I have hidden Your word in my heart

Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Do you realize that there is a direct correlation between sin and the Word of God?  Actually, a more accurate statement is that there is a direct correlation between the Word of God and the lack of sin.  In fact, it is not going too far to claim that if the Word of God is not in your heart that you easily will fall into sin.  We know that the claim of the Word of God is “to teach, reprove, correct, train, and equip” (II Tim 3:16-17).  Without the Word of God, people have no chance to resist the devil (James 4:7) as the devil roams the earth like a “roaring lion, seeking people to devour” (I Peter 5:8). 

So, what does it mean to have the Word of God hidden in your heart?  The Hebrew word for “hidden” can mean “to hoard, reserve, protect”.  The NASB uses the word “treasure” that adds richness to the action of valuing the Word of God in one’s life.  The psalmist earlier wrote that the key to living a pure life is to know and keep the Word of God (verse 9).  In fact, all but four (verses 84, 121, 122, and 132) of the 176 verses of Psalm 119 emphasize what the Word of God can do and does in our lives.  

I don’t see how you can get around the position that Psalm 119:11 is proclaiming the importance---the essence—of the need to memorize God’s Word.  No, not all of it of course, although perhaps there are some people who have come close (the televangelist Jack Van Impe comes to mind).  You at least need to commit to memory those Bible verses that mean most to you, are ones that help you the most to fight temptation, overcome fear, and give you hope throughout your days. 

I decided many years ago to memorize the 60 foundational Bible verses published by The Navigators Christian organization.  I had a 5-week business trip to Strasbourg, France and staying at a Holiday Inn hotel that had a 25 meter indoor pool.  I am not a swimmer, but made up my mind that I was going to swim laps every evening and work on memorizing these 60 verses while swimming.  The first night I could only swim 4 laps and, thus, only memorized 4 verses.  I remember thinking that I could never work myself up to swimming 60 laps and memorizing 60 verses, but indeed, after 5 weeks, I accomplished the goal. 

Ever since I accomplished this goal I have tried to teach and encourage others to do the same thing, even more.  In the very least I encourage every person reading this vignette to memorize the 60 foundational verses from the Navigators system --(http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/Topical%20Memory%20System).

Other Bible verses urge/implore the need to memorize Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6, Proverbs 3:1, 4:20-21, 6:21, Colossians 3:16, and I Peter 3:15.  Jesus memorized Scripture.  I would think that any person who serves as a role model to you for what a Christian should be has memorized a lot of Scripture.  There are innumerable benefits of memorizing Scripture---read again the verses above and Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3.

May you be sufficiently challenged to memorize some of God’s Word so that it remains hidden and treasured in your heart and it protects you from the tendency to sin.  Are you willing to make this commitment and effort?