A Study of Psalm 119: Part 2 - Finding Purity through God-Dependant Meditation v.9-16

Doctrine: God-dependant meditation on the Word of God is necessary to bring about pure hearts in the Saints.

9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

Commentary:

"How can a young man keep his way pure?" This is the big question and it reveals the battle that rages in all men, including David. Thankfully we get the answer in the very next statement. "By guarding it [his way] according to your [God's] word." But what does this mean? It seems to say that we guard our hearts. We control what enters/influences our hearts. In this way, we are responsible to filter what enters by the grid of the Word. God's Word is what should be influencing the core of our being.

When we guard our hearts according to God's word, we will be able to say with David, "with my whole heart I seek you" v.10. This is the fruit that comes when we focus on His word. Yet, David does not become arrogant and prideful because of his correct behavior. Instead he remains humble and prays "let me not wander from your commandments." The natural man will see the success that God has produced and attempt to claim it as its own. This arrogance is the death of dependence and the sure road to disaster! Dependence will characterize those who truly seek God with their whole hearts and it is essential to purifying ourselves through meditation on His Word.

David sums up why he dependently meditates on God's word. He states "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." David spends time memorizing and thinking on the word of God - Why? - so that he does not sin against God! So that he can "keep his way pure!" We must do this! This is the path to holiness and righteousness! This is our responsibility! Yet, here is the great paradox. David declares that he has filled his heart with the word of God, but then in v.12, after blessing God's name, David cries out "teach me your statutes!" David forever recognizes that it is God who gives him knowledge, wisdom and the ability to meditate and obey His word. Man is not capable of keeping the law of God, but with God all things are possible! We are forever dependant upon God for all things, including purity which comes through His word.

In the closing verses of this section, David reveals what will happen when God answers his cry of dependence. David will declare with his lips all of God's rules, he will delight in God's testimonies in the same way that a person delights in great riches, he will meditate on God's precepts, he will fix his eyes on God's ways, he will delight in God's statues, and finally, he will not forget His word! This is what will happen in the life of a saint that is dependent on God: His heart will become pure and he will delight in the things of God!

Application questions:

#1 - How are you displaying your dependence on God to understand His word and obey it? Follow David's example and pray "Let me not wander from your commandments" and "Teach me your statutes."

#2 - Are you so dependent on God that all your life issues qualify to be brought before Him?Oh, how we must pray! We can enter boldly into the throne room of God, into the presence of the Creator! Amen!

#3 - When are you meditating on God's word? Is it enough to counter all the negative influences towards sin?

#4 - Are you lacking desire to/joy in studying the Word or obeying it? Pray for God to change your heart!

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