Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
This is true for older women as well, and middle aged folk, and well . . . all who seek God in their lives.
Picture life as an open road. It stretches endlessly ahead and you cannot see exactly where it is leading, you just know it lies ahead off into the horizon. On either side of the path are vast fields. It would be so easy to veer off the path into these fields. Perhaps there are shady fruit trees groved together in one, each with luscious apples dangling from their limbs. The other may have what looks like a river babbling through it off in the distance. But neither field belongs to us. There are fences to keep us out. To enter would be trespassing. Besides, there may be an angry bull we cannot see, or snakes in the grass, or holes that are camouflaged by tall grass. The row of fences on either side keeps us from veering off into unknown territory. We are hemmed in for our own good.The fences are God’s word.
The more Scripture I know, the more fence I have alongside my life’s path. It keeps me in the direction God wants me to journey. Even if I feel hungry or parched, I can trust God will provide, just as He did for the Hebrews wandering in the desert, and for Paul on his journeys, and for countless millions over the last two millenniums. Yes, it is tempting to climb over or under a row of fences and dash off freely. But in my heart of hearts, I know that would not be wise. Why? Because God’s Word tells me so . . . and because there have been times I did it anyway.
The Psalmist goes on to say in verse 11- I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. and in verse 15 –
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
We learn in another Psalm that God’s word is a light unto our path. And what is God’s Word? John tell us it is Jesus, the Word made flesh. Jesus who came to earth for our sakes and left His Holy Spirit as our guide to teach and help interpret the mysteries of Scripture. He showed us through His own example in the desert how Scripture can send the devil fleeing and dissolve temptation’s lure.
Life has too many choices. I know I need a fence to keep me on the path- I need God’s Word in my mind, heart and on my lips. We all do. And He provides. Safe journey.
