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Thy Word have I hid in my heart…  (Pg.#1)

Q1. This is from Psalm 119:11(KJV)… Can you remember the rest of this verse?

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Let’s look at the meaning of the old King James English in various translations:

O – (MKJV)  I have hidden Your Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against You.

O – (ERV)  I study your teachings very carefully so that I will not sin against you.

O – (ESV)  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

O – (GNB)  I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you.

O – (Spanish NBLA)  En mi corazón he atesorado Tu palabra, Para no pecar contra Ti.

Q3. Mark which of these versions speaks to you with the best understanding?  (Discuss)

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Q4. Underline the portion of this verse that remains basically the same in all translations?

Q5. The portion you underlined announces the purpose of “hiding God’s Word in our heart”…

What is that purpose?  _____________________________________________________________

Q6. Why don’t we want to be guilty of sinning against God?

Q7. If we ignore our “sinning before God”, can we really expect Him to answer our prayers?  

O – Yes, because He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

O – No, because if God cares about us, He must correct us, or else sin will destroy us.

We’ll now take time to share about how God’s Word (hidden in our hearts) directs us…

(Personal testimony time…)

Now let’s read of this verse in it’s context… Psalm 119:1-12 (NIV)

(1) Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. (2) Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart (3) they do no wrong but follow his ways. (4) You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. (5) Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (6) Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. (7) I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. (8) I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. (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.

 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart…  (Pg.#2)

Certain parts of Psalm 119 grab my attention, and ask pertinent questions of us all…

(1) Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. (2) Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart (3) they do no wrong but follow his ways. (4) You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

Vs.1-4 set a lofty and properly desirable goal… (Something to truly TRY for.)

(5) Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (6) Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.

Vs.5-6 bring out the humanity in this desire and ask us to think about how we are put to shame when we fail to put God’s teachings into action.

— A question that comes along with this comment is:
How do the teachings of Jesus apply to Old Testament writings?

(7) I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. (8) I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. (9) How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

Vs.7-9 speak of the process of learning, they even incorporate the idea that as students, we sometimes fail to practice what has been taught. (SEE Vs.8)

(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.

Vs.10-12 speaks to me of two major points highlighted in Vs.11:

1/ I need to treasure God’s Word. I hide it in my heart not to keep it from the world, but because it is the most valuable thing to my heart and mind. (And it is a great treasure meant to be shared with others.)

2/ God’s Word is an ongoing teaching program that we never graduate from in this life.

I will close with a final question for you to ponder:

How does Psalm 119:12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. – Align with – Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

May God bless you! (…KRK)