Psalm 119:11

What a mass of guilt and misery we comprehend in this short “sin”.

It’s the greatest curse that every entered the universe of God and is also the parent of every single curse!

In our verse tonight, we catch a glimpse of David’s PRACTICE, and the PURPOSE of it.

The Theme of the entire Psalm and of our verse is "the Word”.

The Action of duty is, “I have treasured” (or I have hid)

The Subject is “the heart”.

1.) The Theme, the Word.

This is the revelation of the mind of God to His people.

God speaks to His people via His Word.

Contained in His word are promises, threatenings, doctrines, precepts (or commands).

These are all to be treasured in our hearts.

2.) The act of duty, “I have treasured”.

[1.] Is to keep something that’s is of great price.

Things that you treasure you might tend to hid from plain view.

[2.] Is to keep something that’s is of great price.

To treasure it.

You take treasure and you hid it in a treasure chest in a secret place.

What we value as precious we save most carefully.

3.) The subject, the heart.

Not the mind or memory only but the heart.

To treasure the word in our heart is to understand it and remember it and to be affected by it.

Christ says, “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” ()

Meaning that by holding it in our hearts is meant

The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.

not only a knowledge of the word,

but an assent to it;

not only an assent to it,

but a serious and sound digestion of it by meditation;

not only a digestion,

but a constant respect to it,

that we may not violate it as it is a rule,

nor lose it as it is a treasure,

but that we may have it ready upon any and all occasions.

Our two doctrines are:

[1.] So v11 teaches us this one duty and necessary practice of God’s children is to treasure God’s word in our hearts.

[2.] Also, that in treasuring His Word in our hearts, there must be a right end: “so that I many not sin against you.”!!

May we understand why we do memorize scripture with this as our end and may we delight in the pursuit of that end!

Let’s takes these one at a time.

[1.] So v11 teaches us this one duty and necessary practice of God’s children is to treasure God’s word in our hearts.

This is confirmed by many a Scriptures.

"This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.” () Day and night means doing something constantly throughout the day.

Day and night means doing something constantly throughout the day.

"Receive instruction from his mouth, and place his sayings in your heart.” () "Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, ...” ()

Don’t let His word swim in your brain only but may our hearts be affected by it.

Be as familiar with scripture as you are with those that live among you!

God complains like this about His people in "Though I were to write out for him ten thousand points of my instruction, they would be regarded as something strange.”

You see, when God gave His people His instruction,

it was a means of aiding His people to love Him,

it was a gracious thing for Him to do!

How a person responds to God’s Word is an index to one’s response to grace.

What is it to hide the word in our hearts?

(1.) To understand it, to get a competent knowledge of it; we take in things into the soul by the understanding: , ‘For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will delight you.’ There is first an entrance by knowledge.

(2.) When it is assented (accepted unto by faith.

The word is settled in the heart by faith, otherwise it soon vanisheth: , "...But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.”

They didn’t receive the gospel in faith and therefore the good news didn’t profit them!

(3.) When it is thoughtfully received: , Christ complains, "...you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you.” ()

Here are these that were claiming to be Abrahams descendants, why should they seek to kill the one who spoke the word of God?

Which the thrust of Jesus’s message in this exchange in chapter 8 is that

physical descent, which meant so much to the Jews,

is no guide to true moral and spiritual relationship.

The minds of these men were shut.

Implying that the true people of God will receive the word of Jesus.

Men are so possessed with sinful desires and undermining influences, that there is no room for Christ’s word.

Though it break in upon the heart with evidence and power, yet

it is not been received there, but cast out again as an unwelcome guest.

(4.) When it is deeply rooted.

Many men have flashes for a time; their affections may be high and heavenly,

and they may have great fits and elevations of joy and delight,

but no sound grace: , ‘you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light’ [speaking of John the baptist].

But now the word must be settled into a standing affection, if we would have comfort and profit by it.

We read of ‘the implanted word,’ .

There is a word bearing fruit, and a word implanted.

Till there be the root of the matter in us, in vain do we expect fruit.

The reasons why this is one duty and practice of the saints, to hide the word in their hearts, are two:—

Reason 1. To have it at the ready when we need it.

"“Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.”” ()

These disciples had a task, to bring forth new truths out of the truths contained in the treasure house of the Word of God!

These saved teachers and scribes would bring forth from their treasury to share with others what they had received, which was an

a. understanding both of Israel’s ancient redemptive history that anticipated Christ and of

b. His fulfillment in new redemptive acts, which indicate the presence of the kingdom.

b. anticipated Christ and of His fulfillment in new redemptive acts, which signal the presence of the kingdom.

Spiritually we not only have what we’ve grown in this year, but we have what we gathered last year too!

So we’re not only eating from hand to mouth, but from a good stock and treasure that is in our hearts!

a. It will prevent vain thoughts.

This is a very great advantage to us:

a. It will prevent vain thoughts.

So much of the remaining corruption that’s in us, (I believe) is there because our stock of knowledge of God’s Word is so small.

Vain thoughts will be more ready within us, unless the word dwell richly in our hearts.

"A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.” ()

b. When alone your heart will overflow with God’s wisdom.

Despite all the degrees and stages of humanity, ultimately there are only two kinds of people.

“good” and “evil”. The distinguishing criteria is their response to Jesus!

Your mind is going to work upon what ever it finds in itself.

Just like a mill grinds whatever is thrown into that mill, chaff or corn.

I want to prevent vain thoughts running through my head so I desire to treasure God’s word in my heart.

b. When alone your heart will overflow with God’s wisdom.

His treasured word in your heart will furnish you with all matter of godly counsel, comfort, or reproof.

"I will bless the Lord who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.” ()

At night, when it’s dark, there’s no minister, no bible at hand, or fellow believers, we draw out of our hearts truths that will be our comforts and refreshment to our souls.

As believers, may we be walking bibles, having a good stock and treasure in ourselves.

c. They supply us in prayer.

Barrenness and leanness of soul is a very great defect!

It’s something that I hear believers speak of a lot.

Consider for a moment your prayers to God.

If our heart were exercised often in the word,

God’s promises would hold up our hearts in prayer,

enlarge our affections, and

we could more rightly pour out our spirit before Him.

"My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” ()

Many-a-time we’re tongue-tied in prayer because our hearts are so barren.

When the spring is dry there will be little water in the stream.

Do you remember the weapon of the Sword of the Spirit- which is the Word of God and what it’s connected to?

The very next verse says, "Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” ()

d. It’s a great help in all our activities and dealings.

Implying that God’s Word and prayer and wedded together.

The Spirit directs prayers through the Word so that we experience bold and joyful access to the Father through the Son! (2:18;3:12;5:18-20).

d. It’s a great help in all our activities and dealings.

With regard to the commands of our Father, we read: "Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. "When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.” ()

e. It’s a great weapon to fight against temptations.

When we wake, our most early thoughts (in the morning) will begin with God.

That word will still be seasoning your heart as you carry out the business of the day

and when we sleep, it will guard us from sin by watching over us!

The wicked are immersed all the time in sinful thoughts.

Those thoughts use him all day love as a slave,

plays his imagination all the night long,

and then he’s solicits (entreats; pleads to) him first thing in the morning

because he’s a stranger to the Word of God.

So let’s be bible unto ourselves with the Word every

upon us

urging us to our duty

restraining us from evil

directing us in the way of God

affecting all of our lives to the glory of God!

e. It’s a great weapon to fight against temptations.

The word is called “The sword of the Spirit” ().

To travel abroad in those days, no one traveled w/out a sword.

As believers, we’er alway surrounded by spiritual dangers and have great needs to have our sword girded about our persons.

When the devil came to assault Christ, He had scripture ready for him.

When the Word of God is lodged in our hearts and is regularly obeyed and exercised,

Satan cannot easily find an entry point into our lives.

Listen to what John says, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.” ().

written to you, young men,

because you are strong,

O what great advantage that we have when the word is not only by us but in us, implanted in the heart!

God’s word remains in you,

Here, the message of that Jesus proclaimed and embodied remains in them!

f. It’s a great reliever in troubles and afflictions.

and you have conquered the evil one.

e. It’s a great weapon to fight against temptations.

Our weaknesses come from our forgetfulness. "And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him,” ()

God’s plan to lead many sons to glory meant that the

author of their salvation was to be perfected (or completed) through suffering (2:10)

even though He was the Son who deserved no suffering (5:8).

It is not surprising, then, that the adopted sons who follow Him

should be prepared for their inheritance through painful discipline.

Yes let us not forget the exhortation.

There is no disease of sin but that which has a remedy of redemption in the Word.

f. It’s a great reliever in troubles and afflictions.

g. It makes our talking and discourses with others more gracious.

g. It makes our talking and discourses with others more gracious.

Jesus says in “…the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.”.

When we have a great deal of treasure deep w/in our souls it will come out from the mouth!

If you jam a pipe into hot springs, guess what’s coming out of that tap?

Hot water.

So when you sit down with a person, and you hear

frothy words,

sharp harsh words and

vain talk,

there’s a good indicator of where there hearts at!

There heart’s like a jug of gasoline…it needs to vent!

When the believer’s lips open, it should be as the droppings of the honeycomb! "Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” ()

God’s Word is to have its gracious and glorious way into our lives, individually and as a community.

Reason 4.

Reason 5.

Reason 6.

Reason 7.

Reason 8.

[2.] Also, that in treasuring His Word in our hearts, there must be a right end: “so that I many not sin against you.”!!