The Heart
The Psalmist wrote, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Many scholars believe King David wrote Psalm 119, being that Psalm 19 is attributed to him and holds much of the same language. They speak of the law, statues, precepts, commands and decrees of God. David’s desire to place God’s word in his heart conveys setting with intent to cover as to protect. Much like when God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand (Exodus 33:22). This hiding is to conceal something of great value.
While we are hiding God’s valuable word in our heart, we must be careful – so incredibly careful of what is hidden in alongside His word. David leans into this, “Teach me Your way, O LORD and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11). God told the Israelites they were to have “no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).
Decluttering the heart – removing the “alongside, other” stuff.
David’s son, the wise man Solomon also wrote, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT). In the Hebrew, the guarding is in the “present imperative” tense. Meaning, it is a command calling for us to make this our habitual practice. We don’t just do it once, or now and then when seemingly needed. Seemingly is the key. How many times in hindsight we KNOW we missed an opportunity to do us some guarding? We are to do it always – we guard. Some translations state “keep your heart.” The heart is to be kept above all keeping.
The biblical heart is representative of our inner man. Where we think, feel and process our choices. God’s wisdom, His words of command. His insight to moral skill are not to be clouded – they are to be single. They are worth guarding – above all. For it is HERE (place the “X” here). Here is where the heart flows all the thoughts and words and choices of our life. Guard.
May we be like King David hiding God’s word in our heart – but may we be just as vigilant in guarding against what also may be hiding there.
The hiding, decluttering and guarding of the heart.
Point to ponder.
In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)
Inspired Fountain 