The Immeasurable Value of God's Word
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It’s all about the Word of God. Here are some thoughts around verses 9–16.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
We live in a time when we are saturated with media and a culture of sensuality. Ads, movies, music, news—all powerfully stimulate the activity of our brain neurons. How can a young man keep his way pure in the midst of such a world? How can an old man keep his way pure? No wonder it often feels like the battle for purity is being lost. This verse gives an answer with piercing clarity and decisiveness: you guard your purity according to the Word of God. You protect purity by surrounding it with a fortress built according to the Word of God. What does that mean? Keep reading…
10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
Purity can only be achieved when you replace the almost unquenchable thirst of your selfish desires and passions with something infinitely more satisfying: God himself. But he is not found plainly. You must seek him with your whole heart; you must learn about him and get to know him before you are able to treasure him and be satisfied by him. However, by default, we do not seek him, and the only way to focus our attention on him is through his Word. Oh Lord, let me not wander from your commandments! Let me seek you with my whole heart, let me find you in your Word, and let me not go left or right, but center me by your Word.
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
My tendency is to sin against you, to dishonor you by replacing you with worthless idols. My ways are dark, impure, and defiled. I need your Word to guide me. Let me be diligent to store your Word in my heart—to memorize it, to meditate on it, to treasure it, and to keep it in my heart. Let me pull it out like a sword when I am tempted, so I can fight in the war of holiness and not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
You are worthy to be praised, worshipped, and adored. Teach me your statutes, O Lord. Be my teacher, my instructor, my discipler, and train me with your book. Open the gates and flood my thoughts with the wisdom of your Word.
13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
Let me not only memorize your Word, but also declare it with my lips. Open my mouth and fill it with the content of your Word. Let me repeat, declare, and proclaim what you have uttered with your own mouth and preserved forever in the glorious pages of your book.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
Your Word, your testimonies, are more precious than all the money and material possessions I can get. They are more valuable than silver and gold, more precious than salary, bonuses, stocks, bonds, and securities. Their worth is not even comparable to these things. Open my understanding to this truth so I can delight in the way of your testimonies.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
Help me seek to ponder, meditate, repeat, proclaim, and store your precepts in my heart and mind. Help me fix my eyes on your ways and your truth, and not on my worthless pursuits.
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Let me remember and not forget your Word. When I am tempted, bring to mind your statutes, and let me cling to them with all my heart and strength. Let me delight in and treasure your Word. It is so precious and invaluable to my soul.