I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11
It doesn’t matter whether one is a child learning to memorize Scripture, or an adult who has endeavored to walk in the Truth for twenty years, or a new believer just learning the power that can be wielded by God’s Word—this can be the cry of every single child of God. May I be so bold as to say, ‘This SHOULD be the cry of every one of God’s children!’
As I studied this particular verse, and read the beautiful expression of it in different Bible versions, I saw such a bigger picture. Here, listen:
- Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
- In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.
- In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.
- I have treasured your promise in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
The word hidden is also translated as ‘treasured’ and ‘store up.’ I think it is like certain items that we treasure and hide, or store away. I keep cards. Birthday, Christmas, Happy Hearts Day, encouragement, thank you, miss you, Thanksgiving, sympathy cards…I keep ‘em all. Why? It is because I treasure the words of the loved ones who have given them to me and so I hide them away and store them. (It is a BIG box!) Similarly with God’s Words…we treasure them and so we hide them in our hearts storing them away.
Here are a few other verses that we can hide in our hearts to help us, to strengthen us:
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.
Psalms 40:8
The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalms 37:30 and 31
My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
Proverbs 7:1
My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you,
Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures,
Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.
For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,
That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.
For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.
from Proverbs chapter 2
One last point: in every single one of the translations of this verse in different Bible versions, one thing remains the same. (Did you notice it, too?) “…that I may not sin against You.” The motivation of our hearts, yes? Our hearts desire is to love God and be pleasing to Him. We know from the Scriptures that the way to do that is to obey Him. We obey God by having His Words hidden (treasured, stored up) in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him.
John 14:15
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
1 Samuel 15:22
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
1 John 5:3
For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands….
The Word of God is our most powerful weapon against sin. But useless are words on a page that are not hidden, treasured, and stored in the heart.
My prayer before our loving Father is that you…
…Put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness,] and the readiness of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:13-17
Praying for each of you!
♥ coleen
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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.
