How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
The opening words of this passage from Psalm 119 apply to all of us, men and women, young and old, but it is a question few are asking let alone desiring to carry out. This portion from the longest of the Psalms, directs those seeking the meaning and purpose of life, should look to the Word of God. This certainly goes against the way of the world which does not like to obey God. The world instead seeks satisfaction, fulfillment and rewards in things that are temporal and usually sinful or at best, a waste of time. Most people nowadays seek meaning in the ways and values of our self-centered and hedonistic culture.
The Psalmist here, however, mediated on the word of God which he acknowledged was the source of strength and wisdom for all. It provided perseverance and hope in the midst of struggles. The word of God is the fountain of life which, if we respect and obey it, helps us to grow in holiness.
This is because God’s wisdom is complete. His words to us are perfect. We cannot add to or subtract from them without disrupting and denying His perfection.
Therefore, the Psalmist calls on the reader to obey God as the means to achieving satisfaction in life. He advises to pursue purity because this is what the Word of God commands. Therefore if a person desires to live a life that is good, holy, healthy and pleasing to God, he or she must seek His wisdom in His word.