt them and get their attention. Much like spurs on a cowboy boot. In essence, Davis is saying: Lord use what you need to teach me. Even if it is painful some days, I know that you have a good heart and good plans for me. David says in Psalm 119:68 You are good and doeth good, teach me your statutes.
Psa. 119:13 With my lips, I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
Psa. 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
Solomon describes the value of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Interesting is what Solomon says about how his father David taught him.
Prov. 4:3-5 When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding. Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Here we see that David speaks the truth about how he shared the Word of God that he meditated on with his children. The wisdom David gained by staying in the Word of God was more valuable than all the riches. Riches will be spent and lost and will perish, but the Word of God remains forever – Matt 24:35, Isaiah 40:8, 1 Pet 1:25.
Psa. 119:15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
Psa. 119:16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your Word.
Lastly, David is telling us the key to getting the most from God’s Word. It is more than reading. It is more than five minutes here and five minutes there. He meditates on God’s Word. The meaning of the word is like a cow that is chewing the gut. The first time the cow ate the grass, it got some of the nutrients. Now the cow regurgitates the grass and chews on it to get every bit of nutrient from the grass before swallowing it. We don’t get what we need from the Word of God by just glancing over it. We must chew on it until we have received the meaning of the words and the Spirit of the Words. Jesus said that the words He speaks are Spirit and is Life – John 6:63. Timothy says that all scripture is God-breathed – 2 Tim 3:16. Stay in the Word long enough for God to breath on you. Get the Spirit of what God is saying. That is what will change your life and burn into your heart.
In close, David is giving us steps to understand the Word of God. Seek God with your whole heart, hide His Word in your heart, value His Word more than gold, and lastly, meditate on His Word day and night.
