Psalm 119:11 Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I. WHAT the psalmist hid. "Thy Word" — the Word of God, the message He has sent to us for our instruction and guidance, for our encouragement and consolation and delight. It is a Word which has reached us through the ministry of men who were themselves enlightened and inspired by God, that they might teach us all that we most need to know. Do not, on any account, neglect the Bible. It contains all that is essential, and the man who knows it has the essence of all wisdom. It is, indeed, light to guide, a beacon to warn, a mine of gold, a well of ever-living water, and the bread of eternal life. For all our deepest needs there is, as Sir Walter Scott said on his death-bed, but One book, and that book is the Word of God. II. WHERE he hid its — "in my heart" — in the very lowest depths, the most secure and secret places of his nature. No external possession or hiding of the Bible is of the slightest use here. It is not having, but using that tells. The Bible is ours only so far as we know and understand and love it. Pray that the Holy Spirit may open your heart that you may attend to the things written and spoken! III. WHY he hid it — "that I might not sin against Thee." That was, indeed, a good purpose. To sin is to do wrong, to go astray, to miss the true mark of our life — the mark at which we ought to aim. It weakens and degrades us, mars our nature, and destroys our happiness both for this world arid the next. We are all in danger of falling into it. If left to ourselves, to our own ideas and inclinations and desires, we shall fall into it. We need to be ever on our guard, and to pray, "Hold Thou me up." If we remember and rightly love the Bible we shall not sin against God. It will make us wise unto salvation. (James Stuart.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.WEB: I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. |
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