PS 119:9, 11 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

First analysis of Psalm 119 might make you think it was created just as a pious intellectual exercise, because each verse begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, for each 8-verse stanza. However, there is an enormous amount of wisdom in it, as well as an almost overwhelming devotion to the Word of God. The writer was very aware of human frailty, perhaps painfully so, and these two verses show both that awareness and the solution. Raging hormones have been an issue for young people probably since we were cast out of Eden. (The writer’s choice of “pure” here is evidence that’s what he’s talking about.) The solution presented, as it is throughout this Psalm, is living according to the Word of God. However, that leaves us with the practical question of how to go about it, and that’s where verse 11 comes in. This verse is justly famous, and is indeed one of the first verses I memorized as a child. So, how do you “hide” God’s Word in your heart? Memorization is certainly one tool, but far more than just learning the words, we need to think over them and consider how to apply them in our daily lives. I preached not long ago on Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which is Moses’ instructions to the Israelites on how to hide the Word in their hearts. That passage could be boiled down to, “Love God enough that what He says to you consumes your thinking and your actions.” Being afraid of the consequences of disobedience isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not enough; our root motive needs to be love for God, responding to His love for us.

I was raised with an intellectual/academic knowledge of the Bible essentially from infancy, but there’s a big difference between that and living it out on a moment-by-moment basis. I can certainly make no claim to sinless perfection! Getting the Word from my head to my heart has been a lifelong journey, and there were stretches of time when I wasn’t even particularly interested in making progress on that journey. That memory should give me understanding and patience toward those in my care in similar circumstances. However, I should not be satisfied with leaving them there, but encourage and challenge them to keep moving on this pilgrimage. I encounter such people every day, so I need to be available for the Lord to use me at any moment. If I try to drag them along myself, it will create a negative reaction. If the Holy Spirit speaks through me, then God’s purposes will be accomplished.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know how I have struggled with this issue over the years. Help me bless others so that they may have less of a struggle, but rather rejoice in the abundance of Your grace and mercy, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!