How can a young man cleanse his way (Psalm 119:9)?

The young man is here mentioned because at the outset of a believer's path he needs this vital instruction. It is not here the cleansing of his sins that is considered, but the practical cleansing of his path. Sins are cleansed only by the blood of Christ, and God does this work for a believer; but the believer is responsible to cleanse his path, which involves a daily, practical separation from evil principles. The means of this is clear: it is the Word of God taken to heart that enables one to act with such effect (vv. 9-10)

The new born soul can rightly claim that with his whole heart he has sought the Lord; and consistently with this, he earnestly prays, "Oh let me not wander from Your commandments" (v. 10). How is this to be accomplished? By the individual's hiding God's Word in his heart. How good indeed to learn the verses of scripture, not merely by memory, but by heart! This will, certainly preserve us from sinning against God (v. 11).

Here is a soul with a question! He has sought to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, but he is conscious of the defiling influences of the world around him. There has been defilement in thought and imagination. Some believers suffer from unclean thoughts or unclean suggestions from the enemy. This young man had been defiled in this way. Now he asks the question: “With what” shall I cleanse my way, my heart, my thought life? This verse gives us the first wonderful fact about the Word: it purifies. There are several New Testament Scriptures we can turn to in this connection: “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor.7:1). “Christ … gave Himself … that He might sanctify and cleanse it (the church) with the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. 5:25-26). The Bible gives us light, power and support, but we are responsible to keep ourselves from becoming defiled.

'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word' (Ps. 119:9).

In a world where Satan is very active to beguile believers, the young Christian is his special target. So the question the Psalmist asked himself is today as important as in his day: how can a young man-or a young woman-lead a holy and pure life in unholy and sin-stained surroundings? The answer of Scripture is short but sufficient: by taking heed according to thy word. We live in a world where norms and values are changing at an ever-increasing speed. 'If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple' (Ps. 11:3,4). to become overcomers in this anti-Christian or post-Christian world, we need, whether young or old, to measure everything using God's plum line-His Word.

Obviously there is cleansing quality in the Word. In Psalm 119:9, the question is asked, "wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his ways?" The answer is given, "By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word." The Word of God, where heeded, will enable any young saint to tread a clean path through this sin-benighted world, if ye or she hears and obeys it, for "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

(vv. 9-12) The desire being awakened, the question is asked, How can a young man cleanse his path, and enjoy the blessedness of the undefiled in the way? The answer follows.

First, by watchful care to bring all his ways under the searchlight of God's Word (v. 9).

Ways, and not nature, were in question, even though renewal of heart were there. Hence the young man, where energy of will is found, is to "cleanse his way." Lusts would have carried his will elsewhere: how should he find the means of having his ways clear before God? Watchfulness, the fear of God (not will) according to God's word. God's word - how precious to have it in such a world of darkness and will, to guide our feet in a path according to God's mind! For the heart is set right. It is not, indeed, the sweet enjoyment of love in a reconciled soul, love shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given, but (what is of all vital importance) the heart right in the sight of God. It supposes the man away from God, but undivided in his desire. Both are true of the Christian. He is reconciled and has peaceful affections in perfect relationship (this one under the law had not); and he has earnest desire after Him that has loved him, as known and seen in glory, only as knowing (not merely seeking) Him. Here He is "sought with the whole heart"; no guile but the true desire of the heart towards God. Being so (the commandments of God being precious, as making known His will), the true heart prays not to be let to wander from them. God is looked to in goodness; for when He is truly sought, there is always some sense of His goodness. It is what distinguishes conversion from mere terror of conscience, desire towards Him and sense of goodness in God.

176 We have, then, another element. The heart which thus seeks God, and has a desire to do His will, not only seeks outward conduct to be right when the occasion arises, but keeps the word at the centre, so to speak, and springs of action. He hides it in his own heart as that which he loves; "out of the heart (where that word is hid) are the issues of life." How large a place the word has here! Note, too, man's estimate of conduct disappears. It is between God and the heart, and this is integrity of heart. It is not here a single eye to an object; so far as that is here, it is found in seeking with the whole heart. This is the integrity which, by reason of the desire towards God, takes His mind as governing the springs of life. It is a blessed and important principle. The word hid in the heart prevents sinning against Him.

This verse shows us that the Word keeps the believer from wandering from the path of obedience. When God's Word is obeyed daily it will keep me from being deceived, and it will purify me from the defilement contracted by having to walk through this world which is so full of uncleanness. “With my whole heart have I sought Thee … ”. We have to be in earnest about it! To rush in and out of the Lord's presence for a little reading and prayer is not what we might properly call a “quiet time”. We must take time to be holy. Notice that the second half of this verse is a prayer: “ … O let me not wander … ”. We have a prayer in verses 5 and 8, and in this verse too. Prayer and Bible study go hand in hand.

I think we may gather from Psalm 119:9 what the means are which God uses.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word." The Word of God is that which has cleansing power for the believer. Bear in mind that we are not now speaking of that cleansing which, as guilty sinners, we get when we come to Christ. At that time we were cleansed in a very different way, even by the precious blood of Christ. But as believers we need the continuous washing, not of blood, but of "water by the word" (Eph. 5:26).

The clothes tell us of that which touches us — our associations — that with which we have to do, that which the world around sees as connected with us. Perhaps men have been accustomed to see us in the gambling halls, or in other evil places. All these associations and ways must be "washed." How do we wash our ways and associations? We get that question answered for us in Psalm 119:9 — "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" That is the question. Here is God's own answer: "By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word."

It is the means of our practical holiness. Our Lord thus prays, when He presented His own before the Father: "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth". (John 17:17). It is only indeed by constant application of the Word to ourselves, our walk, and our ways, that we are increasingly separated from evil; just as it is by the application of the Word through the Spirit that the Lord, as our Advocate with the Father, washes the feet of His own. This is the work which He in His grace has undertaken for us; but we must never forget the responsibility on our side of continually judging ourselves by the Word in the presence of God. How many a trial and chastening would be spared us if we were more faithful in this particular! "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Cor. 11:31). Thus the psalmist asks, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" And the answer is, "By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word" (Ps. 119:9). Again he says, "By the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer" (Ps. 17:4). For it is only from the Scripture that we learn the will of God; and by the application of the Word in the power of the Spirit we are separated, on the one side, from that which is contrary to His mind, and we are brought, on the other, into conformity with it; and this being a constant process, we are ever attaining increasing holiness, the perfection of which is only found in the glorified Christ at God's right hand.