Psalm 119:9-16 – October 8, 2016

Beth.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.^[1] 

There is such incredible disdain and disrespect for the Word of God. It is viewed as everything from an out of date relic of the past, to a compendium of stories, little more noteworthy than Aesop’s Fables, designed to teach a moral lesson and nothing more; and yet, it is still the number one best-selling book in the world. The writer askes an ageless question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” It is also a relevant question in a time when there is a veritable buffet of worldly pleasures from which to sample, all of which steal a young person’s, and for that matter, any person’s purity. The answer to his question is so simple that it sounds trite. One maintains their purity by the Word of the Lord which he has treasured in his heart.

The problem today is that most people, including those who lay claim to being followers of Christ, do not know what the Bible says. The Bible is life giving. It is not restrictive, robbing of the opportunity to enjoy the fullness life has to offer. It instead sets forth that which clues even the casual reader into beginning to see and understand what pleases, and conversely, what displeases God. But one cannot employ what they have not learned, and one cannot espouse what they have not read.

I love the Word of God. It is the most interesting of all books one could possibly read. It is full of mystery, wisdom and understanding, knowledge about who we are and who God is. It is an adventure novel, and yes, even has some of the spiciest romance, without being pornographic, one can imagine. I challenge you to get your Bibles, pull away from the television, put away your electronic devices and your computers. Take a break from all your social media and read about the Lord. You will be glad you did!

Gracious Lord, thank You for leaving us such a rich record from which we can learn of You. Help us to reorder our priorities so that we can make time to spend with You and Your Word. Open the eyes of our understanding so we will comprehend that special Word You desire to speak to us as we read. Take away our excuses, forgive us of our procrastination, and motivate us afresh to seek Your face through Your Word. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 119:9–16.