PURITY DOES NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE!

A PURE LIFE NEEDS TO BE DESIRED!

Psalm 119:9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure?  

By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O LORD;

teach me your statutes!

With my lips I declare

all the rules of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

The main theme of these verses is the role of the Word of God in keeping man from sin, and the role of man in allowing God’s Word to protect him from going down the wrong path.

There is a way that pleases God and it is the way of purity. We know what the standard is by studying God’s Word. Feelings or other people cannot be trusted; there is one standard and it is clearly written for our guidance.

A half-hearted commitment will not lead us down the right path, for complete devotion and careful study are the bases of a pure life. The word seek means to carefully search. In other words, the psalmist speaks of a complete devotion to carefully seek out God’s instruction. The writer knows that for this kind of devotion, he needs God’s continuous help.

This careful study will inform and fill the heart. Preparation for the moment of temptation needs to start before it occurs. In the middle of our temptations, the implanted Word will strengthen our resolve to obey God rather than our own inclination to give in to sin.

The study of the Word, the preparation for godly living, stems from an intimate relationship with the Lord. The psalmist desires to learn the statutes because he knows that God’s ways are best. He recognizes the blessing of knowing the LORD; he knows that there can be no progress in learning what he needs to know, apart from careful study of the Word.

Not only does he desire and recognize the importance of learning, but he realizes that these truths need to be part of his conversations. He needs to be vocal about his resolute desire to apply Biblical teachings and standards to his life.

As he devotes himself to pure living, he is resolute in making it the priority over anything thing else. Riches or status or earthly recognition cannot sway him from his decision to follow God’s standards.

His resolve is so great that his thoughts and attention are dedicated to purity. This desire for purity is continually part of his thought life; he does not allow his eyes to wander in any other direction.

His pleasure comes from knowing and following the biblical precepts. The goal of all his efforts is to not forget the teachings of God’s Word.

Careful study of the Word will keep the young man from sin, but sin will keep the young man from the Word.

1 Peter 2:1-3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Word will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the Word!

As we meditate upon this psalm, it has become abundantly clear that a pure life is the result of earnest, conscientious preparation that results from a sincere submission to God and His Word.