What Does Psalm 119:11 Mean?

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The heart is that private place where inner secrets are stored, and personal treasures are carefully hidden from the stare of all but our nearest and dearest. But no companion is so cherished and no individual so dependable, as the precious Saviour of our soul, Jesus Christ, Who loves us with an everlasting love and gave His life so that we might live.

The Psalmist, who wrote this inspired anthem loved the Lord, with a deep and personal love. He valued Scriptures with a passion, as exemplified in this long, and well-loved Psalm, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (v 103) "Your Word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." (v 89) "Oh, how I love Your Word! I meditate on it all day long." (v 97) "The unfolding of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (v 130) "I rejoice in following Your Statutes as one rejoices in great riches." (v 14) "How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (v 103) "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your Word." (v 18)

Oh yes! There is no question, as one follows this man's unfolding train of thought, that he had his priorities right, and the private place of his heart contained the personal treasure that is found in Scripture, as he cries out to the Father, "Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."  This is the grateful cry of a sinner, saved by grace, whose dear desire is to love the Lord and honour Him with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. His was a gentle cry of humility and faith, gratitude and wonder.

The author of this verse was a man who read God's Word, loved God's Word and valued it more than his daily bread. He listened intently to the Word of God being read out loud. He reflected on it with every passing day. He meditated upon it morning by morning and stored it up in his heart at the close of each day, for he had come to the understanding that the Word of God is living and powerful and abides forever and ever.

This was a man who had come to love God's Word and treasure it in his heart. He kept it concealed in the portion of his being where our choice thoughts, cherished wisdom, and valued secrets are stored. It is the repository-box into which he stored the Word of God. The Words from the Lord should be deposited in the secret chamber of our heart for safekeeping and for righteous living.

The most precious book in the whole, wide world is the Bible. It is the inspired Word of God, and its contents are profitable for godly living. Its benefits are manifold and valuable for sound teaching and righteous reproof. It is necessary for correction and training in righteousness, and the heart is the best place to store this heavenly treasure so that we might not sin against the Lord, Who bought us with His own precious blood.

The heart is that extensive personal chamber of our innermost mind. It is the place in which to store the Word of God. It is our heavenly treasure, through time and into eternity, where moth and rust will not spoil and thieves can never break in to steal it. Nothing is of greater importance, nothing has more dynamic power, and nothing compares with the eternal value of hiding God's Word in our hearts, meditating, ruminating and memorising its content.

Man may try to manipulate the mind and control the thought, but nothing can prevent the child of God communing in his heart with his Heavenly Lord, for such communion remains impenetrable to the last breath of our mortal life. Degenerative diseases might give witness to a vacant look or lack of recognition - but NOTHING can separate us from the love of God and NO-ONE has the power to sever our fellowship with our Heavenly Lord.

There is no more beneficial activity than reflecting, pondering and contemplating the Word of God, which is nourishment for the soul, rest for the weary, peace for the troubled, comfort for the afflicted, and instruction for the man of God. To do so will enable us to resist the accusations and taunts of the enemy, deter us from going astray, protect us from the ravages of sin, guide us into all truth and instruct us in righteous living.

Hiding the Word in our hearts is the most powerful antidote against sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and is the greatest influence to live a holy and perfect life. Day by day, let us hide more of God's Word deep within our hearts, for we desire to be holy as our Father in heaven is holy.

My Prayer

I praise You, Lord and Heavenly Father, for Your Word and the valuable lessons it contains. Thank You for the protection it affords, and the treasures that are hidden within. May Your Word become to me my daily sustenance, and my life-support, knowing that it alone can keep me from the evil one and enable me to live a life that is pleasing to You. I pray that day by day, You will teach me and train me through Your Word, so that I do not go astray, and I further ask that You use me to guide others into You paths of peace. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

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