SOUNDING
OUT:
Psalms 119: The Basis of Cleansing
As
mentioned in previous Sound-Outs, Psalms 119 is divided into 22
sections of eight verses each beginning with a different letter
of the Hebrew alphabet. Each presents some basis for the
practical application of the Word of God in the life of the believer.
It demonstrates how the believer can build a relationship with
his loving heavenly Father through the greatness of His Word.
If we remember this as we study Psalm 119 it should make an impact
on our lives.
The
second stanza starts with a question, which it immediately answers.
Then in the next seven verses the Psalmist opens his heart speaking
to God about what he has done in taking heed to His Word.
Psalm
119:9 BETH.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Wherewithal
simply means “that with which to do something.”
It refers to the necessary means for fulfilling the purpose or
meeting the need. The Psalmist asks, “What’s
it going to take for a young man to cleanse his way.”
This Hebrew word for cleanse, zakah, is used only eight
times in the Old Testament and all but one is in the piel (active
intensive) conjugation. This cleansing is something you
really have to get after. It takes effort, diligence, intensity.
The
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says zakah is used “only in poetry and always in a moral sense.”
This question is also asked in Job and Proverbs. “The
term appears twice in Job (Job 15:14; 25:4), and both times Job's
miserable comforters are asking how a man can be pure in the sight
of God. A similar question appears in Proverbs 20:9 where
one may wonder if it is even possible. Reading from Job
and Proverbs it becomes obvious that there is some difficulty
attached to this. The rhetorical question in Proverbs 20:9 is
like the one in Proverbs 20:6 and 31:10. It is not that
these people cannot be found. In these three verses the
questions are rhetorical. They are to cause us to think.
They are not designed to breed defeat and discouragement, but
to spur us on to focus our attention on the matter at hand.
However,
the questioned is both asked and answered in Psalms 119:9.
Those who walk in accord with God's word can be cleansed.
At times the wicked appear to be happier and more prosperous than
the one who keeps his heart pure (Psalms 73:13), but in the end
it’s really not so. That this cleansing can be accomplished
is established in Isaiah 1:16 where God demands that His people
do so.
This
is one of only four questions in Psalms 119, and it is the only
one that is immediately answered. This question, asked and
answered, at the beginning of the second stanza, sets a criterion
for the rest of the stanza. Each verse that follows reflects
back on it in some way showing how the Psalmist has engaged himself,
taking heed to God’s Word.
Here
the Psalmist declares his undivided allegiance to God, recognizing
that His Word provides the avenue to reach his desire. Seeking
God with our whole heart has great reward. The Psalmist
could make his request in the second half of the verse because
of his declaration in the first part. Whether or not we
wander from God’s Word is not His responsibility, but ours.
The Psalmist asserts his resolve to pursue God with his whole
heart and emotionally rests in the Lord’s graciousness to
help him in his pursuit. “Whole heart” occurs
six times in this psalm. Taking heed to God’s Word
requires and deserves our whole heart.
Psalms
119:11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
thee.
Spurgeon
says of this verse that we find the best thing, Thy Word;
hidden in the best place, mine heart; for the best of
purposes, that I might not sin against Thee. Our
hearts will be kept by God’s Word because we keep God’s
Word in our hearts. The treasuring of scripture by memorization
allows us to have it ever with us. We may not always have
the book in our hands, but we can always have the Word in our
hearts. Hiding the Word in our hearts is a must if we are
to take heed unto it.
Psalms
119:12:
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
For
the second time in this stanza we find an “O.”
This exclamation shows emotion and passion. The Psalmist
addresses God directly and because of his recognition of God’s
blessedness he asks, “Teach me thy statutes.”
Taking heed to God’s Word is made easier when our attitude
is appropriate. Meekness to God and His Word is seen in
our frequent requests to be taught. “Teach me”
is a frequent refrain in this psalm occurring nine times.
In
verse 13 we find the reason for his request from verse 12.
We want to be taught of God so we can make known the judgments
of His mouth. Receiving, retaining, and releasing God’s
Word are all involved with taking heed to it. We find here
one of the purposes for hiding it in our heart, one of the purposes
for wanting to be taught, so that we can declare it. This
also provides a barometer of how well we are taking heed unto
it. If we neglect to declare it, we have neglected to take
heed unto it for God repeatedly asks of us to do so.
Psalms
119:14:
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
What
we cherish, we return to regularly. Our attitude either
helps or hinders our actions. We cleanse our way (verse
9) as we rejoice in His ways. When the ways of his testimonies
become dear to us, we will not be stubborn or defiant. Rejoicing
is clear evidence that we have given heed to His Word.
Psalms
119:15,16:
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect
unto thy ways.
16 I will delight
myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy
word.
The
Psalm closes with three affirmations. (“I will” occurs
twenty times in the King James Version of Psalms 119.) These
serve the same purpose as an oath. The Psalmist declares
his resolve and solemnly pledges to meditate in God’s precepts,
have respect unto His ways, delight himself in His statutes, and
not forget His Word. In these assertions the Psalmist confirms
or ratifies that he acknowledges what God requires from verse
9. He pledges to take heed to God’s Word, and he sets
off on his adventure to cleanse his way.
