Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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1 Psalm 119:9-16 Opening: Last week we focused on just the first couple of verses in the Bible s longest chapter Psalm 119 by looking at the way, the walk, and keep. While I won t ask, I wonder how many took my challenge this past week and meditated upon these next set of verses, Psalm 110:9-16? Psa 119:9 Wherewithal [that which is needed or necessary] shall a young man cleanse [translucent; easily understood; pure] his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 1. I don t know about you, but I more often than not think of this verse in terms of sin when David writes, cleanse his way. 2. However, with the way that we discussed in the previous set of verses, I believe that it has a much more practical application even than that. 3. In this verse, I am reminded of the admonition that is giving to parents in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Illustration: I have the opportunity, on occasion, to greet students when their parents drop them off for school in the mornings here at the Academy. Sometimes, as I open up the door for the student to get out, cups, toys, trash, and other items begin to fall out of the vehicle. The child then begins to struggle to climb over things to try and get out of the vehicle. The child s way is not very clear. 4. As parents, we should desire to do everything that is necessary to help our children have a clear, Biblical path in which to walk in their lives. As individuals, I believe that most of us would desire for our path to be as clear as possible. It is when our path is unclear or we are uncertain of the path to take that we are most frustrated. Illustration: Curling is a sport an Olympic sport at that - in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a circular target area. Teams take turns sliding

2 heavy, polished granite stones across the ice curling sheet towards the house which is the center of the circular target marked on the ice. The curler can induce a curved path by causing the stone to slowly turn as it slides, and the path of the rock may be further influenced by two sweepers with brooms who accompany it as it slides down the sheet, using the brooms to alter the state of the ice in front of the stone. 5. Our children need we all need a clear path to follow. What is it that is necessary to do that? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Illustration: When I first began travelling as a college representative for PCC, I was paired with a veteran representative for a few weeks whose task it was to help me learn the ropes in a manner of speaking. He would often give me pointers and helps during that time but I wasn t a very good listener. I remember one morning in particular near the end of our time together before I embarked out on my own. While giving me some direction on how to do something, I offered up an excuse for why I should do it my way. In utter frustration, he responded, You need to pay attention to what I m telling you! 6. If our path is going to be clear we need to pay careful attention to God s Word! 7. Notice what God says about Abraham in Genesis 18:19: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8 8. One commentator said, about that verse, That is, giving us light and knowledge. The eyes are mentioned, as it is by them that we see where to go. The reference here is undoubtedly to the mind or soul as being enlightened by the truth of God. We are made by these commandments to see what is right and proper; to understand what we should do.

3 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 9. We need to keep ourselves clean keep our way clean, so that we might live unhindered in such a way as to please God. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 10. How are we going to know what those things are which are weights in our life? By paying careful attention to God s Word. 11. I m not talking about and neither is David sinless perfection. We must, though, daily look into God s Word and from their make adjustments however minor they might be to keep us headed in the right direction, keeping our path clear! 12. With that understanding the understanding that, if he was going to keep his pathway clear he needed to pay attention to God s Word David, in the following verses sets out his game plan for how is going to do that. So, with these thoughts in mind, let s quickly look at the following verses: Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Application: David was a man after God s own heart because he with his whole heart sought after God. With that came a desire to stick to the game plan found in God s Word. Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Application: David was able to stick to the game plan because he committed the game plan not just to memory but he put it in his heart! Illustration: As I ve told you before, my high school basketball team was pretty good. One year we went One reason is because we knew the game plan. We had a set offense that we ran that encompassed at least 8 pages of material.

4 We were required to memorize all of that material and then, in practice, we drilled it over and over and over again, until we literally could do it in our sleep. The results? I believe our record spoke for itself! Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. Application: Are we teachable? Are we allowing God to teach us Biblical principles Biblical truths? Are we allowing those Biblical truths to develop within us Biblical convictions? Are those Biblical convictions leading us to have Biblical standards guidelines to live by? It all begins with being teachable! Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. Application: The student (from verse 12) now becomes the teacher. You cannot teach something that you don t know yourself. An effective way to keep yourself going in the right direction is to encourage others to go in the right direction. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. Philippians 3:17 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27 Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. Application: There is a joy and a peace that a huge bank account cannot give. The joy and peace that David is referring to here only comes as you live a life that is directed by God s Word. Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. Application: What do you find your thoughts most occupied with? Generally, those things in which you delight the most. You will not find it difficult to occupy your mind with the word of God if it has become that in which you are rejoicing. Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

5 Application: To David, taking heed to God s Word wasn t drudgery it was a delight because he recognized the benefits and blessings that were derived from it. And, because of that, and with everything else, he knew that he wasn t going to easily forget God s Word.