Psalm 119 - Beth

Having expressed in the first stanza his passion for walking in God's ways, the psalmist comes to an important question at the beginning of the second stanza. He has observed others who have walked uprightly, and he wants to know how such a walk is possible for him. "How can a young man keep his way pure?"

Although he asks the question (v. 9), it is apparently rhetorical, as he knows and supplies the answer. He will be able to walk uprightly when he follows God's Word. It is the Bible that will keep him from wandering and keep him from sin (vs. 10-11).

Extended thinking about this concept may pose some confusion. After all, our world is filled with multitudes of people who grew up with the Bible but are not walking uprightly. In addition to many who simply no longer care about God, far too many of those who were brought up within Christianity have yielded to heinous sins or have completely turned their backs on God.

The reason for this defection cannot be a lack of exposure to Scripture. These people were in church midweek and for three services on Sundays. They sat in daily Bible classes and in chapel services several times per week. They memorized hundreds of verses. They were part of family devotions and were encouraged to have personal devotions. Some of them taught Sunday school classes and preached sermons. With so much inundation of Scripture, how could these people leave God's paths?

The psalmist uses a number of words and phrases that reveal the key ingredient that must be included.

"With all my heart I have sought You" (v. 10). The Word was so important to him that he devotedly and whole-heartedly sought it from the center of his being.

"Your word I have treasured in my heart" (v. 11). He held the Word as worthy of esteem and valuable to hoard and store up.

"I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies"  (v. 14). The Word was so precious to him that it brought him great joy.

"As much as in all riches" (v. 14). He counted the Word as valuable as the accumulation of all riches.

"Regard Your ways" (v. 15). He looked on God's ways intently and with pleasure because of what they were.

"Delight in Your statutes" (v. 16). He was pleased to gaze upon the wonder of God's Word.

What do these phrases reveal about the psalmist as he thought about God's Word? In summary, he placed immense value on it. Far from bringing drudgery, the Word was a source of delight and rejoicing because of its unmatched worth. When the Bible is viewed with that level of devotion and admiration, there are some things that will happen.

"Teach me Your statutes" (v. 12). Since the Bible is so valuable, the follower of God will want to learn all of it and will want to comprehend the things that he has not yet mastered.

"With my lips I have told" (v. 13). This follower will be so enthused with the valuable truths that he will want to talk about the treasure he has received.

"I will meditate on Your precepts" (v. 15). Because the truths are so precious, he will want to think about them at all times and to ponder them deeply in order to appreciate their full worth.

"I shall not forget Your word" (v. 16). Certainly something of such value must not be forgotten. God's words need to be remembered.

This stanza reveals critical truth about a Christian's interaction with the Bible. The attitude toward the Word is far more important than the specific actions that are done. Listening to teaching and preaching, reading the Bible, memorizing passages - none of these can be done as a matter of routine. They cannot be done simply because they are expected actions. Instead, they must be the natural results of a heart that holds the Word in high estimation and values it above all treasure. A heart with that kind of devotion will enable a Christian to walk faithfully in God's ways.

"I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches." Psalm 119:14 (NASB)