In Psalm 119, also living in a fallen, sinful world, seeks the Lord for direction on living out a pure life.
"How can a young man keep his way pure?" he asks in verse 9. The response? "By living according to Your word." Well, how do we do THAT? The next 7 verses give us the very practical tools to answer this.
"I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.
I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin again You.
Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I rejoice in following Your statues as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word."
First, the psalmist saturates his HEART with the Lord by seeking Him with his whole heart, memorizing His word and delighting in the Lord above all else! (v. 10-11, 16)
The psalmist saturates his MOUTH with the Lord by praising Him and recounting His truth with his lips. (v.12-13)
Finally, the psalmist saturates his THOUGHTS with the Lord by meditating on His truths and thinking on Philippians 4:8 type of truths. (v. 15)
With our friend, the psalmist, and the Lord as our Guide, let us walk in the example given and begin to saturate ourselves fully in Christ, thus living out what is already true of those who are believers in christ Jesus..."Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3
5 comments:
I am spending the next several weeks meditating on Psalm 119...take about 25 verses each week to ponder. I have been doing this for a couple of years now and have worked my way up to 119. Once I finish all the Psalms I'll start back over with Psalm 1. It really is a great way to focus your thinking each day on the Lord.
Great post.
Leah
This is so true. What is in our hearts is shown in the rest of our lives.
Thanks for this word from Psalm 119 on "purity as a way of life". You might like this quote from John Stott:
"Easily and naturally we slip into a preoccupation with our own petty little affairs. But we need to see time in the light of eternity, and our present privileges and obligations in the light of our past election and future perfection. Then, if we shared the apostle's perspective, we would also share his praise. For doctrine leads to doxology as well as duty. Life would become worship and we would bless God constantly for having blessed us so richly in Christ."
Have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow!
Jennifer
Mariel!
Where have you been??? You disappeared without a trace. I was distraught. I'm glad you are back. :)
Have thought of you often!
Leah, I love going through the psalms like that too...I have just been 'stuck' in Psalm 119 this summer and it has been such an incredible journey witht he Lord. What a precious psalm!!
Jenmom, great quote...thanks for sharing, my friend!!
Laura, you are so sweet...just needed a bit of time to refocus, but now with my hubby's and the Lord full blessing I am looking forward to all the Lord will teach me here!
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