#851 Beth

Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

11 I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O Lord;

teach me your statutes!

13 With my lips I declare

all the rules of your mouth.

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word. Psalm 119: 9-16 ESV

A Psalm pointing to the importance of walking, praying and meditating in God's Word.

Beth or Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It means house or building ie Bethel (House of God), Bethlehem (House of bread), Bethesda (house of grace), and Bethsaida (House of fish) are some of the many examples. It is also used to represent the number 2. 

1 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.  2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.… Psalm 127: 1-2

How can a young man keep his way pure - This is a lofty question, asked at the time of life that seems to carry the greatest temptations. As a child there is hopefully someone to correct you, to help you mind your way, but now you are coming into your own, independent. Do you know God for yourself? As a parent, have you prepared your son or daughter, not just in the means to gather earthly bread, but what of those things that bear eternal weight?

- Our "way" is a subject which concerns us deeply, and it is far better to enquire about it than to speculate upon mysterious themes which rather puzzle than enlighten the mind. Among all the questions which a young man asks, and they are many, let this be the first and chief: "Wherewithal shall I cleanse my way?" This is a question suggested by common sense, and pressed home by daily occurrences; but it is not to be answered by unaided reason, nor, when answered, can the directions be carried out by unsupported human power. It is ours to ask the question, it is God's to give the answer and enable us to carry it out. By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Young man, the Bible must be your chart, and you must exercise great watchfulness that your way may be according to its directions. You must take heed to your daily life as well as study your Bible, and you must study your Bible that you may take heed to your daily life. With the greatest care a man will go astray if his map misleads him; but with the most accurate map he will still lose his road if he does not take heed to it. The narrow way was never hit upon by chance, neither did any heedless man ever lead a holy life. We can sin without thought, we have only to neglect the great salvation and ruin our souls; but to obey the Lord and walk uprightly will need all our heart and soul and mind. Let the careless remember this. C. H. Spurgeon

By guarding it according to Your Word - He answers the how, and I remember when I was about 29 years old, how stunning this was to me, the Bible is God's Word! My own could not compare. He was above my opinions, the traditions of men, and all else would be a futile attempt at knowing Who to worship. His Word was Holy because He is Holy, unchanging, constant, beyond all comprehension. It was necessary to His righteousness that He reveal Himself, or that history end in the garden. Scripture is the standard to which all else must be compared, and the whole counsel of God is the best interpreter of it's parts. 

- Should a man carefully measure out what he believes to be a dose of useful medicine, he will die if it should turn out that he has taken up the wrong vial, and has poured out a deadly poison: the fact that he did it ignorantly will not alter the result. Even so, a young man may surround himself with ten thousand ills, by carefully using an unenlightened judgment, and refusing to receive instruction from the word of God. Wilful ignorance is in itself wilful sin, and the evil which comes of it is without excuse. Let each man, whether young or old, who desires to be holy have a holy watchfulness in his heart, and keep his Holy Bible before his open eye. C. H. Spurgeon

…14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. 15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,… 2 Timothy 3: 14-16

With my whole heart I seek You - This man would apply all that he has learned, a focused mind, studying the Word of God, yet to him it is not enough to leave there, he does not trust so much in himself. For the next line is an appeal to be kept aright. Let me not wander from Your commandments. Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief. If my heart and flesh are already prone toward error, then God please keep on the path. I must examine even the avenues of my thoughts, for they reveal to me a desperately wicked heart, easily confused, proud and slow to repent. 

I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You - Again, the Psalmist answers the how. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. In 2 Timothy, Paul directs his young pupil in this same fashion. Yes, others have their cliches, their "wise" sayings, feelings, experiences, superstitious routines, loud voices, brimming with self confidence, but you have God's word. He has not just read it, but eaten it, it is his meditation and like the sword strapped on to his belt, at the ready.

…15 You understand, O LORD; remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that I endure reproach for Your honor. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts. 17 I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation.… Jeremiah 15: 15-17

- The word was God's own, and therefore precious to God's servant. He did not wear a text on his heart as a charm, but he hid it in his heart as a rule. He laid it up in the place of love and life, and it filled the chamber with sweetness and light. C. H. Spurgeon

Teach me Your statutes - There will come difficult places in your studies. You will come upon that which stands in defiance of your cravings and wants. You will want to make light of some passages, misinterpret some for the sake of your earthly desires, and you will find a whole world against the proper understanding of God's word. God has not left you alone, He will teach you. He has provided first of His Spirit, then men gifted with teaching, exhorting, preaching, and confronting. He has also, in His word, shown what a false teacher looks like. Read, study, pray. 

…12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.… John 16: 12-14

With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth - I am not ashamed to say what God has said. There is nothing greater. I want to let others know, not only where I stand, but also that they may see and my conscious be clear of their lives.

…26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.… Acts 20: 26-28

In the way of Your testimonies I delight - He loves the Word of God, the stories of the acts of God, the power of His Word worked out in his life. This is God's word after all, what else could compare? When heaven and earth pass away, all that will remain is the eternal words of the eternal God. This is like finding a treasure chest with a bottom that cannot be seen. I have met few godly men and women, but no matter how old they were, they never regretted taking the time to study, only that they had not had time enough, to know it more intimately.

I will not forget Your word.