I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
The Greek translation for sin is amartia. It means “missing the mark.”
Sin begins with temptation. It doesn’t become sin until you give in to the temptation. As courageous leaders, we must resist temptation by having the Word of God in our hearts. David missed the mark when he disobeyed God’s Word: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) Another time, the Lord was angered by David’s actions when he took a military census to see how many fighting men there were. (II Samuel 24) Although Joab questioned David’s actions, David overruled him and the census was taken. It is assumed that David’s action was motivated by pride in the size of his military and in his own power rather than recognizing the gifts of the Lord. David became “conscience stricken,” (v.10) confessed to the Lord that he had sinned, and asked for forgiveness. In both David’s sin with Bathsheba and his sin of taking the census, there were consequences for David and for his kingdom.
Psalm 119 points to God’s Word as the assurance against sin: How can a man keep his way pure? 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. (vv.9-11) God’s Word leads us in paths of righteousness and keeps us from temptation. Temptation is not sin. Sin is giving in to temptation. The Lord’s Prayer seeks protection from the temptation to sin: …and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)
Have you hidden God’s Word in your heart? Reading and meditating on God’s Word provides the means for us to keep our hearts right before God. His Word brings us instruction and helps us to know God’s will. David missed the mark some of the time, but he always knew that he could turn back to God.
Jesus is the Living Word, and when He was with His disciples, He told them that they were already clean because of the words He had spoken to them. (John 15:3) He is calling you to hide His words in your heart so that you will not be tempted to sin.
Heavenly Father,
Create a clean heart in me and renew a right spirit within. (Psalm 51:10) Help me hide Your Word in my heart so that sin will not find a place in me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
