As a reminder, the Psalms were written so that we might get to know God better, love Him more, and live our lives according to His Word. Although the author is not identified, in my mind, it exemplifies the “Song of the Joyful Sojourner” as he navigates his way through the potential pitfalls of life. As we work our way through this Psalm, I pray that you will sense the joy of the psalmist, and that the same joy will fill your own heart. So, let’s continue our excursion by looking at the second grouping of 8 verses, under the heading of the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
(Beth) – The second letter of the Hebrew alphabet begins this 8-verse section
The second section begins with a question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” Of course, the question applies to each of us at whatever age or in whatever situation we find ourselves. Let’s dive into this section and see what answers the psalmist provides for us:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word (vs 9).
In this verse, the psalmist tells us that the path of life that we travel can only be kept “pure” if we keep it according to God’s Word. This is not about creating one’s own moral path as so many seek to do today. It’s no wonder that they fall along the wayside, making a mess of their lives with each step. Interestingly, the word for “way” comes from the Hebrew orach, which suggests a groove, or a rut, such as is made by the wheels of a wagon. And, as you might expect, as thousands of wagons travel the same road, the ruts become deeper and deeper to the point that it’s hard for the wheels to jump out of the ruts. Thus, as the young man continues to make God’s Word his “pathway,” the ruts will grow deeper so that he will not veer off the road and make a mess of his life.
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments (vs 10).
In this verse, we see that the psalmist is passionate about developing a personal relationship with the One who provided the commandments. As he grew in that relationship, he asked the LORD to keep him on the right path and to not wander away from it. In the same way, the LORD wants us to pursue a closer relationship with Him by seeking Him with our whole heart.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You (vs 11).
What the psalmist had done was also what Jesus did when He went into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus did not carry a stack of Torah Scrolls into the wilderness, but relied on His prior memorization of God’s Word, which, if you recall, He quoted to the devil with each temptation during that 40-day period. Thus, it is important for each of us to memorize key passages of God’s Word, so that when temptation, sorrow, or loss comes our way, we will have a “word” directly from God’s Word to encourage us and keep us from falling into temptation.
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes (vs 12).
If we are going to keep our way pure, it is important that we continually acknowledge His goodness and give praises to the LORD, as we ask Him to teach us His laws. It’s one thing to read them, but it’s quite another to learn and apply them, and that’s what the psalmist is asking the Lord to do as He praises His name.
With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth (vs 13).
The psalmist tells us that he speaks the truths found in God’s Word. Certainly, he wasn’t just speaking to himself, but to all who would listen about the blessings of knowing and following God’s Word. Do you sense the joy is his proclamation? It was his testimony to all who would listen to all that God was doing in his life as he lived it according to God’s Word.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches (vs 14).
That same joy continues as the psalmist expresses the value in the LORD’s testimonies found in God’s Word, which he values more than riches! God’s Word was his constant delight and he rejoiced as he followed in the path of righteousness. Oh, that we might do the same. But there is more,
I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways (vs 15).
The psalmist meditated on God’s Word, that is, he focused his thoughts on God’s precepts, contemplating each truth with the intention of making it a vital part of his life, not just an external pattern of behavior. In the process, as he meditated, he examined how each truth might be applied in various situations of life, as we should also do.
I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word (16).
Beaming with joy, the psalmist delighted in God’s laws because they kept him from destroying his life by sin. Remember the mine field of life we previously discussed? Satan places mines along our pathway and if we step on one, our lives are destroyed, or severely damaged in some way. God’s Word tells us where the mines are located so that we can avoid them and walk freely in the minefield of life. And in order for the psalmist to do so, he needed to remember God’s laws, and to never forget them. And what the psalmist did, we must learn to do also.
This concludes the second of the 22 sections of this Psalm. I encourage you to go back and read just the text for yourselves, and as you do, I pray that you will make a mental note of the ways in which you can make your way pure, and at the same time, sense the same joy that was found in the psalmist as he wrote this psalm. Indeed, it is the “Psalm of the Joyful Sojourner.”
I hope to see you next week for the next eight verses in section three.
