“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 ESV
This is one of my (and my husband’s) favorite and most quoted verses of scripture. We see this verse as a good summation of how we ought to approach the word of God.
The first part I want to focus on (some versions shift the wording but the meaning remains the same) is “I have stored up…” and the Hebrew word here means hidden, stored, treasured, etc… This same meaning is used 30 times in the Old Testament and six times in the Greek New Testament including but not limited to Matthew 9:17/Luke 5:38 (preserved), Mark 6:20 (kept safe), Luke 2:19, 51 (keep safe/close), and Acts 15:29 (keep, as in self-controlled). We are called to cherish God’s word in our hearts. When I cherish someone – my kids for instance – I want the absolute best for them. I will stop at nothing to protect them and care for them. Likewise, we need to treat God’s word with the same fervor and reverence. If we truly treasure His word and have stored it in our hearts, we will not be able to keep it to ourselves. We will defend it and share it with others.
The next part is “… your word…” and the Hebrew meaning here is Your word, word of God, command, etc… We see this phrase used 34 times in the Old Testament in passages like Psalm 119:50 (promise), Psalm 119:158 (commands), Isaiah 28:23 (speech). In the Greek New Testament this phrase appears 317 times and in many cases is describing the attributes and outcomes of the word of God: James 1:21 (implanted word), 1 Peter 1:22-23 (living and abiding word), Matthew 7:24 (wisdom), John 8:31-32 (discipleship), Titus 1:9 (trustworthy, sound), Hebrews 4:12 (living and active). As for our conduct regarding the word of God, 1 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Using the law of reason, the fact that Paul has to tell the church to “rightly handle” the word means that it is possible to handle God’s word incorrectly.
The third part I want to highlight is “…in my heart…” because so many people today use the heart to justify so much sin. How often have we been told or have heard it said, “Just follow your heart”? This word is used 548 times in the Old Testament Hebrew and 150 times in the Greek New Testament. The understanding of “heart” during these times was more often that of a “gut instinct” idea and we see this in Luke 21:14 when the translation used is “mind.” The meaning is inner man, will, understanding, etc… This word is used in negative ways when man has relied on the earthly desires of their hearts/will: Psalm 14:1 (foolish heart), throughout Proverbs 6 (wicked heart), Mark 7:21 (out of the heart of man come evil thoughts). Despite the negativity surrounding following man’s heart, there are more passages of scripture that guide us on how to guard our hearts and align them with God’s will: Psalm 26:2 (test my heart), Psalm 37:31 (the law of his God is in his heart), Proverbs 3:1 (let your heart keep my commandments), Matthew 5:8 (pure in heart), Matthew 6:21/Luke 12:34 (treasure). Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When we are truly delighting in the Lord, our heart’s desires are not going to be against Him. Likewise, in Matthew 12:34, Jesus says, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If Christ and God’s word are the constant meditation of your heart (Psalm 19:14) then only good will come out of you. Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” The desire, the meditation, the trust of our hearts must be on God’s word… otherwise our hearts will lead us farther and farther from Him.
The last part of this passage is “… that I might not sin against you.” The “you” here is referring to God and His will. The New Testament is full of passages that reference and elaborate on what is the will of God and how it changes us: Romans 12:1-2 (transformative), 2 Peter 3:9 (repentance), Ephesians 5:17 (do not be foolish), 1 John 2:16-17 (eternity), John 6:38-40 (God’s will – eternal life), 1 Peter 4:19 (suffering), James 4:15 (if the Lord wills), Matthew 7:21-23 (doing the will of God). 1 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us what is the will of God, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Something that I wish all people would understand is that there are no negative traits to God’s will. There are negative outcomes in the worldly sense (suffering for the sake of Christ, if some are saved then some are not, and so on), but there are no negative traits. When we look at the two primary lists of what following God’s will gives us, we see attributes against which no one can argue.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
God’s word is beautiful and leads us to a greater understanding of Him, His love, and His plan for us. By storing up His word in our hearts, we rid ourselves of the negativity of this world and are instead filled with His beauty. When our hearts are full and overflowing with God’s word it is so much easier to resist the devil and his schemes.
“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11