Good week to all! Welcome to the “front porch”!
Several thousand years ago, the psalmist poses a question that is as relevant as the morning news: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” he asks.
Then, immediately, he supplies the answer: “By guarding it according to your word” (Psalm 119:9, ESV).
Note what it is that David says a young man – or young lady, too – must keep pure: It is his “way.” He must keep his way pure. Browse through the 119th psalm, and you will see that David refers to one’s way repeatedly. We are to “walk in his ways” (v. 3), “cleanse” our way (v. 9), “rejoice” in the way of the Lord’s testimonies (v. 14), seek the “way of truth” (v. 30), and think on his own “ways” (v. 59) – and many other references.
It is clear that the way a man chooses is key to his success – really, it’s key to his survival! Some will go the right way, others the wrong -- some find their way, others lose it.
For a young man looking far into the future, the way that lies before him is a wide expanse with endless possibilities. What he can be and will be is a mystery as deep as the ocean, to be sure.
If we can take ourselves back to the age of 18 and remember what it was like looking at life from that vantage point, we might better understand what runs through a young man’s mind. David does just that, climbing into the young man’s mind in Psalm 119:9 and asking that most valuable question. However, that question, likely, is not the one on the young man’s mind. He’s thinking more along these lines:
“How can I make my way?” That is: What is it that I can do to make it big?
Even if a young man could bring himself to ponder the Spirit’s question for a bit, his conclusion might be that there are far too many unresolved matters at the moment to put a great deal of energy into searching for the answer. As far as keeping his way pure, he’ll just have to fly by the seat of his pants.
Then there’s another problem: What exactly does it mean to make his way pure? Does that apply just to his outward actions? If the young man can keep himself relatively pure outwardly, will he have accomplished the goal?
A minute’s thought on that alerts us that there is more to purity of life than outward behavior. Purity – at least, the way the Holy Spirit lays it out throughout Inspiration – is first inward and then outward. “Blessed are the pure in heart,” says the Lord in his sixth beatitude, “for they shall see God (Matthew 5:6).
So, purity is going to have to start far below the surface, originating down in the vibrant, unpredictable chambers of a young man’s heart.
To add to the difficulty of a young man’s finding the answer, he’ll face many threats as he sets out on his way. The world is never done making offers that he thinks you cannot refuse. He has a deal waiting for you on every corner.
In view of all these difficulties, we almost want to ask the question in exclamation form: How in the world is a young man going to keep his way pure! Still, the exclamation aside, don’t fret, young man, because there is hope, and there are answers. In fact, the psalmist gives us a very simple one right on the heels of his 3000-year-old question: He says, simply, “Take heed.”
“That’s the way the KJV puts it. He can keep his way pure “by taking heed according to thy word.” Other translations say “guard,” and that may nail it down even better.
Friend, you will need a guard on the frontier. You will need one posted on the highest tower looking all around, and you need his eyes fastened down by your feet where you are making your way. That “guard” might encompass many helps for you along your journey. The psalmist, I am glad, follows up two verses later with one important one, telling the Lord what he will do to guard his way: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
There, young friend, is your guard on the frontier. It is God’s Word. Note that’s God’s Word consists of more than written words on a page, but His Word includes all of His promises, hopes, providences, expectations, and rewards. Keep all of those close to you, but not just close. Keep them hidden away down deep in your heart, like a treasure you guard with your very life.
So, with that, young man and young lady, God’s blessings on you as you make your way.
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