I HAVE HIDDEN YOUR WORD IN MY HEART

Passage: Psalms 119:1-16

Key verse: 119:11

NIV

Psalm 119[a]

א Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,(A)
    who walk(B) according to the law of the Lord.(C)
2 Blessed(D) are those who keep his statutes(E)
    and seek him(F) with all their heart—(G)
3 they do no wrong(H)
    but follow his ways.(I)
4 You have laid down precepts(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(K)
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(L)
6 Then I would not be put to shame(M)
    when I consider all your commands.(N)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.(O)
8 I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.(P)

ב Beth

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(Q)
    By living according to your word.(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart(U)
    that I might not sin(V) against you.
12 Praise be(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me(X) your decrees.(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts(AB)
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 [a] Blessed are those whose (A)way is blameless,
    who (B)walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who (C)keep his (D)testimonies,
    who (E)seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also (F)do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your (G)precepts
    to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may (H)be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
6 (I)Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn (J)your righteous rules.[b]
8 I will keep your statutes;
    (K)do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

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

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
  2. Psalm 119:7 Or your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164
  3. Psalm 119:13 Or all the just decrees
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, I will obey your decrees (1-8). Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is focused on God who speaks and works through his word. The blessed person is the one who keeps God's word as a matter of heart. It is about obeying his decrees as a matter of seeking him and walking with him. Those who do so receive the blessing of growing to know God from the heart. They are considered blameless and upright in the sight of God, and bring praise to his name. Second, staying in the path of purity (9-16). A young person is tempted to sin in many ways. How can a young person remain pure in a polluted world, where people neglect God's word? The Psalmist teaches us the value of the word of the Lord. When we hide his word in our heart and seek him, when we prayerfully meditate on his word, we are brought to praise the Lord. We can discern his presence in our lives and he becomes a source of joy and delight for his people.

Prayer: Lord, come into my heart by your word. Keep me pure before you.

One Word: Hide God's word in your heart