“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NIV
In a story published by Canadian Running yesterday, it was reported that several elite women marathoners went the wrong way after mistakenly following the half-marathoners at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon to the 13.1 mile finish line instead of continuing on the 26.2 mile marathon course.
Around the 20 km mark, the course splits; the half-marathoners follow Bay Street to the finish line just east of Nathan Phillips Square, while the marathoners turn right on Wellington Street and run east for several kilometres before heading back downtown. Luckily, the leader, Shure Demise (who won the marathon in 2015 and 2016) stayed on course, but for two other Ethiopian women (Gojjam Enyew and Dibabe Beyene), their race ended in heartbreak. Race officials held up the half-marathon finish tape for Enyew, whose face registered confusion and dismay when she realized the mistake.
Nigsti Haftu tried to retrace her steps and resume racing, but was well behind.
Following the race, officials said the marathoners were given clear instructions at Saturday’s technical meeting and told not to follow the half-marathon course—which they did anyway to their dismay. This is one of the many times when committing the course to memory would have been of great benefit to the athletes that went off course.
In the same way, every believer would do well to commit God’s commandments to memory to avoid going off course. You see, the Father has clearly marked out the course we should take through the pages of the Bible—a course that must be strictly followed if we are to make it to the finish line. But the psalmist, going a step further, declared that having a head knowledge wasn't enough to avoid straying off course and falling into sin, God's Word needed to fill our hearts as well. Hence the reason the psalmist declared, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Nigsti Haftu tried to retrace her steps and resume racing, but was well behind.
Following the race, officials said the marathoners were given clear instructions at Saturday’s technical meeting and told not to follow the half-marathon course—which they did anyway to their dismay. This is one of the many times when committing the course to memory would have been of great benefit to the athletes that went off course.
In the same way, every believer would do well to commit God’s commandments to memory to avoid going off course. You see, the Father has clearly marked out the course we should take through the pages of the Bible—a course that must be strictly followed if we are to make it to the finish line. But the psalmist, going a step further, declared that having a head knowledge wasn't enough to avoid straying off course and falling into sin, God's Word needed to fill our hearts as well. Hence the reason the psalmist declared, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
You see, what a person treasures most will show in the way that they guard that treasure. A careful reading of Psalm 119, revealed that the psalmist loved God's statues, laws, and commands more than anything else because of the priceless and countless benefits they provided, such as guidance, comfort, discernment, understanding, peace, wellbeing, close fellowship with the Father, protection, and wisdom among other things. The psalmist considered them to be of utmost value, declaring his love for them over and over. By hiding the Word in his heart, the psalmist was keeping the thing he loved and valued most in a place where it was safe and could be accessed at all times. In fact, by stowing away the Word in his innermost self, it permeated and filled every part of his being so that it became who he was.
This, in turn, helped to ensure that the psalmist not only knew the way to go but wouldn’t allow sin to keep him from following it until the very end.
This, in turn, helped to ensure that the psalmist not only knew the way to go but wouldn’t allow sin to keep him from following it until the very end.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130
So, if you haven't committed the Word to your mind and to your heart, I urge you to begin doing it today my friend, knowing it's a process that must continue for a lifetime. Seek Him with "all your heart" through the pages of the Bible, prayer, and continual meditation of the Word. Start with Psalm 119 and discover the many reasons the psalmist loved and cherished God's commands. They not only kept him on the right path but filled him with the joy that comes from experiencing the unfolding of His word which "gives light" and "understanding to the simple." And this joy is available to you!
Heavenly Father, thank You for your Word that reveals who You are and your will for our lives. Lord, help us understand that everything we need to live a joyful life free from sin and its consequences can be found in the Bible. Give us a hunger to read your Word each and every day and to commit it to our head and to our heart that we might make it to the finish line and help others do the same. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
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