Psalm 119:11 states, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Some believe this psalm was written by David. It certainly reflects his life. The question I am looking at today is; can we get the Word into our heart? And more specifically, have we done that?
In Sunday School (a term many have quit using) I watch one of our older ladies faithfully bring her old worn-out King James Bible to class. The pages are ruffled. The binding is starting to give way. The interesting thing is how quickly she can find a Scripture verse. Not only can she find the verse quickly; she can quote many verses quickly, as they apply to the discussion at hand. The Bible is not only in her hand; it is in her heart. It is hidden there and cannot help coming to the surface as she talks.
The psalmist clearly states that he has hidden God’s word in his heart. How did he do that? Did he memorize it? Did he read it over and over so many times that he couldn’t forget it? Did he meditate on it? Did he put it to the test in the way he lived? Was this a life-long practice? How much time did he spend doing this? How much time did he spend writing the 119th psalm? Is this something we all need to do? Is this a sideline that we spend a few minutes a day doing? Why does he consider this to be so important?
He hides the Word in his heart so that he might not sin against God. There are some who believe we are bound to sin anyway; we just can’t help it. The psalmist has hope that he will not sin because the Word is hidden in his heart. How does the Word in the heart keep us from sinning? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It is not the Word hidden in the mind, but in the heart—that is the key. When we hide it in our heart, we own it, we love it. It becomes a part of us.
The Word in our heart has a cleansing effect. Psalm 119:9 says, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Sin can come in, and will. But it can be cleansed. Our part is to take heed, to see the need for cleansing. We have a part in the cleansing.Â
The next verse says, “With my whole heart have I sought thee:” We must be all in. There is not room in the heart for sin and the Word to dwell together. When we are all in, the Word is able to discern even the thoughts and intents of the heart and carefully cut out the evil as a master surgeon. Everyone will not choose to be all in. In Luke chapter 8, beginning with verse 11, Jesus explained the parable of the sower. He said the seed that was sown, in different kinds of hearts, is the Word of God.
The seed is very powerful, it is full of life and able to produce a great harvest. There are hearts that hear and don’t believe. There are hearts that hear and believe, but are not all in. In time of temptation they fall away. There are hearts that go forth in the right direction, but sell out to the pleasures of this life. Finally, there are hearts – honest and good hearts – that hear the Word and keep it. Yes, they keep the Word; they hide it in their hearts.Â
If we choose to hide the Word in our heart, nothing else can hide there! What is hiding in your heart?
Thank you Larry for this encouragement.
You wrote “How many times did he write out that verse?”. They say if you write something down you tend to remember it better.
My memory is horrible for remembering verses but if someone says a verse and I’ve heard it in a song it’s stuck in my head. David put so much of his writing to music I wonder if it was music to his soul.
“If we choose to hide the Word in our heart, nothing else can hide there! ” … Amen! May it be so!
Sin and the Holy Spirit cannot and do not mix. So, as you have alluded to, “I choose” to hide the Word in my heart, and to leave no room for the enemy of my soul. Still, as the Word tells us in 1 John 2, ” My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Praise His Name!