Wherewithal Shall a Young Man Cleanse His Way?
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”
Psalms 119:9-16 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 ¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 ¶ Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 ¶ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
The Obvious Object (youth) of this portion of Psalm 119 is mirrored in Ecclesiastes 12
Ecclesiastes 12:1 ¶ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
The Objects are not limited to youth!
The Scriptures here describe a “young man”. Yet, the issues we observe, though often indicative of young men, are not limited to young men! No longer in our day is rebellion for the youth! In our society rebellion against the God of Heaven is on full and shameless display in folks of all ages! The Scripture commands to “...flee youthful lusts..” ( II Timothy 2:22). The living and lifestyles that are forbidden by the God of Heaven, in Timothy's day were described as “youthful” and as such pertained to the youth. That which was a one time was considered juvenile rebellion is now the GENERAL behavior of our society!
With that in mind, we consider where Christ is finding folks in our day. When a person is saved today in this godless, secular society...at almost any age, they find themselves asking this very question... “Wherewithal shall I cleanse my way?” The baggage brought into the Christian life today is astonishing! Yet, God's Word is still quick and powerful! God's hand is still not shortened and He still can indeed SAVE!!!
I. The Question Answered: (vs. 1) “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”
A. The Present Walk: The Journey of the “young man”
1. A Dangerous Journey
a. His Entrance
Job 5:7 ...man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
b. His Environment
1 John 5:19 And we know that...the whole world lieth in wickedness.
c. His Inclination
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
2. A Daunting Journey
The Journey is not without it's natural pitfalls, winding paths, and snares set by a calculating enemy!
3. NOT A Desolate Journey!
Oh how desolate the journey of this life can be to those that are without Christ! Imagine the sheer hopelessness, helplessness, and cheerlessness of the unsaved as found in God's word: “...having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12). This describes the present condition of the lost while describing the past condition of the redeemed. The next verse in Ephesians chapter two says, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” The journey of the CHRISTAIN is not a desolate one!
B. The Purifying Word: “...by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
Psalms 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
*A Lamp/Feet Provided a limited area of light illuminating my next step.
*A Light/Path Providing a longer area of illumination for planning
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
II. The Quest Assayed:
First we must notice the goal of this quest. The Question involved cleansing the way of the young man, yet the goal was not “purity of way” but rather the goal was a PERSON. The goal of the Journey that results in a cleansed way is the LORD Himself! Many pursue purity and become Pharisees! They are simply whited sepulchers that only have the appearance of cleanness! If we sincerely pursue GOD through His Word, HE will cleanse our way!!!
A. The pursuit of the heart!
“With my whole heart have I sought THEE...”(vs. 10)
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ¶ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Psalms 27:7-8 ¶ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
B. The propensity of the heart!
“...O let me not wander from thy commandments.”(vs. 10)
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 2:1-4 My son, IF thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, IF thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 IF thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Proverbs 2:5 THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:9 THEN shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
C. The reserve within the heart!
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart...”(vs. 11)
D. The preserver of the heart!
“...that I might not sin against thee!”(vs. 11)
III. The Quality Enjoyed
“...as in all riches.”
A. Rejoice in the way of thy testimonies ~ celebration of the spirit
“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies...”(vs.14)
B. Meditate in thy precepts ~ occupation of the heart
“I will meditate in thy precepts...”(vs. 15)
C. Respect unto thy ways ~ adoration of the soul
“...and have respect unto thy ways.”(vs. 15)
D. Delight in thy statutes ~ estimation of the mind
“...I will not forget thy word.”(vs. 16)