“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:9 NKJV)
“How can a young man stay pure? Only by living in the Word of God and walking in its truth.” (Psalm 119:9 TPT)
“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” (Psalm 119:9 NLT)
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].” (Psalm 119:9 AMP)
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word.” (Psalm 119:9 HCSB)
“With what does a boy purify his way to keep your commandments?” (Psalm 119:9 ABIPE)
I was raised on a farm with 5 siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters). Just down the road was my grandpa’s farm. In between these two farms was my Uncle’s property, and another farm. We all had various crops that were grown, and various animals that were raised. In my world there were corn fields in which to play hide and seek once the corn grew taller than we were. There were barns full of hay just begging us to build the world’s greatest forts. We had a pine tree lot in which we were able to play tag, which included climbing and jumping from tree to tree. There was a wooded area ripe for exploring adventures. And we were blessed with lake front property that provided summertime swimming, boating, fishing, and ice skating during the winter months. There were pigs, cows, sheep, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, and from time to time various rodents (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) There was more dirt to spread around than anyone could ever imagine. I had the privilege to romp through all of this. I learned to maneuver through the manure. Needless to say, I was anything but clean during most of my waking hours.
I can recall the horror of Saturday night bath time. Being an “old school” farming family we were not raised like those “city kids” who showered every day. Why in the world waste that much water? We would rinse off with the hose, or take a quick dip in the lake (weather permitting), but who needs more that one bath per week? Now to the horror.
On bath nights, the bath tub was only filled once. With 6 kids, and acres upon acres of dirt and dung, you can guess what happened to that nice clean bath water as each kid bathed one after the other? My earnest prayer on Saturday nights was that I could be first to step into that tub of water. You can just imagine the change in the purity, or lack thereof, of that water with each bathed body. For those reading this with weak stomachs you may want to skip over what I am about to say. From time to time it would be more than dirt that was released into that water. I will just say that what entered into that tub was definitely not lemonade and chocolate bars. I think you get my point.
So, how in the world was I to get clean? I needed a plan. I needed to know when the ideal time was to enter and exit that tub. I needed to know who was least likely to pollute the waters. Sometimes I needed a strategy. I needed to know how to get in and get out in the quickest possible way.
As the writer of Psalm 119 was writing the verses that I am considering he was giving me a plan and strategy to get clean spiritually, and stay that way. I can be clean by “living in the Word of God (my plan) and walking in its truth (my strategy).”
Knowing that I live in a “dirty” world, and carry some of that “dirt” in my “flesh,” it is essential that I have a plan and strategy to stay “clean.” That is one of the main purposes of the Bible. I can romp and play in my Daddy’s wonderful world without falling into the mud as long as I learn to live according to His Word.
Let’s “take heed” to His Word as we prayerfully consider…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 283: Clean Living (Psalm 119:9-16) – Part 2 – Verse 9