10.6.2026 - Anneke DeJong
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
As you enter your time with God, pause for a moment of silence and rest in His presence. Our text today comes from Psalm 119:9-16. Read through the passage slowly, meditating on the words and listening as God speaks to you.
ב Beth
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word. (Psalm 119:9-16)
God Builds His Church Through His Living Word
Have you ever considered how miraculous the Bible is? The invisible, mysterious God has revealed himself to us in human language. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the ancient prophets spoke and then wrote down the words of God. Created in the image of God, human beings are the only creatures that have the ability to speak, write, and read language - the only ones with the ability to receive these words of God.
For centuries, most Christians never had a copy of the Bible for themselves. They were dependent on the leaders of the church to tell them what it said and what it meant. Yet countless believers committed long passages to memory, knew the ancient stories by heart, and developed a robust, deep faith by hearing God’s word.
Today I have no less than 5 Bibles in different translations on my desk. I have an app on my phone, a copy on my Kindle, and the ability to listen to God’s word with the click of a button. When I’m looking for a passage, all I have to do is type in part of the verse, and the internet finds me its exact location.
Yet, two studies came out recently that indicated that Biblical literacy among Christians is at an all-time low. And among society at large, the knowledge of what God’s word says is almost non-existent. We have access to more information than ever, but we are neglecting the very words that give life.
I can’t imagine what the author of Psalm 119 would think. He wrote a 22-stanza acrostic poem - 176 verses - dedicated to glorifying the words of God.
And in verse 9 he asks an important question: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” Or as Paul puts it in Titus 2, “How do we say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age?”
The answer is simple: “By living according to your word.”
But how can we live according to a word we don’t know?
In verses 10–16, the psalmist describes the actions he is taking to know God’s word: seeking, hiding, learning, recounting, meditating, considering, and not neglecting.
The psalmist does not just apply the word of God to his life; he is applying his very life to the word of God. Disciplines like memorizing Scripture, meditating on it, speaking it aloud, and praying are all practices that help us know God’s word.
He also responds to the word of God with praise, rejoicing, and delight. Regular worship, singing, and praise are all active, physical responses when the word of God penetrates deep into our hearts.
The same Spirit that inspired the writers of Scripture works in us to shape and transform us as we engage with the words of God. For the word of God is “alive and active,” “God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness”. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16), accomplishing God’s purposes and teaching God’s people how to live as the people of God.
How, then, can we leave it unread, unheard, and unknown?