Psalm 119:11, NIV
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11, NRSV
I treasure Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.
No matter what translation you use, this verse is not about memorizing Scripture.
The focus of this verse is not memorizing. The focus, or you could even say, the heart of this verse, is valuing; valuing the Word.
One reason to value the Word is because we can trust it. We can look to it with confidence for guidelines for life as a whole, and often even for specific, "What do I do now?" moments. (Proverbs 3:5-6, you may have heard that somewhere recently)
When you truly value God's Word, it's not something you go to because nothing else has worked. It's where you turn first.
You can value the Word as a source of comfort. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you." It's not that we don't have problems, sometimes really hard problems; it's that He is with us, and knowing that gives us peace. The world is not perfect, but God's peace is.
You can value Scripture because of the joy it brings. Wanna put a smile on your face? Remember, "God is magnificent; He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness." (Ps. 145:3, Message) There are no exclamation points in the printed version, but I think there should be "God is Magnificent! He can never be praised enough! There are no boundaries to His greatness!"
The NIV uses the word "hidden." "Hidden" implies someplace that is safe, it will not be lost. You know where it is, and you can get to it quickly and easily when you need it. Hence, the memorization application.
The NRSV says, "treasure," it's not just important to you, it's something you love.
What you are hiding and treasuring is the Word, which echoes John 1:14, "The Word became flesh..."
What we're really treasuring is Jesus.
Think about it...
How does hiding or treasuring God's Word show up in you daily life?
Take a moment to be with God
Ask God to help you learn to truly treasure His Word, both the Written (the Bible) and the Living (Jesus).
