In his love for and desire to express the beauty and fullness of God’s word, the writer of Psalm 119 took the 22 consonants of the Hebrew alphabet and wrote a psalm of 176 verses, with stanzas of 8 verses each, beginning with each letter. Although our alphabet is different, if we read the psalm aloud from beginning to end, we will find ourselves caught up in the same love for and beauty of God’s word that moved the psalmist.
For the next 3 days, we will focus on Psalm 119, beginning with:
Psalm 119:9-16 [the letter Beth]
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
One thing that resounds in my heart is this question of verse 9, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” In other words, “How, God, can I continue on this amazing path you have just opened my eyes and heart to?” Or, “How can our younger ones in the faith make it all the way on this journey, walk into all that we see and hope for them?” Or, “How can our children make it in this world that seems crazier by the year?”
When you really think about it, it seems like a very hard question to answer, maybe even one without an answer or only wishful thinking in response. But, there is an answer! “By living according to your word.” Verses 10-16 then describe in part what that looks like.
Let’s pray today for those who are “young” among us, whether young in faith or in years (and it may be yourself). Let’s ask God for the ways described in verses 10-16 to abound in their (our) lives. As we do so, let’s remember that Jesus is the Word and the fulfillment of God’s promises and laws.
When you have 5-10 minutes to yourself today, read Psalm 119:1-56 aloud, agreeing with the goodness of God’s word.
- BR
