Psa.119:9: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Most of us use water filters or purifiers in our homes because we all like to drink clean, pure water. We assume that the water we get into our homes is not clean or pure. In the same way the Psalmist assumes that the way of a young man is not clean or pure. Rom.3:23 says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of Elohim”.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the whole Bible containing 176 verses. This Psalm is full of wonder at Elohim’s Word. Charles Spurgeon spent almost 350 pages speaking about this one Psalm in his book “The Treasury of David.” The Psalm has 22 sections, each of 8 verses, and each begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Another interesting fact is that he Psalmist uses 8 synonyms for Scripture. They are word, law, precepts, testimonies, statutes, commandments, ordinances and promise.
Psa.119:9: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. King David wondered over these words almost 3000 years back. Evil and sin are not new things in the world. But the world’s attitude towards sin has undergone a lot of change.
Cleansing means that the way is polluted polluted because of original sin as well as the sins that we pick up on the way. These are the ‘youthful lusts that Paul mentions in 2Tim.2.22.
So how should we cleanse our way? By taking heed to the word of Elohim. Taking heed means to pay attention to something. By making God’s word as their measure, by comparing our lives with God’s standard, God has given us rules of conduct, behavior. These are the commandments and laws, by which if we live, we will not perish. Young men ruin their lives by living according to their own rules, by choosing false rules.
Seeking Elohim: V.10 says with my whole heart have I sought you. David, a man beloved of God, lived half his live trying to escape from Saul. He spent his life in the mountains, meditating on the word of God. David sought God by seeking him in the temple. In Psalms 27.4 he says ‘one thing I have desired, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.’ How will we find him? through the finished work of the Lord on the cross. We find him when we desire him, want him more than any other want, when we desire him with all our heart. The heart is the seat of all emotions—love, desire, faith, trust…that’s why Messiah says in Matt.22.37,’thou shalt love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,’
How do you keep your way pure? By hiding his word in our heart. We should read his word, meditate on it and memorize it. When we are troubles, sorrow, we will remember his word, his promises, and find comfort. ‘Thy word have I hid in my heart’, when we speak of Elohim and his word, we praise Elohim. When we talk of his law, our heart rejoices. When we consider or meditate on Elohim’s ways, we think about the scriptures, we live according to his word, we seek him with all our heart and we meditate on his word. When God's Word is hidden in your heart you won't sin against Him. The Bible keeps you from sin; sin keeps you from the Bible. When God's Word is hidden in your heart praises come out of it. When God's Word is hidden in your heart you speak of God and His Word.
King David asked in v9’. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.’ King Solomon, David’s son, replies in Eccl12.13, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. The time to start meditating on Elohim’s word is right from the beginning of your life. God wants you to act morally, in holiness, with love, and truth. Meditate means to think over and over about scripture. It means to try and discover new depths to its meaning, new applications of its truth. As one grows older, from childhood to youth, the worldly temptations increase. Because of pressure for one’s company of friends, young people easily succumb to temptations. Meditating on the word of Elohim should begin while the body is still strong and active. For today’s youth, the temptations of this world are even more dangerous, subtle, and powerful. The world and flesh surround us and it will only get worse as one grows older. Solomon wrote this book of Ecclesiastes when he was quite old. He started life well, Elohim was pleased with him and gave him wisdom and riches far beyond anyone of those days. But he ended his life as an idolater. St. Paul questions in Gal.5:7, you did run well, who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
There must be constant watchfulness in youth, if we consider how the world is today. Man’s nature is such that there are some things which are hard to control. We should always be on our guard against the tricks of the devil. That guard is the word of Elohim. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psa.119:105) We want a strong anchor in our lives which will stop us from drifting away from Elohim, and that anchor is Yahshua Messiah.
